Points for trying

At last the media is calling Winston Peters’ bluff.

John Campbell did an admirable job of attempting to get him to show some proof and give a straight answer.

Campbell wasn’t successful but at least he showed Peters obfuscating.

And tonight Rebecca Wright did her best to get him to prove his comments on Auckland as sin-city.

Three weeks ago, Winston Peters made a speech to Grey Power in Takapuna, entitled “Auckland, super city or sin city?”

In it, he used the word “China” 21 times and he asked the question “who’s running things here, us or them?”

Is there any other immigrant group that gets singled out like that?

It was all in a speech that refers to corruption, crime, money laundering, shady dealing, pokey machines, sex workers, cheating Asian students, a slave trade, drug importation and the seven deadly sins.

So Campbell Live asked Winston Peters for proof. . .

The video is here.

Unfortunately the deluded who think he can do no wrong will probably think he’s in the right and that the media is treating him unfairly.

 

Where is the gatekeeper?

Newsrooms used to have gatekeepers.

They were usually senior journos with the wide knowledge and good common sense required to know when a story wasn’t news.

If newsrooms still have gatekeepers they have lowered their standards when non-stories like a politician telling parents what not to tell their children gets through.

A little more of the story

The headline says: Dunne-leak reporter Andrea Vance clams up.

The story, behind the NBR’s paywall starts:

Ex-tabloid reporter Andrea Vance has gone overseas after being painted into a corner over the truth and depth of her relationship with resigned revenue minister Peter Dunne. . .

The story goes on to say the NBR wanted to give Ms Vance the chance to give her side of the story and lists some questions it wanted to ask.

One not on the list was why are you going overseas?

The story doesn’t say she’s left because of the Dunne debacle but the implication that her trip is linked to it is clear.

But the trip was not precipitated by the resignation story nor did it have anything to do with it.

I happened to meet someone who knows Ms Vance very well on Saturday and he told me then she was about to leave the country. I didn’t take much notice of the reason for the trip but it had been planned some time ago.

That it coincides with a media storm over Dunne is nothing more than a coincidence.

 

 

 

 

Fairfax must protect source

Peter Dunne wants Fairfax to say he wasn’t the source of the leak about the GCSB but it won’t.

If a media outlet says one person didn’t do something it could turn in to a guessing game.

It will be asked if someone else did it. If it said yes other names will be proffered and if the outlet refuses to say s/he didn’t it will imply that s/he did.

Labour leader David Shearer wants Fairfax to release the emails between its journalist Andrea Vance and Dunne but it is refusing to do that too.

Fairfax Group executive editor Paul Thompson said politicians should tread carefully before embarking on a witch hunt. That could have a chilling effect on how journalists covered politicians.

Fairfax would protect the communications between its journalists and any contacts, regardless of whether they were the source of sensitive information or not.

“The protection of our sources is paramount,” Thompson said.

“We will resist any attempt to force us to release that sort of information.

“It’s the most fundamental commitment we make to our sources. We will go as far as we need to to protect that information.”

The protection of sources is a fundamental plank of journalistic freedom.

Fairfax is right to protect its sources.

Dunne could have shown the emails in confidence to David Henry who was investigating the leak. Having chosen not to, he can’t expect Fairfax to dig him out of the hole in which he’s found himself.

He used the importance of communication with an MP being able to remain confidential. That’s precisely the same argument which justifies Fairfax’s stance.

Illiberal left

Do LabourGreen and New Zealand First understand what they’re doing in calling for a police investigation over the leaking of the GCSB report?

Politics lecturer Brent Bryce Edwards rightly says they’re being illiberal:

“There’s always problems when the police get involved in the political and media realm. It can have a very chilling affect on politics and journalism,” Dr Edwards says.

Threshold not reached
Generally those that regard themselves as politically liberal will not want the police involved unless utterly necessary, says the Politics Daily compiler.

“Therefore the threshold for calling the cops into Parliament and newsrooms should be very high. It’s hard to see that this threshold has been reached in this case,” Dr Edwards says.

“Normally those that call the police in on their political opponents are from an authoritarian political philosophy. By contrast, liberals generally regard those that leak government department reports as heroic whistleblowers that are enabling the freedom of information and the right of the public to know what those in authority are doing.”

That was certainly the case when, Tracy Watkins reminds us,  Labour’s Phil Goff was gleefully leaking sensitive Cabinet documents relating to Foreign Affairs.

He almost certainly got the papers from a public servant who, like an MP, is supposed to keep confidential matters in confidence and, unlike an MP, be non-partisan in his/her work.

Jane Clifton reminds us:

The affair does underline the dichotomy we in the political firmament face over the issue of leaks, though. Labour and New Zealand First are harrumphing like scandalised Wodehousian aunts about Dunne’s behaviour. Yet both have received, publicised and gloated over similarly spicey leaks in their time.

Leaks have come to the Opposition from two of the most sacred departments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government Security Communications Bureau, at times in farcical quantity. Information from these bureaucracies have the potential to harm this country’s security and trade.

It’s a very unhealthy sign that such officials are prepared to undermine the Government by leaking information that could also undermine the welfare of the country. Yet the Opposition has trafficked in them with abandon, and never has a single Labour, Green or NZ First politician called the police about such documents, as they have done over the Dunne situation.

Clifton goes on to remind us that leaks are undeniably desirable for the media and the public who learn from them.

Calling for a police investigation is at best baffling and definitely hypocritical when all three parties have benefited from leaks, the most recent being of the Henry report to Peters.

Would he like an investigation into that one too?

People behind politics

When politics gets personal it’s usually not for good reason.

The genuine goodwill towards Parekura Horomia and genuine sorrow over his death has been a pleasant exception to this rule.

People from across the political spectrum have paid tribute to him and in doing so have provided a far better picture and understanding of him in death than most of us would have had of him in life.

The biographies of political leaders are generally well canvassed but other MPs come, serve and go with the public who put them in parliament knowing little about the people behind the politics.

Even in these days of instant news, there’s room for more in-depth profiles which would tell us more about the people we pay to run the country.

It might help improve the public perception of most politicians and show up the few who should find another job.

Is his money our business?

Susan Woods pressed David Shearer to reveal on Q+A yesterday how much money is in the account he omitted to declare in his register of pecuniary interest.

SUSAN          Much made this week of the Prime Minister’s memory loss. You, of course, have had your own memory loss over that $50,000 US or more, how much was it?

DAVID            I’m not going to say. It’s my family business. I don’t talk about my savings online, but I do-

SUSAN          Tony Ryall said in the house it was a couple of hundred thousand dollars US. Is that correct, or is it more than that?

DAVID            I’m not going to say. It’s my family business.

SUSAN          Didn’t you lose your right for privacy around it when you forgot to declare it? When you broke the rules and did not declare it?

DAVID            No, I absolutely did not. I said that I made an error. I myself came forward and corrected that error. I took it on the chin and said ‘here it is’. And I expect that to be the standard by which all politicians operate if they do make a mistake.

SUSAN          That’s what John Key did this week. He said he’d made a mistake and he fessed up. Exactly the same scenario.

DAVID            I think what John Key was doing this week-

SUSAN          He came forward.

DAVID            No-

SUSAN          Yes, he did. He came forward and he said, ‘Actually, I’ve checked by records and I did call Ian Fletcher.’ He came forward.

DAVID            What he was doing this week was that he was deliberately trying to move opinion away from and deflect opinion away from his friendship and relationship with Fletcher.

SUSAN          Is your problem with this money- Is your problem with this more than $50,000 US in the bank, is your problem that there is so much money there that it would not resonate? You would not resonate? I mean, Michael Cullen very famously called John Key a ‘rich prick’. Are you, Mr Shearer, a rich prick?

DAVID            Look, I worked for my money working for the United Nations in Iraq. I put it in the bank. It’s my family’s savings. I didn’t put it on my pecuniary interest. I declared that and I came forward and I was honest about it.

SUSAN          And you were very well paid in that job, sometimes up to half a million Kiwi dollars a year.

DAVID            No, I think you need to do your research on that, quite frankly, Susan. But, look, working in Iraq, where we lost 25 people, there was a- people do get paid hazard money in those situations.

SUSAN          What’s the money sitting there for?

DAVID            Look, it’s my family- Look, people put money in the bank for any- Look, this is my private savings, my family’s savings. Do you ask John Key what he does with $50 million when he comes on to your show?

SUSAN          John Key actually does have scrutiny over his money all the time. There are reports about how much money he has; he’s on the NBR Rich List – all those sorts of things. So, yes, he does have the same sort of scrutiny.

DAVID            Well, I haven’t heard you asking the same sorts of questions-

SUSAN          I haven’t had him on the programme yet, but when I do, I will ask him. So, are reports that it’s around $1 million correct or incorrect?

DAVID            Look, I am not going to put a figure on it, and I resent the fact that you are asking me to reveal how much is in my bank account. Nobody needs to do that. I have done-

SUSAN          You do need to.

DAVID            I have done what I was obliged to do under parliamentary rules, which is to declare any account that had more than $50,000 in it. I did do that. I regret, obviously, not putting that on my pecuniary interests, and that’s where it stops.

In the normal course of events it is none of our business exactly how much money MPs have.

They have to declare anything more than $50,000 and Shearer didn’t.

That he could forget he had that much when filling in his register of pecuniary interest although his memory didn’t fail him when filling in his tax return is peculiar.

Even if the account has $50,000.01 which requires it to be declared, it is more than a great many people would ever have saved and a lot more than most would ever forget they owned.

Shearer has opened himself up to questions. Many people will be very interested in exactly how much is in the account he forgot about. The greater the amount, the stranger his memory lapse, but is it in the public interest to know the total?

Woods says she’s going to ask the PM the same questions but Shearer’s memory lapse and refusal to divulge the amount in the forgotten account doesn’t give her any reason to dig into anyone else’s personal finances.

Providing it was made legally and anything that has to be declared is, how much an MP has, is not our business.

Savings and packaging

Discussion with Jim Mora on Critical Mass today was sparked by:

* Twenty money-saving tips from bankers and their wives  (for which I tip a hat to A Bee of a Certain Age) and the comments which it provoked.

Among those comments were:

 

Great tips!

Kudos on finding that delicate balance between classism and sexism.

Mr. Moneybags | 4 days ago

 

Cancel your private health insurance and get paid to enrol the entire family in scientific experiments.

wysiwig | 4 days ago

 

You know, this is good, but I think you’re missing a few things that might really help the average wealthy investment banker take the sting out of tightening his belt. For example: . . .

- If you are not particularly fond of one or more of your younger children, there is a great way to kill two birds with one stone by cutting costs at home on food AND the mouths you need to feed. I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout. Not to mention the guilt you will spare yourself by not having to put the little tyke into a private school. It may sound radical, but it’s just a modest proposal.

Good luck!

supernovashock | 4 days ago

1.  
2. 

   I really like the assumption that all these bankers are men. What if there is a straight woman banker? Should she get her wife to iron her shirts? Should she just quit in an effort to apease the patriarchy so this article can hold true? I can’t believe this article was written by a woman. Shame on you, Sarah Butcher. It’s women like you who make it so much harder for the rest of us to to break out of the shitty mould society says we must fit.

   Moocow | 4 days ago

    
3. 

   Straight women bankers are a dying breed.

   Edwarde Sanspoisson | 4 days ago

    
4. 

   Maybe they’re dying in ironing accidents…

   Jef With One F | 4 days ago

 

One way that I save myself money on a regular basis is by parking my private jet and just taking the bus to Vegas. A jet is not really necessary unless travelling over oceans. This method has saved me bucket loads of cash. I recommend you all to do the same, but if those smelly commoners are just too dirty for you to rub elbows with, you might also consider booking a personal car on the train.

Ashley | 2 days ago

We also looked at:

* Cool and unusual packaging.

 

Writing for nothing

A journalism website pointed me to this advertisement seeking rural writers and artists:

Organisation/person name: 

The Rural

Work type: 

Casual

Work classification: 

Writer – Feature Writer

Job description: 

From gumboots to growing veg, The Rural is the lifestyle website for New Zealand’s rural community. 

Going live next month, we are looking for writers to regularly submit articles for features and to respond to news events.

Example topics: Farming, equine, hunting, fishing, DIY, recipes, sustainable living, organic farming, home grown food, pets.

We are also interested in talking to photographers wanting to submit their photos for use, and to illustrators interested in creating funny cartoons about NZ’s rural life.

All of which sounds interesting until you get to this:

These are unpaid positions, perfect for those looking to build up a portfolio.

Samuel Johnson said  no man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money.

The world has many blockheads and if some of them choose to contribute to the website, they are free to do so.

Some may find the thrill of their words in print is sufficient reward.

But let’s not confuse writing for fun with a job, especially if other people are making money from the site because of the contributions of the unpaid scribes and photographers.

Bad taste photo tells wrong story

Federated Farmers is justifiably unhappy about a photo the NZ Herald used to illustrate a drought story.

We understand from inquiries that the animal shown had suffered a major injury. A vet had attended and a decision was taken to end its suffering; this was appropriate, humane and has absolutely nothing to do with the current drought.

Members of Federated Farmers are rightfully concerned the photo is in bad taste and lacks context.

Federated Farmers feels the NZ Herald has made a story fit an image. It wrongly creates the impression there are widespread animal welfare issues when in fact there aren’t.

We have asked the Ministry for Primary Industries and they report the condition of stock coming through for processing is no different now than it was before the various drought declarations.

Farmers are responsibly sending stock away while they are in good condition. Furthermore, livestock have to meet all animal welfare requirements on the transportation of stock. For the occasional animal that has suffered a debilitating injury or illness, then humane slaughter on-farm may be appropriate under the animal welfare code.

The story, headlined, drought takes deadly toll on farms is topped by a photo of a farmer about to shoot a cow.

But the cow isn’t a victim of the drought.

But Federated Farmers spokesperson Willy Leferink says the cow was not suffering from starvation and was euthanised in the presence of a vet because of a major injury.

“This was appropriate, humane and has absolutely nothing to do with the current drought.”

Mr Leferink says farmers cannot just kill stock if they cannot feed them because it is against the law.

“A farmer has to get in contact with the authorities and ask for help if they cannot feed their cows. They cannot just shoot them, that is against our laws,” he told 3 News.

“NZ Herald has made a story fit an image. It wrongly creates the impression there are widespread animal welfare issues when in fact there aren’t.”. . .

Farmers are permitted to humanely slaughter an animal on their farm if is it is justified by severe illness or injury.

That’s what the photo shows but the headline and story would lead readers to think it was being shot because of the drought.

It is an out of context photo that tells the wrong story and sensationalises a serious issue of drought which is not one of animal welfare.

 

Is anything of note happening here?

Many years ago a British TV programme lampooned New Zealand television for the items carried in the news.

I’m a little vague on the details but I think something to do with the theft of a few sheep had been a leading story at the time.

The implication was we were just a quaint little country where nothing of note happened.

Anyone whose been looking for serious current affairs on television could be forgiven for thinking this still applies.

Seven Sharp didn’t promise to be serious and has failed anyway.

I’d hoped for much better from TV3′s 3rd Degree. It promised much but delivered so little I stopped watching after a very few minutes.

I take it from several reviews, including One Guy too Many from Cactus Kate and why TV3 should hang its head in shame over ’3rd Degree’ and why I suspect Duncan Garner and Guyon Espiner would agree with me from Brian Edwards, that I was wise to do so.

There’s one last chance for television this morning. Q & A starts at 9am.

A media release from TVNZ says:

We speak to the Government’s Mr Fix It, Steven Joyce, about the deals with Novopay and SkyCity, and question how committed the government is to creating new jobs.

Also on the programme, should marriage be solely between a man and woman; we hear from a gay couple who question why they’re being treated as second class citizens. We debate the same-sex marriage bill with Labour MP Louisa Wall and Conservative Party Leader Colin Craig, and ask if gay couples should be able to adopt.

On the panel this week is political scientist Dr Raymond Miller, publisher Ian Wishart, and former Labour party candidate Josie Pagani.

Join host Susan Wood and political editor Corin Dann on Q+A at 9am this Sunday on TV One.

I probably won’t be. I have other things on my agenda this morning – as do most other people at 9am on Sunday. But I will try to catch up with what happened on MySky later in the hope that maybe one little corner of television thinks there is something happening in New Zealand which people ought to know about.

Books, maps and super heroes’ alphabet

Discussion with Jim Mora on Critical Mass today was sparked by:

* The 30 best places to be if you love books.

* 38 maps you didn’t know you needed.

* And a phonetic alphabet based on superheroes (only some of whom I recognised).

Dodgy numbers

Last week Social Development Minister Paula Bennett issued media releases which said the future focus was helping to reduce the number of people on benefits and benefit figures were under forecast.

Yesterday the Herald on Sunday featured Labour’s Jacinda Ardern saying more people were on benefits.

So who’s right?

Kiwiblog has the figures:

Let’s look at the actual data, in terms of increase or decrease each year. For DPB they are

• 2008 +2,128
• 2009 +9,007
• 2010 +3,576
• 2011 +1,365
• 2012 -5,112

I think we now understand why Jacinda left the 2012 figures off. What I don’t know if why the Herald on Sunday did.

Let’s do the same with Invalid’s Benefit numbers.

• 2008 +3,419
• 2009 +1,537
• 2010 +67
• 2011 -1,062
• 2012 -472

And for those interested in the Unemployment Benefit.

• 2008 +7,760
• 2009 +35,820
• 2010 +756
• 2011 -7,120
• 2012 -6,217

They all show the same thing. The increase in benefit numbers started in 2008 (under Labour) and worsened in 2009 as the Global Financial Crisis struck.  Despite patchy economic growth since 2009, benefit numbers in all three categories have fallen in the last two years.

And Lindsay Mitchell provides more analysis which shows Ardern is wrong.

Opposition MPs are supposed to show up government failings but it’s not at all clever to use dodgy stats to do it.

Reporters are supposed to check facts and provide balance, the one who wrote this story failed on both counts.

Critical Mass

Discussion with Jim Mora on Critical Mass today was sparked by:

* A sign that civilisation as we know it is crumbling – Anne of Green Gables has been changed from a skinny red-head to a buxom blonde with come hither eyes. Hat tip: Beattie’s Book Blog.,

* Plain English explanations of 18 scientific occupations.

* 40 things to say before you die (hat tip: Amanda Morrall).

Hakwesby tribute to Holmes

Newstalk ZB paid its final tribute to Sir Paul Holmes by broadcasting his funeral service live and commercial-free.

I was driving home from Christchurch and was moved by the tributes paid by his friends.

Among them was John Hawkesby. TV3 has the  video here.

TVNZ has extracts for that and other tributes here.

 

Punctuation marks & business cards

Discussion with Jim Mora on Critical Mass today was sparked by:

13 little known punctuation marks we should be using at Mental Floss.

Some of them could be very useful but I can’t work out how to do them on a keyboard.

And

Business cards of 20 famous people.

 

Sharpish in places

TVNZ promised lots in the promos for  Seven Sharp.

They delivered three presenters who managed to keep up traction without falling over each other’s lines, which isn’t easy to do.

The first segment took us to the PM in his office and a behind the parliamentary scenes tour led by Paula Bennett. It moved so quickly it had a strobe effect which was a bit off-putting.

I’m a political tragic and a fan of both MPs but I guess this would have wider appeal. Anyone who thought the PM had a glamorous life would have had their illusions shattered by his tale of dinners of cold baked beans from the can.

The dig at the three Labour David’s was witty enough- though people without my blue bias might not have enjoyed the ghost of leader-past as much as I did.

A soldier with post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious issue and one worth covering but something distracted me minutes into the interview and by the time I tuned back it was over.

Viewer suggestions and a poll on who should escort the PM onto the marae at Waitangi was supposed to be funny but felt a bit too try-hard for feedback.

The programme ended with an interview with a singer who gave me the impression he was a pleasant bloke. His name escapes me – which could be an indication I’m not the target audience.

The promos promised more than the first show delivered – it might be Seven Sharp but it was more just sharpish in places.

However, it’s is going to be filming live in Oamaru on Wednesday when the Scott 100 celebrations  get underway so I’ll reserve judgement and give it points in advance for getting out of Auckland and Wellington.

NZ 8th in world for media freedom

New Zealand has moved from 13th place to eighth for media freedom in a table complied by Reporters Without Borders.

 . . .The same three European countries that headed the index last year hold the top three positions again this year. For the third year running, Finland has distinguished itself as the country that most respects media freedom. It is followed by the Netherlands and Norway. Although many criteria are considered, ranging from legislation to violence against journalists, democratic countries occupy the top of the index while dictatorial countries occupy the last three positions. Again it is the same three as last year – Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea.

 

“The Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “In dictatorships, news providers and their families are exposed to ruthless reprisals, while in democracies news providers have to cope with the media’s economic crises and conflicts of interest. While their situation is not always comparable, we should pay tribute to all those who resist pressure whether it is aggressively focused or diffuse.” . . .

Rank	Country	Note	Differential
1	Finland	6,38	0 (1)
2	Netherlands	6,48	+1 (3)
3	Norway	6,52	-2 (1)
4	Luxembourg	6,68	+2 (6)
5	Andorra	6,82	-
6	Denmark	7,08	+4 (10)
7	Liechtenstein	7,35	-
8	New Zealand	8,38	+5 (13)
9	Iceland	8,49	-3 (6)
10	Sweden	9,23	+2 (12)
11	Estonia	9,26	-8 (3)
12	Austria	9,40	-7 (5)
13	Jamaica	9,88	+3 (16)
14	Switzerland	9,94	-6 (8)
15	Ireland	10,06	0 (15)
16	Czech Republic	10,17	-2 (14)
17	Germany	10,24	-1 (16)
18	Costa Rica	12,08	+1 (19)
19	Namibia	12,50	+1 (20)
20	Canada	12,69	-10 (10)
21	Belgium	12,94	-1 (20)
22	Poland	13,11	+2 (24)
23	Slovakia	13,25	+2 (25)
24	Cyprus	13,83	-8 (16)
25	Cape Verde	14,33	-16 (9)
26	Australia	15,24	+4 (30)
27	Uruguay	15,92	+5 (32)
28	Portugal	16,75	+5 (33)
29	United Kingdom	16,89	-1 (28)
30	Ghana	17,27	+11 (41)
31	Suriname	18,19	-9 (22)
32	United States	18,22	+15 (47)
33	Lithuania	18,24	-3 (30)
34	OECS	19,72	-9 (25)
35	Slovenia	20,49	+1 (36)
36	Spain	20,50	+3 (39)
37	France	21,60	+1 (38)
38	El Salvador	22,86	-1 (37)
39	Latvia	22,89	+11 (50)
40	Botswana	22,91	+2 (42)
41	Papua New Guinea	22,97	-6 (35)
42	Romania	23,05	+5 (47)
43	Niger	23,08	-14 (29)
44	Trinidad and Tobago	23,12	+6 (50)
45	Malta	23,30	+13 (58)
46	Burkina Faso	23,70	+22 (68)
47	Taiwan	23,82	-2 (45)
48	Samoa	23,84	+6 (54)
49	Haiti	24,09	+3 (52)
50	South Korea	24,48	-6 (44)
51	Comoros	24,52	-6 (45)
52	South Africa	24,56	-10 (42)
53	Japan	25,17	-31 (22)
54	Argentina	25,67	-7 (47)
55	Moldova	26,01	-2 (53)
56	Hungary	26,09	-16 (40)
57	Italy	26,11	+4 (61)
58	Hong Kong	26,16	-4 (54)
59	Senegal	26,19	+16 (75)
60	Chile	26,24	+20 (80)
61	Sierra Leone	26,35	+2 (63)
62	Mauritius	26,47	-8 (54)
63	Serbia	26,59	+17 (80)
64	Croatia	26,61	+4 (68)
65	Central African Republic	26,61	-3 (62)
66	Tonga	26,70	-3 (63)
67	Mauritania	26,76	0 (67)
68	Bosnia and Herzegovina	26,86	-10 (58)
69	Guyana	27,08	-11 (58)
70	Tanzania	27,34	-36 (34)
71	Kenya	27,80	+13 (84)
72	Zambia	27,93	+14 (86)
73	Mozambique	28,01	-7 (66)
74	Armenia	28,04	+3 (77)
75	Malawi	28,18	+71 (146)
76	Republic of the Congo	28,20	+14 (90)
77	Kuwait	28,28	+1 (78)
78	Nicaragua	28,31	-6 (72)
79	Benin	28,33	+12 (91)
80	Dominican Republic	28,34	+15 (95)
81	Lesotho	28,36	-18 (63)
82	Bhutan	28,42	-12 (70)
83	Togo	28,45	-4 (79)
84	Greece	28,46	-14 (70)
85	Kosovo	28,47	+1 (86)
86	Guinea	28,49	0 (86)
87	Bulgaria	28,58	-7 (80)
88	Madagascar	28,62	-4 (84)
89	Gabon	28,69	+12 (101)
90	East Timor	28,72	-4 (86)
91	Paraguay	28,78	-11 (80)
92	Guinea-Bissau	28,94	-17 (75)
93	Seychelles	29,19	-20 (73)
94	Northern Cyprus	29,34	+8 (102)
95	Guatemala	29,39	+2 (97)
96	Ivory Coast	29,77	+63 (159)
97	Liberia	29,89	+13 (110)
98	Mongolia	29,93	+2 (100)
99	Mali	30,03	-74 (25)
100	Georgia	30,09	+4 (104)
101	Lebanon	30,15	-8 (93)
102	Albania	30,88	-6 (96)
103	Maldives	31,10	-30 (73)
104	Uganda	31,69	+35 (139)
105	Peru	31,87	+10 (115)
106	Kyrgyzstan	32,20	+2 (108)
107	Fiji	32,69	+10 (117)
108	Brazil	32,75	-9 (99)
109	Bolivia	32,80	-1 (108)
110	Qatar	32,86	+4 (114)
111	Panama	32,95	+2 (113)
112	Israel	32,97	-20 (92)
113	Montenegro	32,97	-6 (107)
114	United Arab Emirates	33,49	-2 (112)
115	Nigeria	34,11	+11 (126)
116	Republic of Macedonia	34,27	-22 (94)
117	Venezuela	34,44	0 (117)
118	Nepal	34,61	-12 (106)
119	Ecuador	34,69	-15 (104)
120	Cameroon	34,78	-23 (97)
121	Chad	34,87	-18 (103)
122	Brunei	35,45	+3 (125)
123	Tajikistan	35,71	-1 (122)
124	South Sudan	36,20	-13 (111)
125	Algeria	36,54	-3 (122)
126	Ukraine	36,79	-10 (116)
127	Honduras	36,92	+8 (135)
128	Afghanistan	37,36	+22 (150)
129	Colombia	37,48	+14 (143)
130	Angola	37,80	+2 (132)
131	Libya	37,86	+23 (154)
132	Burundi	38,02	-2 (130)
133	Zimbabwe	38,12	-16 (117)
134	Jordan	38,47	-6 (128)
135	Thailand	38,60	+2 (137)
136	Morocco	39,04	+2 (138)
137	Ethiopia	39,57	-10 (127)
138	Tunisia	39,93	-4 (134)
139	Indonesia	41,05	+7 (146)
140	India	41,22	-9 (131)
141	Oman	41,51	-24 (117)
142	DR Congo	41,66	+3 (145)
143	Cambodia	41,81	-26 (117)
144	Bangladesh	42,01	-15 (129)
145	Malaysia	42,73	-23 (122)
146	Palestine	43,09	+7 (153)
147	Philippines	43,11	-7 (140)
148	Russia	43,42	-6 (142)
149	Singapore	43,43	-14 (135)
150	Iraq	44,67	+2 (152)
151	Burma	44,71	+18 (169)
152	Gambia	45,09	-11 (141)
153	Mexico	45,30	-4 (149)
154	Turkey	46,56	-6 (148)
155	Swaziland	46,76	-11 (144)
156	Azerbaijan	47,73	+6 (162)
157	Belarus	48,35	+11 (168)
158	Egypt	48,66	+8 (166)
159	Pakistan	51,31	-8 (151)
160	Kazakhstan	55,08	-6 (154)
161	Rwanda	55,46	-5 (156)
162	Sri Lanka	56,59	+1 (163)
163	Saudi Arabia	56,88	-5 (158)
164	Uzbekistan	60,39	-7 (157)
165	Bahrain	62,75	+8 (173)
166	Equatorial Guinea	67,20	-5 (161)
167	Djibouti	67,40	-8 (159)
168	Laos	67,99	-3 (165)
169	Yemen	69,22	+2 (171)
170	Sudan	70,06	0 (170)
171	Cuba	71,64	-4 (167)
172	Vietnam	71,78	0 (172)
173	China	73,07	+1 (174)
174	Iran	73,40	+1 (175)
175	Somalia	73,59	-11 (164)
176	Syria	78,53	0 (176)
177	Turkmenistan	79,14	0 (177)
178	North Korea	83,90	0 (178)
179	Eritrea	84,83	0 (179)

School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing lecturer Dr Cathy Strong describes New Zealand’s improved ranking as “good news” though she still urges vigilance.

Dr Strong, who, re-joined the University last year after three years teaching multi-media journalism in Dubai, says the ranking is well above the USA ranked 32nd, the UK ranked 29th and Australia ranked 26th.

“It is a case of use it or lose it. My experience working in the Middle East made it clear that many people don’t even know the concept of free media, so New Zealand should not be blasé about the treasure it has.” . . .

Dr Strong says New Zealand should be proud that it continually guards the right of journalists to have access to public information, especially as it is the public’s taxes that pay for the generation of this information.

“Every time someone uses the Official information Act to compel a local authority or government department to release facts and figures, it is another step to ensure media freedom.”

Upholding freedom for bloggers and social media is a “vexing problem” she says, as they should have freedom, but like journalists, they should exercise it with a sense of social responsibility. . .

The right to express views and disseminate information electronically carries with it the responsibility to do so fairly and honestly.

Rank	Country	Note	Differential
1	Finland	6,38	0 (1)
2	Netherlands	6,48	+1 (3)
3	Norway	6,52	-2 (1)
4	Luxembourg	6,68	+2 (6)
5	Andorra	6,82	-
6	Denmark	7,08	+4 (10)
7	Liechtenstein	7,35	-
8	New Zealand	8,38	+5 (13)
9	Iceland	8,49	-3 (6)
10	Sweden	9,23	+2 (12)
11	Estonia	9,26	-8 (3)
12	Austria	9,40	-7 (5)
13	Jamaica	9,88	+3 (16)
14	Switzerland	9,94	-6 (8)
15	Ireland	10,06	0 (15)
16	Czech Republic	10,17	-2 (14)
17	Germany	10,24	-1 (16)
18	Costa Rica	12,08	+1 (19)
19	Namibia	12,50	+1 (20)
20	Canada	12,69	-10 (10)
21	Belgium	12,94	-1 (20)
22	Poland	13,11	+2 (24)
23	Slovakia	13,25	+2 (25)
24	Cyprus	13,83	-8 (16)
25	Cape Verde	14,33	-16 (9)
26	Australia	15,24	+4 (30)
27	Uruguay	15,92	+5 (32)
28	Portugal	16,75	+5 (33)
29	United Kingdom	16,89	-1 (28)
30	Ghana	17,27	+11 (41)
31	Suriname	18,19	-9 (22)
32	United States	18,22	+15 (47)
33	Lithuania	18,24	-3 (30)
34	OECS	19,72	-9 (25)
35	Slovenia	20,49	+1 (36)
36	Spain	20,50	+3 (39)
37	France	21,60	+1 (38)
38	El Salvador	22,86	-1 (37)
39	Latvia	22,89	+11 (50)
40	Botswana	22,91	+2 (42)
41	Papua New Guinea	22,97	-6 (35)
42	Romania	23,05	+5 (47)
43	Niger	23,08	-14 (29)
44	Trinidad and Tobago	23,12	+6 (50)
45	Malta	23,30	+13 (58)
46	Burkina Faso	23,70	+22 (68)
47	Taiwan	23,82	-2 (45)
48	Samoa	23,84	+6 (54)
49	Haiti	24,09	+3 (52)
50	South Korea	24,48	-6 (44)
51	Comoros	24,52	-6 (45)
52	South Africa	24,56	-10 (42)
53	Japan	25,17	-31 (22)
54	Argentina	25,67	-7 (47)
55	Moldova	26,01	-2 (53)
56	Hungary	26,09	-16 (40)
57	Italy	26,11	+4 (61)
58	Hong Kong	26,16	-4 (54)
59	Senegal	26,19	+16 (75)
60	Chile	26,24	+20 (80)
61	Sierra Leone	26,35	+2 (63)
62	Mauritius	26,47	-8 (54)
63	Serbia	26,59	+17 (80)
64	Croatia	26,61	+4 (68)
65	Central African Republic	26,61	-3 (62)
66	Tonga	26,70	-3 (63)
67	Mauritania	26,76	0 (67)
68	Bosnia and Herzegovina	26,86	-10 (58)
69	Guyana	27,08	-11 (58)
70	Tanzania	27,34	-36 (34)
71	Kenya	27,80	+13 (84)
72	Zambia	27,93	+14 (86)
73	Mozambique	28,01	-7 (66)
74	Armenia	28,04	+3 (77)
75	Malawi	28,18	+71 (146)
76	Republic of the Congo	28,20	+14 (90)
77	Kuwait	28,28	+1 (78)
78	Nicaragua	28,31	-6 (72)
79	Benin	28,33	+12 (91)
80	Dominican Republic	28,34	+15 (95)
81	Lesotho	28,36	-18 (63)
82	Bhutan	28,42	-12 (70)
83	Togo	28,45	-4 (79)
84	Greece	28,46	-14 (70)
85	Kosovo	28,47	+1 (86)
86	Guinea	28,49	0 (86)
87	Bulgaria	28,58	-7 (80)
88	Madagascar	28,62	-4 (84)
89	Gabon	28,69	+12 (101)
90	East Timor	28,72	-4 (86)
91	Paraguay	28,78	-11 (80)
92	Guinea-Bissau	28,94	-17 (75)
93	Seychelles	29,19	-20 (73)
94	Northern Cyprus	29,34	+8 (102)
95	Guatemala	29,39	+2 (97)
96	Ivory Coast	29,77	+63 (159)
97	Liberia	29,89	+13 (110)
98	Mongolia	29,93	+2 (100)
99	Mali	30,03	-74 (25)
100	Georgia	30,09	+4 (104)
101	Lebanon	30,15	-8 (93)
102	Albania	30,88	-6 (96)
103	Maldives	31,10	-30 (73)
104	Uganda	31,69	+35 (139)
105	Peru	31,87	+10 (115)
106	Kyrgyzstan	32,20	+2 (108)
107	Fiji	32,69	+10 (117)
108	Brazil	32,75	-9 (99)
109	Bolivia	32,80	-1 (108)
110	Qatar	32,86	+4 (114)
111	Panama	32,95	+2 (113)
112	Israel	32,97	-20 (92)
113	Montenegro	32,97	-6 (107)
114	United Arab Emirates	33,49	-2 (112)
115	Nigeria	34,11	+11 (126)
116	Republic of Macedonia	34,27	-22 (94)
117	Venezuela	34,44	0 (117)
118	Nepal	34,61	-12 (106)
119	Ecuador	34,69	-15 (104)
120	Cameroon	34,78	-23 (97)
121	Chad	34,87	-18 (103)
122	Brunei	35,45	+3 (125)
123	Tajikistan	35,71	-1 (122)
124	South Sudan	36,20	-13 (111)
125	Algeria	36,54	-3 (122)
126	Ukraine	36,79	-10 (116)
127	Honduras	36,92	+8 (135)
128	Afghanistan	37,36	+22 (150)
129	Colombia	37,48	+14 (143)
130	Angola	37,80	+2 (132)
131	Libya	37,86	+23 (154)
132	Burundi	38,02	-2 (130)
133	Zimbabwe	38,12	-16 (117)
134	Jordan	38,47	-6 (128)
135	Thailand	38,60	+2 (137)
136	Morocco	39,04	+2 (138)
137	Ethiopia	39,57	-10 (127)
138	Tunisia	39,93	-4 (134)
139	Indonesia	41,05	+7 (146)
140	India	41,22	-9 (131)
141	Oman	41,51	-24 (117)
142	DR Congo	41,66	+3 (145)
143	Cambodia	41,81	-26 (117)
144	Bangladesh	42,01	-15 (129)
145	Malaysia	42,73	-23 (122)
146	Palestine	43,09	+7 (153)
147	Philippines	43,11	-7 (140)
148	Russia	43,42	-6 (142)
149	Singapore	43,43	-14 (135)
150	Iraq	44,67	+2 (152)
151	Burma	44,71	+18 (169)
152	Gambia	45,09	-11 (141)
153	Mexico	45,30	-4 (149)
154	Turkey	46,56	-6 (148)
155	Swaziland	46,76	-11 (144)
156	Azerbaijan	47,73	+6 (162)
157	Belarus	48,35	+11 (168)
158	Egypt	48,66	+8 (166)
159	Pakistan	51,31	-8 (151)
160	Kazakhstan	55,08	-6 (154)
161	Rwanda	55,46	-5 (156)
162	Sri Lanka	56,59	+1 (163)
163	Saudi Arabia	56,88	-5 (158)
164	Uzbekistan	60,39	-7 (157)
165	Bahrain	62,75	+8 (173)
166	Equatorial Guinea	67,20	-5 (161)
167	Djibouti	67,40	-8 (159)
168	Laos	67,99	-3 (165)
169	Yemen	69,22	+2 (171)
170	Sudan	70,06	0 (170)
171	Cuba	71,64	-4 (167)
172	Vietnam	71,78	0 (172)
173	China	73,07	+1 (174)
174	Iran	73,40	+1 (175)
175	Somalia	73,59	-11 (164)
176	Syria	78,53	0 (176)
177	Turkmenistan	79,14	0 (177)
178	North Korea	83,90	0 (178)
179	Eritrea	84,83	0 (179)

Racist character or racist programme?

The BBC has censored Fawlty Towers for racism.

But is it the episode which is racist or the character?

The offending lines are at about 5:40.

They could be racist if they encouraged us to laugh with the Major but most of us would laugh at him.

At about 7 minutes the Major also says he hates Germans; throughout the clip there are lots of insults addressed at women and there’s the running gag of  Manual from Barcelona but the censors must have kept their senses of humour when listening to them.

Dull men & problem solving books

Discussion with Jim Mora on Critical Mass today was sparked by:

* A celebration of ordinary, everyday things at the Dull Men’s Club.

* 10 Novels to solve all your problems supports my contention that you learn about real life by reading fiction. (Hat tip: Beattie’s Book Blog).

A reader alerted me to Dull Men’s Club which I appreciate.

I welcome any other suggestions of websites which might be on interest for Critical Mass.