Radio NZ promotes booze

This is a slight departure from my usual subject matter, but I wanted to share this paper written by friend and researcher, Paul Callister.

It is fully in line with a slip in broadcasting standards on Radio New Zealand and the slide from being a respected news organisation to being practically a propagada arm of the Key government.

Two years ago I was able to arrange for both Mike Ruppert and Guy McPherson to be interviewed. When I approached this time round I was met with an immediate refusal (in line with their refusal to deal with the deeper issues of abrupt climate change).

Broadcasting Booze: National

Radio and Wine Promotion

Paul Callister

 

Abstract: Every Friday afternoon, Radio New Zealand's National channel has a wine slot. In this afternoon programme, listeners are also offered a recipe and a review of some recently released films. Immediately after the recipe segment, which often includes a question about what drink would complement the food (always assumed to be alcohol), there is a segment about wine.

This usually includes some journalistic comment on the wine industry. But this is then followed by wine recommendations. Specific brands will be recommended, along with their prices and, sometimes, where they can be purchased from. The recommended wines are promoted using seductive, subjective and often hyperbolic language.

I argue that it is unacceptable for taxpayer funded, commercial free Radio New Zealand to promote wine in its current format. National Radio certainly has a valid role in talking about the wine industry. But to recommend particular wines each week in seductive and glowing terms as well as making the assumption that alcohol is the drink of preference to go with food is a step too far.

To read the paper GO HERE