If you haven't already, go listen to the Knowledge Fight podcast to get the deep details on the Alex Jones stuff. It's so much worse than what most people will know. (You'll probably get a few reccommendations for the podcast down here, but still... Worth checking out.) Very meticulous and thorough deconstruction of all his BS.
Jul 28, 2022·edited Aug 1, 2022Liked by David Farrier
A very useful exposition, David.
Your caution about checking privacy laws in different jurisdictions before making a recording without telling the interviewee is well made. Even in New Zealand, the position on recording a call without telling the other person, is not open and shut. While collection and use in a news/current affairs context is exempted under the Privacy Act, for mere mortals like the rest of us who are not journos, or where collection of personal information (information about an identified or identifiable individual) is not news/current affairs related, the ability to record without notice is not absolute. Issues of lawfulness and fairness need to be considered, both under the Act and also arising from case law (most famously explored in the case where the Hosking children were filmed). Further, using information collected for one purpose, for a different purpose, is not allowed e.g., a recording of an interview gathering background info for a book about the history of a city should not be put on Soundcloud as part of an anthology poking fun at weird accents ;-)
I think something else you do is take the information you find and use it appropriately. When behaviour from a bully is next level insane- the focus is on the perpetrator of that action and how abhorrent their action is, never the victim perceiving this behaviour as abhorrent, or somehow inspiring/ contributing to it.
A lot of mainstream journalism these days seems to victim blame in the way they use victims stories "the victim, dressed in a mini skirt and wearing mascara, said the man would not leave her alone after multiple requests"
You probably will have seen how NZME have made a payment to Clark Gayford of an undisclosed amount for defaming him in a most shocking manner. The NZME bias and reckless approach has cost them.
It would be potentially very interesting see the result of a Webworm investigation!!
So much, so very this. I ain't no victim or survivor. I was victimised, I survived. These things happened to me - in the past. It doesn't define me, nor does it solely make me who I am today. Thankyou so much David for seeing not only myself but others who feel the same way.
Not sure if this is still as relevant with modern email security measures, but something tricky to be aware of when forwarding or being forwarded emails, especially from bullies, dodgy cult churches, etc. - Look out for tracking methods that can be used.
We had a nuisance customer email one person, then launch into accusations when the email was then forwarded to other parties. How did they know that had happened? In their original email was a linked image (from memory it was just a white square) that reported back to an email tracking service whenever the email was opened, and pictures were downloaded. From that download traffic there's a range of information that can potentially be gathered.
This is one of the reasons why most email clients, by default, won't download any 'external content' unless you tell them to. Sending screenshots of emails from those type of people is a simple way to combat, if you're paranoid at all.
This is really good. Journalism done well is so necessary. Unfortunately this level of attention isn't always congruent with a commodified daily news cycle.
I trained in journalism and one of the things I was uncomfortable with was how when I would talk to people I'd hear that I had the quote & switch off pretty quickly & wrap things up. It was the lowest possible stakes journalism but I didn't like the way it was so detached and formulaic - people were just voices to lend credibility to my words and I could have written any angle I wanted. Not such an issue when it was covering people whose job was to be open to media or old ladies meeting to decorate Xmas decor. The way my small town paper did court reporting to fill content gaps, covering the most petty of crimes & publicly shaming people who really could have used a break in life was abhorrent. I don't want to sound like I couldn't work in journalism because I was too noble - in truth I burnt out & didn't do my last assignment - but a lot of it made me deeply uncomfortable because of the power imbalance & how easy it is to push a narrative.
Slightly unrelated but so many people in NZ aren't aware of the law when it comes to recording conversations - probably because it's different to the situation in the US we see in film and TV so often. I tell people that they can record others ALL the time. It's always a situation where they are facing a bully, DV situations, landlords crossing lines, people who are ripping others off & intimidating them to avoid paying.
I love your approach to journalism, David. You're genuine and I have no doubt you make the people who reach out to you feel trusted and safe. How do you manage to keep up with responding to all the emails and messages you must get, keeping victims in the loop and checking in with them, recording a podcast, writing these pieces, patting cats... Do you ever sleep?! 😅
I love this breakdown of how you do what you do. That's one of the things I find so refreshing about you. You have a very neutral angle and seem to make most people feel comfortable opening up about the topic. You may be the least judgmental journalist out there, or you hide your biases well!
The thought of interviewing people for a living gives me this introvert the creeps, but you make it look effortless.
Thank you, David, for outlining this & for making the important point to not re-victimise “victims” you are interviewing. There is indeed a massive societal stigma attached that often hinders the healing process, and as much as we need to clearly differentiate between the perpetrators (“bullies”) and their “victims” the onus should be on the perpetrators’ actions, and the resilience of those calling them out.
And it is SO important to not treat them just like a story but to also highlight just how much time & energy it can take (some of which may cause more trauma or reopen old wounds) to get a well-investigated and -researched story out in an empathetic and preferably non-litigious manner. You’re exceptionally prolific at exposing those kinds of stories and giving voices to those who were harmed by perpetrators of abuse. I don’t know how you do it, or if you ever sleep, but I’m glad that you do and that you share it with this community 🖤
While working with victims and people who have experienced trauma, do you ever implement strategies or approaches that counsellors or those working with victims use?
I worked with a non-profit that works with young people who are experiencing homelessness and have issues at home and even though I wasn’t working directly with young people, I learned about how the youth workers use trauma informed practices when they are working with young people. It was interesting to learn and definitely makes me think about people I’m a different way and whether they’ve experienced trauma and how that may dictate behaviours they have.
Thanks for shedding light on your process - it was really enlightening for me as I really have no idea how your world works!
Your description of how media can treat 'victims' immediately called to mind the novel Sprigs in which Brannavan Gnanalingam tells the story of the fall out from a horrific sexual assault (obvious trigger warning folks). It is an amazing book, exploring bully and victim stories within rape culture - sadly so relevant.
If you haven't already, go listen to the Knowledge Fight podcast to get the deep details on the Alex Jones stuff. It's so much worse than what most people will know. (You'll probably get a few reccommendations for the podcast down here, but still... Worth checking out.) Very meticulous and thorough deconstruction of all his BS.
A very useful exposition, David.
Your caution about checking privacy laws in different jurisdictions before making a recording without telling the interviewee is well made. Even in New Zealand, the position on recording a call without telling the other person, is not open and shut. While collection and use in a news/current affairs context is exempted under the Privacy Act, for mere mortals like the rest of us who are not journos, or where collection of personal information (information about an identified or identifiable individual) is not news/current affairs related, the ability to record without notice is not absolute. Issues of lawfulness and fairness need to be considered, both under the Act and also arising from case law (most famously explored in the case where the Hosking children were filmed). Further, using information collected for one purpose, for a different purpose, is not allowed e.g., a recording of an interview gathering background info for a book about the history of a city should not be put on Soundcloud as part of an anthology poking fun at weird accents ;-)
I think something else you do is take the information you find and use it appropriately. When behaviour from a bully is next level insane- the focus is on the perpetrator of that action and how abhorrent their action is, never the victim perceiving this behaviour as abhorrent, or somehow inspiring/ contributing to it.
A lot of mainstream journalism these days seems to victim blame in the way they use victims stories "the victim, dressed in a mini skirt and wearing mascara, said the man would not leave her alone after multiple requests"
That shit is everywhere
You never do that and I've always appreciated it.
This is such a great resource!
You require 3 sources or more? That must keep you so busy!
I only need 0
Hi David,
You probably will have seen how NZME have made a payment to Clark Gayford of an undisclosed amount for defaming him in a most shocking manner. The NZME bias and reckless approach has cost them.
It would be potentially very interesting see the result of a Webworm investigation!!
So much, so very this. I ain't no victim or survivor. I was victimised, I survived. These things happened to me - in the past. It doesn't define me, nor does it solely make me who I am today. Thankyou so much David for seeing not only myself but others who feel the same way.
I love this. Human-centered, ethical journalism. Thank you for doing the right thing and sticking to your ‘code’
Great insight into what you do, David. Muppets like me often think journalism is just a person at a keyboard, banging out random stuff.
The amount of work that must go into each article is really the hidden part of the iceberg.
🙂
That’s very useful and incredibly helpful advice. I need to read it over once or twice more to take it all in. Thanks David, for sharing.
Not sure if this is still as relevant with modern email security measures, but something tricky to be aware of when forwarding or being forwarded emails, especially from bullies, dodgy cult churches, etc. - Look out for tracking methods that can be used.
We had a nuisance customer email one person, then launch into accusations when the email was then forwarded to other parties. How did they know that had happened? In their original email was a linked image (from memory it was just a white square) that reported back to an email tracking service whenever the email was opened, and pictures were downloaded. From that download traffic there's a range of information that can potentially be gathered.
This is one of the reasons why most email clients, by default, won't download any 'external content' unless you tell them to. Sending screenshots of emails from those type of people is a simple way to combat, if you're paranoid at all.
This is really good. Journalism done well is so necessary. Unfortunately this level of attention isn't always congruent with a commodified daily news cycle.
I trained in journalism and one of the things I was uncomfortable with was how when I would talk to people I'd hear that I had the quote & switch off pretty quickly & wrap things up. It was the lowest possible stakes journalism but I didn't like the way it was so detached and formulaic - people were just voices to lend credibility to my words and I could have written any angle I wanted. Not such an issue when it was covering people whose job was to be open to media or old ladies meeting to decorate Xmas decor. The way my small town paper did court reporting to fill content gaps, covering the most petty of crimes & publicly shaming people who really could have used a break in life was abhorrent. I don't want to sound like I couldn't work in journalism because I was too noble - in truth I burnt out & didn't do my last assignment - but a lot of it made me deeply uncomfortable because of the power imbalance & how easy it is to push a narrative.
Slightly unrelated but so many people in NZ aren't aware of the law when it comes to recording conversations - probably because it's different to the situation in the US we see in film and TV so often. I tell people that they can record others ALL the time. It's always a situation where they are facing a bully, DV situations, landlords crossing lines, people who are ripping others off & intimidating them to avoid paying.
I love your approach to journalism, David. You're genuine and I have no doubt you make the people who reach out to you feel trusted and safe. How do you manage to keep up with responding to all the emails and messages you must get, keeping victims in the loop and checking in with them, recording a podcast, writing these pieces, patting cats... Do you ever sleep?! 😅
I love this breakdown of how you do what you do. That's one of the things I find so refreshing about you. You have a very neutral angle and seem to make most people feel comfortable opening up about the topic. You may be the least judgmental journalist out there, or you hide your biases well!
The thought of interviewing people for a living gives me this introvert the creeps, but you make it look effortless.
Thank you, David, for outlining this & for making the important point to not re-victimise “victims” you are interviewing. There is indeed a massive societal stigma attached that often hinders the healing process, and as much as we need to clearly differentiate between the perpetrators (“bullies”) and their “victims” the onus should be on the perpetrators’ actions, and the resilience of those calling them out.
And it is SO important to not treat them just like a story but to also highlight just how much time & energy it can take (some of which may cause more trauma or reopen old wounds) to get a well-investigated and -researched story out in an empathetic and preferably non-litigious manner. You’re exceptionally prolific at exposing those kinds of stories and giving voices to those who were harmed by perpetrators of abuse. I don’t know how you do it, or if you ever sleep, but I’m glad that you do and that you share it with this community 🖤
While working with victims and people who have experienced trauma, do you ever implement strategies or approaches that counsellors or those working with victims use?
I worked with a non-profit that works with young people who are experiencing homelessness and have issues at home and even though I wasn’t working directly with young people, I learned about how the youth workers use trauma informed practices when they are working with young people. It was interesting to learn and definitely makes me think about people I’m a different way and whether they’ve experienced trauma and how that may dictate behaviours they have.
Thanks for shedding light on your process - it was really enlightening for me as I really have no idea how your world works!
Your description of how media can treat 'victims' immediately called to mind the novel Sprigs in which Brannavan Gnanalingam tells the story of the fall out from a horrific sexual assault (obvious trigger warning folks). It is an amazing book, exploring bully and victim stories within rape culture - sadly so relevant.