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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 20, 2010 23:26:49 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 20, 2010 23:29:24 GMT 12
Useless plane? No, useless reporting.
I think the RNZAF should ban any journalists from their flights who write trash like this, and make them pay their own way next time.
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Post by corsair67 on Apr 20, 2010 23:37:57 GMT 12
Yep, some in the media are very quick to whine about the taxpayer funded trips they get. Maybe they could all band together and ask Rupert Murdoch, Kerry Stokes and James Packer to buy an aircraft for the journos to flit around in?  ? And as for the fact that the NBR bothers to quote from Twitter, well that to me that speaks volumes about the quality of that particular fish and chip wrapper. |
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Post by shorty on Apr 21, 2010 6:40:34 GMT 12
Time for a "Letter to the Editor"??
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Post by ErrolC on Apr 21, 2010 8:01:22 GMT 12
And as for the fact that the NBR bothers to quote from Twitter, well that to me that speaks volumes about the quality of that particular fish and chip wrapper. I disagree. A 'quote from Twitter' is as valid as reporting a text, email, phonecall to friends. There are circumstances where it is logical and sensible, and can be superior to other means of getting info from people directly involved in events. The quote from NBR looks like a cute side-bar column, and should be judged by that standard. Ms du Plessis-Allan has been reasonable, note, the NBR has added the spin. Maybe they are jealous? I'm rather more concerned by the 'structural defect' reported elsewhere on the first B757, I hope this description can include quite minor issues? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 21, 2010 8:13:35 GMT 12
I don't agree with you at all there Errol. Any decent reporter who is after a story would not quote from Twitter, but instead would take the five minutes to contact the Twitterer for a proper quote and establish the facts in more than a couple of words hammered out hurriedly on a cell phone.
The NBR could have at least fixed the spelling before publication, even if they couldn't be arsed finding out what the actual issue was with the aircraft, and what was happening with the party headd to Turkey.
If this is now accepted as journalism I might as well give up reading.
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Post by ErrolC on Apr 21, 2010 8:39:44 GMT 12
So if someone notable is say refused entry by customs somewhere and lets people know via Twitter before their phone is taken away, directly quoting the tweet is not valid reporting?
The issue here is the story that is been 'reported' (the journo's reactions to waiting around longer than expected), not the means of communication from the 'source'. And I don't expect the same standards from the semi-gossip column on the back page as I do for the actual news. I'll also judge if it is worth paying for media output partially based on how much of the 'content' is padding of semi-gossip nature.
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Post by mumbles on Apr 21, 2010 9:39:19 GMT 12
I'm inclined to agree with Errol, are you sure you guys aren't taking this just a tad too seriously?
While agreeing that the standard of defence reporting in particular (and pretty much anything else in general) is often sacrificed in the name of headlines and sensationalism, this piece is a puff light entertainment sidebar filler, it is not presented as serious in depth investigative journalism, or intended to be read as such.
I actually found 'The Boeing thats going' line quite funny. Admittedly its a sad reflection on current capabilities but what else are you gonna do?
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Post by caromeg on Apr 21, 2010 10:06:10 GMT 12
Her name vill go onto zee list.
Seriously why are you guys surprised, this isnt the worst reporting and most people wont remember it by noon tomorrow. If it does re-enforce an unfair stigma then the RNZAF is well used to this buy now. The reality is would Heather like to fly in an unsericeable Aircraft? One of the most unfair perceptions in the world is RNZAF maintenance.
It because they take these issues seriously that we haven't had the losses that other air forces have.
At the end of the day its just bling, the more serious damage is done by "in depth and truthful" analsysis on defence by amateurs with a hidden agenda.
Politics is business, Business is war, first casualty of war?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 21, 2010 11:35:23 GMT 12
I didn't know the National Business Review had a fluffy gossip column side bar.
I also didn't know it was quite acceptable for their reports to present bad spelling, poor grammar and a total lack of facts and explanation in their stories.
As far as I am concerned this type of dumbed down, innaccurate and waste of space reporting is welcome to those who are happy to read it. They don't have the common dog to know any better it seems.
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Post by ErrolC on Apr 21, 2010 12:41:45 GMT 12
The bad sub-editing and general spin (neither of which I'm defending) is on the part of NBR, not those on the flight - so it's a bit hard to have them find their own way next time.
My point was that quoting from Twitter has its place.
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Post by nige on Apr 21, 2010 22:00:19 GMT 12
Putting aside the issue of Twitter being a legitimate source etc, that was one weeeeird article! As Dave said, that article was appauling! NBR that is, not the TV reporter Heather du Plessis-Allan, whom the NBR were nicking her tweets to write up that weeeeird story! Not sure if the NBR were trying to take the piss out of Heather or the piss out of the Air Force. I'd guess perhaps taking the piss out of the Air Force mainly and maybe Heather herself (no I don't know her and thus am calling her by her first name, just can't be bothered typing the full name out)! In terms of the appauling article and bad spelling: Exactly what Private Bin is..... what the f? As for Heather being Barry Soper's niece, no the old codger married the young shelia. www.nzherald.co.nz/gossip/news/image.cfm?c_id=1501135&gal_cid=1501135&gallery_id=103668#6561331And that match up left alot of journos gobsmacked at the time! (Hence anonymous NBR journo taking the piss out of Heather to highlight the age difference - he/she knows they are married)! So maybe some anonymous heart broken dipstick at NBR just couldn't resist a dig!!! And as for the Ohakea sandwiches, oh how third world, obviously the NBR anonymouse journo who probably swanks around the Ponsonby cafe scene wouldn't be seen dead eating a sandwich, ohhh that's for the hicks and boguns that live beyond the Bombay Hills! (Maybe 40 Sqn should take the NBR rascal out on the next low level training exercise and let him or her chuck up that $20 Ponsonby cup of imported coffee all down their tailor made suit) ;D And tweet the results back to Heather! |
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Post by obiwan27 on Apr 22, 2010 20:01:17 GMT 12
The standard of journalism in New Zealand is pretty useless and the sub-editing and editing leaves a lot to be desired to put it mildly whether it is in hardcopy or digital form. Not a day pass without some piss poor article that has spelling and/or grammatical errors. Pressure to meet deadlines is no excuse!!! Twitter is a legitimate source of news/comment but it is such a trivial matter. The more important focus should be on why the NZ Government has continued to underfund Defence and the Air Force in particular over the past 30 years and contributed to the headaches that Air Force personnel endure in trying to keep the aircraft well maintained, safe and airworthy. In the circumstances the maintenance and repair guys do an outstanding job, no thanks to the government (of whatever particular flavour). Now that is a newsworthy article but of course it isn't 'newsworthy'/sensational/sarcastic enough to make the grade in any local newspaper.
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Post by yogi on Apr 22, 2010 20:21:31 GMT 12
I think you covered it there obiwan.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Apr 23, 2010 16:28:21 GMT 12
Ah the media!
firstly, the media will be paying for their trip although heavily subsidised!
2. when I was PRO it was always a battle with the media on the unserviceabilities of the B727 in those days. However, getting the respective "air force bashing" journos aside and explanning to them things like
1. We only have two of these aircraft
2. No if it breaks down in fiji you can't go to the local Dick smiths and buy a replacement bit, neither does any of the aircraft maintenance organisations in fiji carry spare B727 parts.
3. then I would pose a question to them. do you travel by ANZ to get on this aircraft. If the answer was yes, then How do you know that the ANZ aircraft you flew on was the one that was scheduled to do that flight? It may have been a replacement, unlike ANZ the airforce does not have four or five "spare" Boeings to wheel out as a replacement for an unserviceable aircraft.
That usually brought about a better understanding of the situation.
Unfortunately the air force tends to shut up and ignore the opportunity to provide a rational explanation
Paul
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Post by obiwan27 on Apr 25, 2010 20:34:43 GMT 12
Thanks for that Paul. It really clarifies things and I think that the RNZAF should speak up and clarify things to these media dipshits. I don't think that a statement of fact would do anything to hurt the Air Force PR-wise.
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