This is edition 2025/229 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
This is the last Ten@10 for 2025.
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
This is the last week of Ten@10 for the year. Lynn and I will be on light duties for three weeks starting next Monday.
Enjoy!
My Day in Court
Peter Williams
- 📰 Defamation Trial: Cam Slater appeared as a witness in a defamation case brought by Julian Batchelor against Dr. Sanjaya Hattotuwa and TVNZ for a broadcast about Batchelor's booklet Stop Co-Governance.
- ⚖️ Expert Witness: Slater was asked by NZME's Jim Grenon to provide expert testimony on news gathering, fairness, and balance in journalism.
- 📊 Imbalance in Reporting: Slater argued that the coverage was unbalanced, with Dr. Hattotuwa's voice dominating the story and Batchelor's response minimized.
- 🎤 Cross-Examination: Slater was cross-examined by TVNZ's lawyer, highlighting concerns about declining public trust in mainstream media and selective coverage.
- 🌍 Media Bias Examples: Slater cited the lack of coverage on climate skeptic Will Happer's visit and the Willie Jackson affair as evidence of mainstream media bias.
- 📝 Journalist Presence: Only a few journalists attended the trial, and Slater's remarks about media trust were not covered by mainstream outlets.
- ⚖️ Courtroom Experience: This was Slater's first time giving evidence in a civil trial, a much different experience compared to his past court appearance.
- 💬 Private Conversation: After the trial, Slater made a careless remark about Batchelor being "a nutter" to TVNZ's Phil O'Sullivan, which was later brought up in court.
- 📰 Media Power: Slater reflected on the influence of large media organizations and how their power must be used responsibly to maintain public trust.
