Financial crisis latest: New Zealand to run out of 'experts'?
It would seem things have got really serious. Anyone watching Kiwi mainstream media in the last few months may, like me, have begun to conclude that the first visible impact of the global financial crisis here is a total lack of experts in the field. The main 'financial' pundit we are faced with day after day at the moment is Bernard Hickey. He seems to have been elevated to the role of chief national commentator. He is in fact, a career journalist and the editor-in-chief of a financial website. The ubiquitous - and I must say very personable and charming - Bernard can be found speaking at conferences, interviewed on Close Up or Campbell Live, adding his tuppence-happeny on the news or the latest doco-style coverage. And not just on the financials either - Bernard is called upon to comment on everything from stock dives to the latest technology. I think he may have even popped up during fashion week. And good on him for stepping into the breach at such a crisis point in world history and being concerned enough to selflessly make himself endlessly available to guide us through all this with his personal thoughts. When I read his latest article in the Herald today, I found myself wondering if, in truth, he would end up being elected Prime Minister in our forthcoming election as he would appear to have far more air and editorial time than the current crop of candidates. It is just possible that he is even outdoing the coverage given to Barack Obama and John McCain, which appears to outstrip our own domestic election discussions.
So good for Bernard - but what a sad indictment of mainstream media that they can't be bothered to do some decent research and unearth some other 'experts' in the field, rather than just commentators or fellow journalists.
This trend is not limited to New Zealand - all around the world mainstream media opt to talk to other journalists and commentators rather than the people at the centre of a situation. Is this because it is easier or because they then don't have to ask any tough questions? Or is it because their chosen commentator will reflect the editorial stance of the media outlet concerned? Or is it, as I suspect, just lazy journalism brought on by staff shortages and other drivers?
If mainstream media has a role to play in this current crisis (other than hype and hysteria), surely that role should be to accurately reflect and record what is happening and provide their audiences with as wide a perspective as possible, rather than just a narrow view? Analyse the online search results and you will see that people are searching for answers to questions that are not being responded to in mainstream media. Something which I take as a serious indication that mainstream - or traditional media - is seriously out of touch when it comes to understanding what we want and need to know. Perhaps they should be asking Bernard what to do next - otherwise their circulation, viewer and listener figures will start to dive alongside the financials.
Financial crisis latest: New Zealand to run out of 'experts'?
It would seem things have got really serious. Anyone watching Kiwi mainstream media in the last few months may, like me, have begun to conclude that the first visible impact of the global financial crisis here is a total lack of experts in the field. The main 'financial' pundit we are faced with day after day at the moment is Bernard Hickey. He seems to have been elevated to the role of chief national commentator. He is in fact, a career journalist and the editor-in-chief of a financial website. The ubiquitous - and I must say very personable and charming - Bernard can be found speaking at conferences, interviewed on Close Up or Campbell Live, adding his tuppence-happeny on the news or the latest doco-style coverage. And not just on the financials either - Bernard is called upon to comment on everything from stock dives to the latest technology. I think he may have even popped up during fashion week. And good on him for stepping into the breach at such a crisis point in world history and being concerned enough to selflessly make himself endlessly available to guide us through all this with his personal thoughts. When I read his latest article in the Herald today, I found myself wondering if, in truth, he would end up being elected Prime Minister in our forthcoming election as he would appear to have far more air and editorial time than the current crop of candidates. It is just possible that he is even outdoing the coverage given to Barack Obama and John McCain, which appears to outstrip our own domestic election discussions.
So good for Bernard - but what a sad indictment of mainstream media that they can't be bothered to do some decent research and unearth some other 'experts' in the field, rather than just commentators or fellow journalists.
This trend is not limited to New Zealand - all around the world mainstream media opt to talk to other journalists and commentators rather than the people at the centre of a situation. Is this because it is easier or because they then don't have to ask any tough questions? Or is it because their chosen commentator will reflect the editorial stance of the media outlet concerned? Or is it, as I suspect, just lazy journalism brought on by staff shortages and other drivers?
If mainstream media has a role to play in this current crisis (other than hype and hysteria), surely that role should be to accurately reflect and record what is happening and provide their audiences with as wide a perspective as possible, rather than just a narrow view? Analyse the online search results and you will see that people are searching for answers to questions that are not being responded to in mainstream media. Something which I take as a serious indication that mainstream - or traditional media - is seriously out of touch when it comes to understanding what we want and need to know. Perhaps they should be asking Bernard what to do next - otherwise their circulation, viewer and listener figures will start to dive alongside the financials.
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