My main issue with this piece is that now I really want to watch these vids, but it's 630am in New Zealand, I don't want to wake my partner or the cat up by blasting sound and it's too bloody cold to get out of bed to get my head phones. Very problematic David.
Leaving those pauses is a skill I learned at uni when I was becoming a teacher. I learned it as “thinktime” because it was allowing students to sort out their thoughts.
Good article David. I was cringing at the mention of Jordan Peterson and Alex Jones as I I'd already concluded that JP was confused and slippery, particularly in regard to his religiosity, while Jones was simply evil, intellectually weak and sociopathic. 1964 US Supreme Court decision clarified 1st Amendment (Free Speech)
right to exclude wilfully false defamation. NZ also has laws that discourage "us" from saying what we want, e.g. standing outside a school with a sign extolling the joys of man-boy love. It's just too offensive and likely to provoke violence - and that is the law.
Great article. Also good to see you on NZ TV tonight - Seven Sharp’s Friday countdown caught you trying to sort out the pronunciation of “carked it” to provide the correct meaning for an American comedian - he was personally obsessed with “cock tit” or similar
It's weird, noticed DOI videos started popping up in my YouTube recommendations yesterday, and I added the street racing one to my watch later queue. Was involved in that type of thing years ago.
And then I get this email the next day.
Is it just a coincidence, or did the algorithm get a helpful push? Conspiracy!
Warning: Random POV that probably entirely misses the point.
I'd like to mention the Waiwera video specifically. Interesting content, and I will follow these guys from now on, but I couldn't help but notice the editing of the interviews. The jump cuts were very distracting, and my cynical mind always wonders what words have been cut out, and would they significantly alter the story if they were left in, or is the editing done just to expedite the messaging, which remains accurate. I have this trouble whenever I'm watching any documentary. To what degree does the film maker have a responsibility to represent their subject's words as accurately as possible (unless clearly chopping them up for satirical purposes much like I assume Guy Williams does in his show New Zealand Today)? Hmm, if only I could leave a comment on the post of a documentary maker and ask him if I'm absolutely making too much of this and should just STFU and enjoy the content.
Such exciting work! And the comment from John Campbell "He told us to start speaking to people actually affected by issues rather than the people who say they represent them" is the change in approach that is so required in NZ to get something that even remotely represents balance. We hear too much about the opinions of our journalists. Occasionally ill listen to talkback radio just to see whats going on and its just the Mike's and Leias briefly listening and then "correcting" guests opinions to fit their narrative. What lazy, dangerous broadcasting. Why do we let them put their own opinions on pedestals all the time? Its so predictable and boring and unhelpful.
With Department of Information its all going to be about maintaining their core values and motivations as they get bigger and ultimately scale up. Adding extra team members, allowing for financial elements and the influence that is necessary with this. It could potentially be worth setting out now what their values are and where they collectively agree some lines should be drawn around editing level, content and addition of their own voices in final edit. From there commit to 6 monthly checkins on this so that they know they are either still aligning, or if change is needed they are doing that consciously and together.
So much hope though. What an awesome team and content.
Well, now I know what I'm watching when I get home from work.
I'm actually considering a move to NZ at the moment and while I don't feel like I'm completely rose-tinged glasses, seeing more stuff like this is always interesting and helpful.
Definitely think they’ve hit the nail on the head in terms of who current journalism and broadcast media are appealing (intentionally or not) to. I’ve always thought New Zealand is quite narrow in this respect and actually tuned out of lots of broadcast media throughout the lockdown period. I love the style of journalism The Department of Information uses, and what you do here with Webworm, because it offers something different to the formal, laced up reporting that generally makes up mainstream media in New Zealand - different perspectives and approaches, covering subjects and topics I maybe wouldn’t think too much about in my everyday life, and nails the sweet spot of information and entertainment. Great stuff.
My main issue with this piece is that now I really want to watch these vids, but it's 630am in New Zealand, I don't want to wake my partner or the cat up by blasting sound and it's too bloody cold to get out of bed to get my head phones. Very problematic David.
Great article :)
Leaving those pauses is a skill I learned at uni when I was becoming a teacher. I learned it as “thinktime” because it was allowing students to sort out their thoughts.
Good article David. I was cringing at the mention of Jordan Peterson and Alex Jones as I I'd already concluded that JP was confused and slippery, particularly in regard to his religiosity, while Jones was simply evil, intellectually weak and sociopathic. 1964 US Supreme Court decision clarified 1st Amendment (Free Speech)
right to exclude wilfully false defamation. NZ also has laws that discourage "us" from saying what we want, e.g. standing outside a school with a sign extolling the joys of man-boy love. It's just too offensive and likely to provoke violence - and that is the law.
Thank you for introducing me to the dept of information.
That Louis Theroux/Jason Deroulo (sp?) video loveably cringeful. Could it be Jason Deroulo doesn't take himself as seriously as he appears to?
Good on them I reckon.
Thank you for an amazing insight into courageous creativity - an example of thought diversity.
Your curiosity is waht keeps me engaged!
Keep being curious RG
Great article. Also good to see you on NZ TV tonight - Seven Sharp’s Friday countdown caught you trying to sort out the pronunciation of “carked it” to provide the correct meaning for an American comedian - he was personally obsessed with “cock tit” or similar
It's weird, noticed DOI videos started popping up in my YouTube recommendations yesterday, and I added the street racing one to my watch later queue. Was involved in that type of thing years ago.
And then I get this email the next day.
Is it just a coincidence, or did the algorithm get a helpful push? Conspiracy!
Warning: Random POV that probably entirely misses the point.
I'd like to mention the Waiwera video specifically. Interesting content, and I will follow these guys from now on, but I couldn't help but notice the editing of the interviews. The jump cuts were very distracting, and my cynical mind always wonders what words have been cut out, and would they significantly alter the story if they were left in, or is the editing done just to expedite the messaging, which remains accurate. I have this trouble whenever I'm watching any documentary. To what degree does the film maker have a responsibility to represent their subject's words as accurately as possible (unless clearly chopping them up for satirical purposes much like I assume Guy Williams does in his show New Zealand Today)? Hmm, if only I could leave a comment on the post of a documentary maker and ask him if I'm absolutely making too much of this and should just STFU and enjoy the content.
Such exciting work! And the comment from John Campbell "He told us to start speaking to people actually affected by issues rather than the people who say they represent them" is the change in approach that is so required in NZ to get something that even remotely represents balance. We hear too much about the opinions of our journalists. Occasionally ill listen to talkback radio just to see whats going on and its just the Mike's and Leias briefly listening and then "correcting" guests opinions to fit their narrative. What lazy, dangerous broadcasting. Why do we let them put their own opinions on pedestals all the time? Its so predictable and boring and unhelpful.
With Department of Information its all going to be about maintaining their core values and motivations as they get bigger and ultimately scale up. Adding extra team members, allowing for financial elements and the influence that is necessary with this. It could potentially be worth setting out now what their values are and where they collectively agree some lines should be drawn around editing level, content and addition of their own voices in final edit. From there commit to 6 monthly checkins on this so that they know they are either still aligning, or if change is needed they are doing that consciously and together.
So much hope though. What an awesome team and content.
Thanks for sharing!
Well, now I know what I'm watching when I get home from work.
I'm actually considering a move to NZ at the moment and while I don't feel like I'm completely rose-tinged glasses, seeing more stuff like this is always interesting and helpful.
Love it, didn’t know they existed so thanks for spreading awareness !
Channel 5 was such a wild ride, cool to see a group doing something similar in NZ
Definitely think they’ve hit the nail on the head in terms of who current journalism and broadcast media are appealing (intentionally or not) to. I’ve always thought New Zealand is quite narrow in this respect and actually tuned out of lots of broadcast media throughout the lockdown period. I love the style of journalism The Department of Information uses, and what you do here with Webworm, because it offers something different to the formal, laced up reporting that generally makes up mainstream media in New Zealand - different perspectives and approaches, covering subjects and topics I maybe wouldn’t think too much about in my everyday life, and nails the sweet spot of information and entertainment. Great stuff.
I chuckled and chortled and guffawed my way through that car video. It was GREAT. "Here's my sub", as they say.