Posts by Rachel Prosser
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Interesting things I noted about TVNZ submission, based on a quick browse:
- they seem to match "public interest", with "high ratings".
- their flag-waving for "NZ Made Content" is Dancing with the Stars, and assorted reality TV shows. I didn't notice any drama on the list at all.
- using a percentage of income from the government to compare TVNZ and the likes of the BBC will of course produce disparities - those channels have no ads.I've rather given up on TVNZ, which seems to be firmly aiming at the lowest common denominator most of the time, particularly with the infotainment passing for news, which is mostly filler. 3 is not much better.
It has been eloquently blogged here about the non-newsworthiness of much of the news, especially the "crossing live to where nothing is actually happening anymore, so we can create a fake sense of drama and cover the fact we've a shortage of crime today and couldn't be bothered talking to people outside the main centres"
Prime gives the same news content, in half the time, either first at 530 or conveniently re-screened later. Then add in CGW "News" for an enjoyable half hour of comedy on sporting topics, and an hour is much better spent than watching TVNZ or TV3 preview topics, cross live to interview a journalist about what happened, and then recap the headlines. Again.
Looking at the "front pages" of Stuff I suggest they give "crime" its own thread. Perhaps TVNZ /TV3 could do the same - The Crime news, and then the Sports news? It's most of the "news" anyway, as it's easy to report and to get quotes from someone outraged somewhere.
Down here in Christchurch, the Press editor is quite open with the fact that marketing drives the front pages (there went my illusions of a newspaper as public service), and while regular subscribers dislike crime, casual buyers will buy on that basis.
Hence the emphasis on crime. And, by emphasising crime the fear of crime escalates. I recall from my time in inner-city London, a report that indicated that the level of the "fear of crime" was actually more debilitating to people's quality of life in a city than the levels of crime itself.
It thus became an objective of the council to reduce both crime levels, and the fear of crime.
So here's an hypothesis:, the Press's continual emphasis on crime will increases the fear of crime, increase positional/judgmental behaviour which increases social division (yoofs in hoodies!) which will, in the end, make the city a worse place to live.
There's some interesting psychology going on here - something to do with biases, stereotypes and the esteem boost we get from feeling superior to others, but this comment is long enough already!
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We could have Whistling Competitions, where the kids could join teams and have whistle-off's ... instead of Youth Gangs fighting each other they could just Whistle For It!
If only you'd suggested this before the 48 hour film contest. Could have run as a plot for Juvenile Delinquent or Dance/Musical.
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A couple of years ago I hired a bike and rode over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. On a clear November day, it was magical. There were a number of options for cycling once we were in Marin county , and you could always bring your bike back by the ferry afterwards.
Auckland Harbour would be the same - not only a better way to commute but a tourist and leisure attraction too.