I will be writing to the Electoral Commission tomorrow to complain about an advertisement in today's Sunday Star-Times urging people not to vote National due to their welfare policy. The advertisement does not carry an authorisation as required by the Electoral Finance Act.
Strangely, the advertisement appears online, masquerading as journalistic comment! Seriously though, this is partisan journalism of the worst kind. Opinion has only been sought from people on one side of the debate, all of whom have a vested interest in criticising the policy. The writer, Lois Watson has made no attempt to provide balance, except for a brief quote from John Key in the last paragraph, taken from a media release.
Little wonder then that Fairfacts Media reports the the SST circulation has dropped a further 3.5% in the latest AC Neilsen media survey, while the Herald on Sunday's circulation continues to grow.
7 comments:
As Kiwiblog stated: The SST starts it Labour re-election campaign.
That story should be reported to the Press Council for total lack of balance. The women who is training in Social Work WOULD NOT be required to work as well.
Are some journalists purposefully ignorant or just stupid and lazy!
Rachael
I have tried complaining to the EC on similar issues,in relation to a specific newspaper advert, but got nowhere.
They seem to have a peculiar view on some of these issues
Try the Press Council
Agree totally Rachael - what is really ironic is that Fairfax, who owns the SST is the media organisation which commissions the poll which shows Labour at its weakest, and National with the most commanding lead. Are the journos (EPMU members?) revolting against management?
Adam - my bit about a complaint to the EC, although valid, was tongue-in-cheek. However, I just went to the shop, and bought a Herald on Sunday as my form of protest! I will now only read the SST online - I will not buy another copy this side of the election.
Much can be put down to the current editor.
When I worked for Fairfax there were some bosses that had reported their concerns of bias at the SST to top but the current editor has something of a fan club down in Wellington.
But this comes at a price as the paper's reputation sinks along with its circulation.
I said in a post recently that Granny should carry an authorisation statement at the bottom of every front page. Now I'm thinking that it should also go at the bottom of every editorial.
That's how we know the election season is on us in Auckland. The Herald comes out fighting. For National. I think that the only exceptions to this are 1972, 1984 and 1999.
Jafapete,
The Herald's editorial bent is aimed mainly towards the politics of it main audience - centre-right taxpayers. Hence their circulation is up.
The SST aims itself at people stuck in the 1950's. Hence its readership is down!
Rachael
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