James Shaw –
Green Party’s former Co-leader, Dr Russel Norman recently delivered his valedictory speech before leaving Parliament to take up a new role as Executive Director of Greenpeace New Zealand.
In his speech, he talked about how changes to the media industry were making it harder and harder for the press to play their part in holding the Government to account.
We are very lucky to live in a country where the media is free.
New Zealand ranks 9th, unfortunately having slipped one place in 2014, in the annual World Press Freedom Index compiled by ‘Reporters Without Boarders.’
Major responsibility
There is no doubt the press (also known as the Fourth Estate), is a critical part of our democracy. The media carries a very big responsibility when it comes to conveying the ins and outs of politics.
The interaction between the media and politics has not been an issue that has really impacted New Zealand until very recently.
The publication of ‘Dirty Politics’ has raised a lot of questions about the interaction between the media, politicians and the Fifth Estate – bloggers and non-mainstream media, an increasingly popular source for consumption of news, especially by younger people.
Concerns about media bias in New Zealand do not exist to the extent it does in other countries. There is no equivalent of Fox News here, which has made a name for itself for its one-sided right-wing reporting.
In that sense, New Zealand is lucky, and we have to ensure that we keep it that way.
Powerful role
A biased media, given its powerful role in society, is very dangerous.
One of the main roles of media is to hold politicians and those in power to account, as well to inform, and to occasionally be the voice for those who do not have one.
Often the media is the only window people have on politics, and high level decision making. If that view is filtered through an agenda, political or otherwise, the information that reaches the viewer or reader can leave a very dangerous skew.
It is true that you can never fully eliminate all forms of media bias.
Political capital
Journalists are only human, and come to their job with their own world view and opinions. They also work for businesses, or state entities that are trying to stay profitable and viable. That will always have an impact on what they report and how they report it.
But there are ways of ensuring that any bias that exists naturally in the media has a limited impact.
For one, generally, in New Zealand the media self-polices quite effectively.
The Green Party’s vision for broadcasting in New Zealand is a strong, diverse and independent media that contributes to the maintenance of effective democracy, and to our social, cultural, economic and environmental wellbeing.
Public funding
The Green Party believes the best way to eliminate media bias is to ensure that our public broadcasters are fully funded and do not need to rely on advertising, or be required to make a huge profit in order to provide good quality public broadcasting.
We will ensure broadcasters like Radio New Zealand, Television New Zealand and the Māori Television Service are protected from political interference and ensure they remain in public ownership.
Ensuring that we have good public broadcasters will set the bar for quality public journalism and provide an incentive for commercially funded media to lift their game.
Community broadcasting
The Green Party also recognises the importance of community and small independent radio and television services.
These services can provide a vibrant and lively contribution to the New Zealand media mix and are an essential means of information that supports local democracy.
The Green Party will ensure that community broadcasting is able to grow and develop in a manner that reflects ethnic and cultural diversity, changing interests, needs and aspirations. We will ensure ongoing security over both broadcasting rights and funding for community access broadcasters.
While a Government can never control what the media says, it is important that the Government provides the environment that allows for good quality media, which serves the public’s interest, to thrive.
James Shaw is Co-Leader of Green Party and its Spokesman for Climate Change and Economic Development.
