Post by Kiwi Frontline on Aug 7, 2019 5:58:22 GMT 12
Otago Daily Times 7/8/19
SOCIAL MEDIA NOT NECESSARILY ‘FAIR AND BALANCED’
GIVEN Erik Olssen’s informed commentary (Opinion, 30.7.19) on Jean Balchin’s uninformed commentary (Opinion, 18.7.19) on Captain Cook and New Zealand history, her latest contribution to our historical/political debate, sadly, shows little sign of improvement.
While lauding the power and reach of social media (Opinion, 1.8.19), she cites numerous Ihumatao activists but staunchly ignores the wider context of the question.
Her most egregious observation, following the odd assertion that ‘‘Social media has the potential to bring people fair and balanced news coverage’’, proves just the opposite. ‘‘The livestreaming of the police slowly and inexorably creeping forward at Ihumatao in the first blush of morning, for example, reveals what is happening over there.’’
This is quite misleading. Far from the implied invasion of a brutal police force, the police have been praised by all for their restraint, low profile and nonaggressive behaviour.
DR HARRY LOVE North East Valley
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
SOCIAL MEDIA NOT NECESSARILY ‘FAIR AND BALANCED’
GIVEN Erik Olssen’s informed commentary (Opinion, 30.7.19) on Jean Balchin’s uninformed commentary (Opinion, 18.7.19) on Captain Cook and New Zealand history, her latest contribution to our historical/political debate, sadly, shows little sign of improvement.
While lauding the power and reach of social media (Opinion, 1.8.19), she cites numerous Ihumatao activists but staunchly ignores the wider context of the question.
Her most egregious observation, following the odd assertion that ‘‘Social media has the potential to bring people fair and balanced news coverage’’, proves just the opposite. ‘‘The livestreaming of the police slowly and inexorably creeping forward at Ihumatao in the first blush of morning, for example, reveals what is happening over there.’’
This is quite misleading. Far from the implied invasion of a brutal police force, the police have been praised by all for their restraint, low profile and nonaggressive behaviour.
DR HARRY LOVE North East Valley
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers