The above is a New Zealand Herald heading providing yet further proof of the decline in newspaper standards. Why? Because the accompanying story has absolutely nothing to do with racism. Instead it reports some Auckland Muslims establishing a website for Muslims to record incidents of alleged abuse.
Apparently a Herald sub-editor is under the impression Islam is a race.
Readers of this blog will be aware of my life-long affection for newspapers, notwithstanding their sunset industry status. Sadly, it’s odds on, (like me) none will exist in a decade or so.
So when last Friday I read the New Zealand Herald’s boss proudly proclaiming readership up and quoting figures to “prove” it, my heart sank. As someone acquainted with the newspaper world I knew instantly that was a harbinger of bad news.
So wrote the NZ Herald’s inhouse grump Chris Rattue after the first two days of the first test at Mount Maunganui,
Of any human activity ever invented Chris of all people should know that nothing matches test cricket for the fat lady singing adage to apply.
And so it proved. With less than four sessions to go and a draw seeming inevitable, the Kiwis then delivered a massacre level thrilling innings and 65 runs victory.
I looked in vain at today’s Herald for an egg-on-face Rattue retraction. Silly me. Journalists, at least with New Zealand newspapers, never apologise for their blunders, and let’s face it, that was a king-size bad call.
“$30 underboob everyone’s wearing,” proclaimed a New Zealand Herald heading yesterday. Everyone? Really! Well for starters I’m not wearing one but a check with our office girls brought a surprising result for it transpired the only bugger wearing one, out of a dozen personel, was our Wellington director Sam Cooper.
I bailed Sam up and copped a blast for not being “with it.” Always susceptible to fads, Sam pointed out that Wellington developer Ian Cassels started the trend a month ago.
