News Archive 2016

By Media Matters President, John Terris, QSO

Saturday, 16 July 2016

Do you notice how our television broadcasters have become more and more a law unto themselves.

Roots

They don't seem to have any continuing interest in consulting their viewers.  The screening of an adult programme like Roots on a Sunday evening at 8.30 pm is a case in point.  There is prolonged and explicit sex and violence on this programme, quite unsuited to children and young people.

The rules which govern Broadcasting Standards are 30 years out of date and were conceived when we had a one-channel system and are no longer fit for purpose.

At the same time, there is no longer any opportunity for viewers collectively or as individuals, to engage in any meaningful way with the channels and the people who run them.

[ Read full Editorial ... ]

If you don't understand smartphones, you shouldn't be buying them for your children.

With smartphones, handhelds and wi-fi hotspots everywhere, keeping an eye over your child's shoulder on the home computer is so last century.

Instead surveillance apps let you track your child's every text, phone call, photo and website visit, without them knowing.  But should you?

[ Read full article ... ]

It was brave of Nick Willis to speak out, brave of the Herald on Sunday to run it prominently and very brave of his wife, Sierra to support him publicly.  [Photo / PHOTOSPORT]

"This is news?"  Someone posted this on a journalism website in response to the Herald on Sunday's lead story yesterday; running star Nick Willis speaking out about his pornography addiction.

Sir, if I may be so bold as to answer?  Yes, it bloody freaking well is.  This was an incredibly brave story.  It was brave of Nick Willis to speak out, brave of the Herald on Sunday to run it prominently and very brave of his wife, Sierra to support him publicly.

[ Read full article ... ]

The recent public statements by athlete Nick Willis about overcoming an addiction to pornography have received a lot of attention.

One question that is being asked is what actually is pornography addiction?  In particular, many people may wonder if this really is an addiction, how common is it and how does it relate to "normal" pornography use.

[ Read full article ... ]

Rio Olympics hopeful Nick Willis has continued to use his personal stand to speak out against pornography.  [Photo: MAARTEN HOLL/FAIRFAX NZ]

New Zealand running star Nick Willis has brought New Zealand into an international conversation about porn addiction.

The 32-year-old Olympic silver medallist revealed at the weekend via his Facebook page that he had been "porn-free" for two and a half years.

[ Read full article ... ]

Nick Willis celebrates after winning the bronze medal in the men's 1500m at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.  Photo / Greg Bowker

Fresh from breaking his silence about his pornography addiction, Olympian Nick Willis now wants to shift the public's focus to the sexual exploitation of women.

In a post on his Facebook page, Willis said: "Traffickers force girls into pornography for psychological control.

[ Read full article ... ]

Nick Willis says help from his wife, Sierra, has helped him beat his porn addiction.  [Photo: Maarten Holl]

New Zealand Olympic 1500m star Nick Willis says breaking the silence over his pornography addiction is worth it if it helps one person succeed in their own battle.

Willis revealed a secret and long-running addiction to pornography that he feels is now under control, the 32-year-old taking to Facebook as he marked two-and-a-half years being porn-free.

[ Read full article ... ]

By Media Matters President, John Terris, QSO

Wednesday, 02 March 2016

The recently adopted practice of the TV networks of butting commercials hard up against the concluding scenes of the preceding programme, is offensive and insulting to the viewer, and an encroachment on their rights, and is clearly designed to force the viewer to watch the commercials, even when they will often have better things to do.

Getting rid of the traditional "fade to black" which, since TV's inception has represented the punctuation to allow the viewer to turn the set off or take a break themselves, is replaced in recent practice by commercials with no break from the programme material preceding it.

[ Read full Press Statement ... ]