Lindsay Mitchell
lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com
Lindsay Mitchell has been researching and commenting on welfare since 2001. Many of her articles have been published in mainstream media and she has appeared on radio,tv and before select committees discussing issues relating to welfare. Lindsay is also an artist who works under commission and exhibits at Wellington, New Zealand, galleries.
They’re dropping like flies at Magic Talk.
Leah Panapa opened what had been Peter William’s show this morning with the news that he’d retired – just like that. There Friday – gone Monday. The media are describing it as something about to happen. It’s happened. Without a whisper of warning.
I’ve listened to Williams fairly regularly since he started out in early 2019. He was getting slicker and more energetic in my view. He didn’t sound jaded, tired or unenthusiastic. So I am naturally sceptical about the reason given for his sudden disappearance from the airwaves.
And one could hardly be forgiven for being slightly suspicious when his departure has quickly followed Duncan Garner (August), Tony Amos (July), Sean Plunket (February) and part-timer John Banks (January).
Williams steadfastedly rejected man-made climate change and interviewed qualified experts like Willie Soon. He gave airtime to lock down questioners like epidemiologist Simon Thornley. He talked with doctors who have questions about the covid vaccine. He gave airtime to The Taxpayer’s Union and Bob McCoskrie from Family First. He didn’t leave listeners in any doubt about his political preference and it wasn’t National. He appeared to me to be socially conservative and economically liberal. He was no friend of the government.
I repeat, if anything, he was getting more focussed and outspoken. He certainly didn’t sound like a man who’d grown bored or disinterested in his work (or maybe he’d simply given himself licence to be more candid knowing he was going to shortly pull the plug?)
Phil Gifford also recently departed NewstalkZB as afternoon co-host. I’m clueless as to whether so many departures are mere coincidence or otherwise. But the optimist in me hangs onto the prospect of a new broadcasting enterprise emerging. One prepared to rigorously engage in political and philosophical debate; and to take a chance on there being enough support to attract crucial advertisers.
I’d be tuned in like a shot.
Update: I was reminded by a comment on Kiwiblog that Chris Lynch, NewstalkZB Christchurch host was another recent ‘casualty’ in May this year. So there is a workforce of at least half a dozen highly experienced broadcasters on the loose…
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