Showing posts with label Mark Sainsbury. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Sainsbury. Show all posts

Thursday, 1 November 2007

The Day in Review Nov 1

- Not much difference tonight. Leading all bulletins was the cancer research linking obesity to cancer. The best battle came between One News Health Correspondent Lorelei Mason and 3News Health Correspondent Dr. Lilian Ng. Well-respected journo versus the doctor. The content was much the same really.
- Backing this up was the reward put out by police for a cold case from '88.
- National's law and order policy advocating compulsory DNA testing and tasers as standard issue got some decent traction. Unsurprisingly, Greg O'Connor was all for it - the Minister Annette King was not.
- The ongoing saga of the terror raids was continued, with the fact that three Baileys were arrested being the big topic of conversation.
- Didymo was the big loser on the telly, with One News the only one following it. (They lost points for more on Mallard, although so did Checkpoint.)
- While Campbell was interviewing one of the bailed many from the terror raids, Sainsbury was trying to grill John Key over his law and order policy. There's a big difference between being a journo and being an interviewer.
- The Wireless had a little beaut on a legal precedent being set in the Coromandel that gives local bodies greater power of veto over major projects.
Good night.

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

The Day in Review Oct 31

- The Cabinet reshuffle dominated the news tonight, with the big winner being Darren Hughes, a new Minister outside Cabinet, who managed to get interviewed on One, 3, and Prime. Not bad for the new Deputy Leader of the House. Everyone decided it was fairly cautious, although TV One pulled out all of the stops, sending Simon Dallow down to Wellington to chat to Guyon Espiner face-to-face in the Debating Chamber. Quite sad really.
- The tougher dog control laws got a fair amount of coverage - a good start for Nanaia Mahuta, but Auckland International Airport's decision to turn down the Canadians only managed to see the light on Prime (and Checkpoint).
- The big story of the night that snuck into the Prime and 3 bulletins (and a few ZB ones), was the fact that dead didymo cells were found in the Tongariro. This is the end?
- While Campbell had a nice chat with an Austarlian consumer advocate over multi-nationals and their shoddy goods, Sainsbury chewed the fat with the PM over her Cabinet reshuffle, before moving on to his hard-hitting story on curry.
Good night.

Monday, 29 October 2007

The Day in Review Oct 29

- Leading our bulletins this evening, the big two took on terrorism - again. This time, the fact that the police had asked the Solicitor General to advise on whether they could prosecute under the Suppression of Terrorism Act. One went with an interview of Marama, the latest lass to be granted bail while facing firearms charges. 3 proffered Tariana Turia's take, followed by Mini-Garner's explanation of what the legislation meant, and that this was a test case (in a 37 second soundbite). One followed this up with the war of words between Winston Peters and Pita Sharples (more of which we will see later).
- The Honourable Mr. Mallard's position in Cabinet was story number two, with Garner Major giving us his take on 3 before Guyon gave us the lowdown later on (collusion to avoid the head-on?). Both agreed Mallard's a dead duck (not my fault, the same lame joke's been pushed on us by all outlets).
- The firearm incident resulting in two injured soldiers in Afghanistan saw all three televisual providers (Prime led with it).
- Outside of the Irish President's visit, a home invasion, and the Royal blackmail plot, the pick tonight was 3's on-going coverage of the anglers' access trial. The jury's out, and farmers are watching (although it doesn't appear as though any journos are).
- Both Sainsbury and Campbell had Pita and Peters going head-to-head with their respective rhetoric - although John managed to get them on live, and then keep them for an extra segment (Sainsbury had to make do with vox populi leading into a replayed debate).
Nothing extra, good night.

Wednesday, 24 October 2007

The Day in Review Oct 24

- According to TV One and TV3, the fires of Malibu was still the most important news story of the day in New Zealand.
- Not so with Prime, which led with Dr. Skilling's report from the NZ Institute encouraging New Zealand to pull back from Kyoto. One agreed this was a big story, putting Dr. Skilling in their opening segment (he manages to get around quite well) - although it focused on the to-ing and fro-ing between the Guvmint and the Opposition rather than the actual story.
- The other big local story that received the consensus of all of our visual broadcasters was the Parliamentary Debate on the Suppression of Terrorism Act. Not much was actually said (that would involve too much explanation of what it actually is), but everyone wanted to ensure they were on top of it. Except me.
- 3 pulled one out of left-field with their second story on the conviction of the pounamu thieves being convicted. Checkpoint picked up on it too, but you expect that. Mark Solomon, Chair of Ngai Tahu, was well-chuffed.
- While 3 gave a paid advertisement to Meridian Energy's new enviro-friendly HQ on the Wellington Waterfront, One went with the Stagecoach story. While the bus company was happy to pay out a sum of money to the family of a chap run down by a driver, it was unwilling to apologise. Legal action is likely.
- Later on our current affairs due, while Mark Sainsbury did an old story from Campbell (the case of the disputed burial plot), John was talking to Scott Opticon of Auckland University and Assistant Police Commissioner Jon White about the legality of the road blocks in Ruatoki. Tough times for law enforcement agencies.
- My moment of "Why did you do that?" belongs to David Baldwin, Chief Executive of Contact Energy, for taking an interview with Mary Wilson. Always a rough ask at the best of times, but admitting to having brown asbestos at the plant you've closed when Mary knows it's the most dangerous type and you don't is one of those cringe-worthy seconds that seem to last for hours.
Good night.

Tuesday, 23 October 2007

The Day in Review Oct 23

- 3 bucked the trend tonight, opening with the double tragedy of mother and baby dying during breast feeding. Sadly bizarre.
- Everyone else then focused on the wild winds in the deep South and Hawke's Bay. Every conceivable angle was covered, mainly because there wasn't anything else to talk about today.
- The fires in Malibu backed it up, proving my point really.
- Unifying themes throughout the opening segments were the Glassie court appearances, home detention for two Wellington boy racers, and the house attack in Manukau.
- Prime introduced David Benson Pope's ongoing Labour Party sideshow first, with Barry Soper speculating on the Cabinet reshuffle next, before Guyon Espiner and Garner Major battled it out in their respective second segments. Much of a muchness really - Jones, Street, Parker, Cosgrove all mentioned for higher honours.
- A lil' more on the terror raids, with a chap receiving bail in Auckland, and more condemnation from the Maori Party, but not too much.
- The Wireless continued the theme, although I did note that their 5pm news bulletins picked up on NZ Football canning its effort to host the Oceania Champs due to the Guvmint's stance on Fiji. Oh, and they broke the story that Marky Mark was going to replace Ryan Gosling in the Loverly Bones next year.
- While Campbell gave us tips on how to manage our overflowing in-boxes after a long weekend and refrain from reacting hastily with an e-mail message, Sainsbury was talking to Greg O'Connor and Paul Mabey QC about bail. Current affairs versus infotainment - you decide.
- Too tough to pick a low moment, although the lack of any coverage on One about the access to land trial (two anglers were allegedly shot at by an angry farmer) was a doozy to miss. Oh, and having Karen explain away the weather patters as part of the lead story isn't really necessary.
Good night.

Thursday, 27 September 2007

The Day in Review Sept 27

- Leading all the way was the police shooting in Christchurch last night. Prime opened up with witnesses claiming the deceased was unarmed, and had the Police Association saying now was a good time for tasers, 3 went with the police defending the shooting, while One went with the account that the man was about to whack the officer with a hammer. 3 went on to the push for tasers, and yesterday's e-mail saga in Christchurch (although the man wasn't wielding a knife), whereas One went on to discuss the police's official gun policy. Steven Wallace's mother went on the wireless, and the parallels were easily made. Which letter will be added to this constable's name?
- One followed up this piece with the reopening of Mount Ruapehu, and had the lovely Sonya Wilson frolicking in the ski-fields. She reported on lahars too. Oh, and had a GNS scientist for credibility. 3 waited until after the break before returning to William Pike, preferring to note a head-on collision near Queenstown that was the site of a fatal unimog accident a few years back.
- The mystery body in the Bay of Plenty got some props, with Tokoroa police believing it to be Jimmy Slater; a man missing for 20 years.
- Darin Gardiner was found guilty of murder (surprise surprise).
- 3 let Garner Major loose on Tony Ryall, who was deeply apologetic for omitting the move to lose the GP fee cap from National's discussion paper. Earlier on NewstalkZB, Barry Soper pointed out that he had mentioned it once before... kind of.
- 3 also let us know that Pumpkin wanted to go to China with her nan.
- One did hide a nice little piece in its 6.30 ixposay, with Guyon Espiner grilling Mary Anne Thompson of the Department of Labour over the department report finding serious shortcomings at the border. Needless to say, Winston appeared on camera, armed with his crocodile smile and smooth coiffure.
- The Wireless was wrapped up in the shooting, as was Mark Sainsbury and John Campbell. Superintendent Sandra Manderson appeared live on Close Up, leaving John Boy to play one of those silly replay interviews where he asks the questions and she answers as though it were actually taking place for all the viewers to watch (much like an All Black replay). Reminiscent of the hey-day of Close Up when Susan Wood was hosting it, really.
- Insipid moment - One News. Melissa Stokes following in the footsteps of her predecessor, Lisa Owen (I had to get that in there). Read the summary:
French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj has turned the haka into a ballet performed by women in heels. Four All Blacks have watched the show in the South of France.
Good night.

Thursday, 20 September 2007

The Day in Review Sept 20

- A more indepth review would be a bonus today, but alas, there were only two stories according to our broadcasters, and one required much more coverage on the other. That of course would be the body in the boot, or the ongoing saga of Pumpkin. Every conceivable (to a journo) angle was covered, from how slowly the police took to open said boot (everyone), to how many journos did stories in front of the boot (Amanda Gillies on 3), to the police conference in Wellington defending their actions (everyone), to Lisa Owen pontificating (One), to Simon Dallow's exclusive interview with friends of Anan Liu (One), to Clayton Cosgrove making sure that Pumpkin's gran can come to NZ (everyone). Oh, and Sainsbury had an exclusive with Qian Xun's sister.
- The other biggie was the Government's climate change/carbon trading story. Again, our broadcasters broke it down to how it was going to impact on you (One had a grumpy old pensioner, 3 had optimistic youths (demographically speaking of course)), followed by their respective political editors explaining the actual policy away, because only Guyon and Duncan can do that for you (and are interested enough to do that for you), backed up by a story on how the Government was finally giving the forestry sector a break by allowing them to keep their carbon credits pre-1990. I thought agriculture got the biggest break myself, but hey, I don't have a farmer's moan to back me up. Oh, and Campbell had an exclusive with an Antarctic chap who swears that in eight years, the world will know climate change.
- These two aside, not much else happened. The murdered Auckland kid's accused was named; Gordon Copeland walked from his Christian Party; OJ was granted bail.
- The Wireless wasn't much better.
- Insipid and unnecessary (excluding Lisa Owen): Britney has to undergo alcohol tests in the hours preceeding her custody of the kids as her custody battle with K-Fed heats up.
Good night.

Wednesday, 19 September 2007

The Day in Review Sept 19

- Pumpkin and her mum led the way, with the discovery of the body of an Asian woman taking hold of every anchors' lips. So much so, that TV3 devoted its entire opening segment to Pumpkin, her family, the investigation, and how Chinese New Zealanders like to use Skykiwi to talk to the authorities as it's less daunting than anything else. 'Nuff said I say.
- John Key's call to give Clint Rickards a nice Golden Handshake got considerable coverage, with 3 focusing on Key wanting the matter dealt with (and Peter Dunne sidling up to John Boy), while One took the Prime Minister's dismissal of Mr. Key's political naiveity and complete disregard for legal process. Odd seeing the State broadcaster backing the State on this one.
- One also had the only coverage previewing tomorrow's big climate change/carbon trading announcement, with Guyon Espiner waxing lyrically about how the agricultural sector was going to be given (another) break. They followed that up with a piece on Qantas accepting that NZers liked the idea of carbon neutrality.
- 3 jumped on the opportunity to stick it to Sky following its victory in the High Court, banning Sky from using RWC coverage on its lifestyle programmes. There's nothing like a good winner I say.
- The Fed Reserve's decisison to lower interest rates in the States saw some traction, as did the fall-out from the new Christian party. But all-in-all, it was a fairly quiet night (again).
- Campbell gushed over a poor woman who had to stay indoors because she developed an intolerance to sunlight, poor old gal. While Sainsbury had us feel sorry for the family of a special needs kid who drowned on a school outing.
- Not much else to say, other than Go OJ Go.
Good night.

Wednesday, 12 September 2007

The Day in Review Sept 12

- Again, the case of the adolescent fingered as a murderer on the social networking web-site Bebo led our broadcaters' news bulletins. This aside, everything was fairly higgledy-piggledy.
- The on-going scalp of Damien O'Connor blighted our screens, with Hannah Hodson putting on her best impression of a hard-hitting political journlist on One. Our man Duncan over on 3 was bemused that the Minister was refusing to answer any questions at his tourism conference in Auckland. Gee.
- New regulation for finance companies managed to get an airing on Prime with Dr. Cullen dictating to the reoprters that things were going to get better. Not so our beloved big two, who thought the ongoing sagas of Osama and the McCanns was a good example of hard-hitting international news that would inform AND entertain the average viewer, who doesn't want to know about... y'know, financial stuff, like what a secured debenture is when a finance company's offering 11%. It's secured. It's gotta be safe.
- 3 trumped One with its piece on the police and St. John's Ambluance under fire for failing to send out a chopper to pick up a hunter out of Wellington last night quick enough. The chap died, and despite the Westpc Lifeflight Trust pilot Dave Greenberg telling us it would have been a difficult lift, 40 minutes was too long and questions are being asked.
- Rugby got a good beating in the opening segments. The best of which was 3's coverage of its successful temporary injunction against Sky broadcasting any RWC coverage. I have never heard a more contented cat that got its milk.
- One aired another sycophantic piece on Peter Jackson, who saved a chapel owned by the Sisters of Mercy. Nice to see our Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast use it for all it's worth in the lead-up to her election campaign. It's a shame Rexy didn't finish all of his projects; then she wouldn't have to serve another term.
- The Wireless gave good coverage to the nurses' pay-rise with the DHBs. Still underpaid and overworked. Poor wee things.
- Close Up devoted its first segment to a South African woman who was jilted by her husband, had lost residency, and failed to get a visa. Thanks to Close Up's involvement (late in the piece after the Taranaki Daily News had been an advocate for her for some time), Immigration relented and she was allowed to stay. Sainsbury followed that up with a nice little piece with Roger Moses, the venerable headmaster of Wellington College, and Steve Tew of the NZRU on the dwindling numbers playing rugby. Campbell on the other hand, did the hard yards, investigating the rise of Melanotan 2, the cure-all jab to give you a tan, suppress your appetite, and increase your libido, all in one. Nice one John.
- No insipid moment tonight (they're all above). The feel-good story of the evening was the Nobel Peace Prize Nomination for the Spirit of Adventure Trust. I never set foot on the boat, but I know a lot of people who have.
Good night.