Mike Hosking as TVNZ’s moderator for political debates?! WTF?!
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I checked the calendar, and it’s not April 1st.
An April Fool’s joke is the first reaction I had when I heard that someone at TVNZ had appointed Mike Hosking to be the moderator for live, televised election-year debates.
I mean – really? Mike Hosking?!?!
The same Mike Hosking who endorsed John Key’s government in January 2013;
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(Hat-tip, The Standard)
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Hosking was effusive when he endorsed Key last year;
“As I see it, all things considered we are doing pretty bloody well. We box above our weight.
We have bright prospects for the future, so long as you keep them in Government.”
The same Mike Hosking who recently vilified Labour Leader, David Cunliffe?!
“Is David Cunliffe incompetent or mad? Is he out to lunch or out of touch? Is David Cunliffe deluded or living in a parallel universe?
What possible explanation can there be that has any level of sense or thought involved that sees him on holiday skiing two months out from an election when he is where he is in the polls. A decision like this speaks to a person who fails to understand the basic principles of leadership.”
The same Mike Hosking who called David Cunliffe a moron?!
If Mike Hosking is the answer – can TVNZ please spell out what the question was?!
Meanwhile, ordinary New Zealanders are leaving comments here, highly critical of TVNZ’s appointment of Hosking as a “moderator”.
However, Fairfax closed off their comments section after this story, with the majority of posts scathing of TVNZ.
The majority readers of the Fairfax article seem to be unimpressed with Mike Hosking in their (unscientific) poll;
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It is abundantly clear to many people by now that the mainstream media in this country, for the most part, is covertly or overtly supporting the re-election of a John Key-led government. The ongoing de-stabilising campaign against David Cunliffe, complete with non-existent $100,000 bottles of wine and criticising his red scarf, are strong indications of the mainstream corporate-media’s agenda.
If you, the reader, are as bemused by TVNZ’s bizarre decision to use Hosking as a faux “impartial” moderator, then sign the petition here;
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(click on image)
Please do your bit: share the link to the above petition as far and wide as possible!
Meanwhile, this from me, to “The Listener“…
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from: Frank Macskasy
to: Listener <letters@listener.co.nz>
date: Thu, Jul 24, 2014 at 9:51 PM
subject: Letter to the editor.
The editor
The Listener.
Of all the professional broadcasters that TVNZ could have used for the upcoming Leader’s Debates, they chose Mike Hosking?!The same Mike Hosking who, last year, very publicly and enthusiastically endorsed John Key and his government by saying,
“As I see it, all things considered we are doing pretty bloody well. We box above our weight.
We have bright prospects for the future, so long as you keep them in Government.”
By what stretch of the imagination do TVNZ executives think that Hosking is in any way impartial? It would be like asking Maggie Barry or Shane Taurima to do the job.
There are many impartial, talented, and highly respected broadcasters who TVNZ could call upon; Rachel Smalley and Greg Boyd are just two names that spring to mind.
Or, the incomparable Kim Hill, perhaps one of the most respected broadcasters in the country would be ideal. Her credentials for impartiality are impeccable.
But not Mike Hosking. Not when he flies the flag for John Key and the National Party.
We deserve better.
-Frank Macskasy
[address and phone number supplied]
Remember to share, far and wide!!
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References
Fairfax Media: Labour claims Hosking’s biased
NZ Herald: Media: Hosking plugs car and Key
Newstalk ZB: Mike’s Editorial: Cunliffe looks like he’s given up
Yahoo Entertainment: Seven Sharp Returns and The Paul Henry Show Debuts
NZ Herald: Liu – $100k not just for wine
TV3: David Cunliffe owns up to getting it wrong
Previous related blogposts
When the mainstream media go feral: A tale of two holidays
Other blogs
Against the Current: Mike Hosking claims he isn’t biased. Yeah, right
Against the Current: Mike Hosking says Bash A Beneficiary Day!
Against the Current: Mike Hosking asks – What is David Cunliffe hiding
– See more at: http://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/mike-hosking-says-bash-beneficiary-day.html#sthash.4t68qxKz.dpuf
Against the Current: Yes, Mike Hosking is a moron
Against the Current: How much of a tosser is Mike Hosking?
Against the Current: Seven Sharp promotes anti-Gay politician
The Standard:Everything in moderation
Polity: Mike Hosking
The Daily Blog: UNBREAKING: The list of questions Mike Hosking will use in first TVNZ leader debate
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Above image acknowledgment: Francis Owen/Lurch Left Memes
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Frankly Speaking... 
Some commentators explain that this is OK as TV3 is going to use Cambell for their debate. Can they really fail to see the difference between a thoughtful and generally very fair interviewer and a shock jock? Sadly the very low state the media has sunk to has brought many of the public with them. To many more of the public are just so turned off by the blatant BS that they have turned off to participating.
Unfortunately, Dirk, it gets worse. Check out my blogpost on THE DAILY BLOG tomorrow; “When the mainstream media go feral: the descent into sheer farce, according to Tova O’Brien”.
It’s cringeworthy.
Read your blogpost on The Daily Blog Frank. More puerile shit from a commercially driven media. What next, topless news readers?? Oh, wait…
Tova O’Brien should be thouroughly ashamed of herself.
By the way, petition signed! (And shared with others via facebook!)
Hi Frank,
Thanks for the heads up, as I hadn’t seen this. I’m not surprised everybody is up in arms. I’m not a Labour voter, but even I can see the witch hunt that the media on masse, it seems, to discredit, put down and humiliate Cunliffe at every “opportunity”, as if they’re cheerleading for #TeamKey *scoff*.
What is going on? Fourth estate trying to rig an election? This is horrendous. Granted, if Mike Hosking wasn’t a overt supporter of any party, he’d be a far better choice than Guyon Espiner, who, quite frankly is like a rabies infected rottweiler when he gets going on his egotistical high horse. It’s my own ignorance that had me inquiring internally as to why Mike Hosking would be a bad choice. Not any more. This is a terrible decision by TVNZ. What on earth were they thinking? I guess I should know not to bother asking that…