Naked hostility from Fairfax, NZME staff as merger decision breaks

Their publications might have endeavoured to cover the Fairfax-NZME merger decision in neutral fashion this morning.

But on social media this morning, the likes of NZ Herald managing editor Shayne Currie, NZ Herald writer Steve Braunias, Fairfax South Island editor-in-chief Joanna Norris, Fairfax executive editor Sinead Boucher and Fairfax journalist Tony Wall offered some blunt reaction (which at times drew some blunt responses from followers, also included below).

Mr Wall was notable for breaking with his colleagues.

A selection of the action on Twitter (warning: language).

ComCom fears loss of competition. How many microphones are there at this press conference? pic.twitter.com/WoMukZHj3z

— Shayne Currie (@ShayneCurrieNZH) May 2, 2017

@ChrisKeall a better question would be: how many of those microphones are owned by the same parent company?

— Dagan (@ardrigh) May 2, 2017

Personally I think it beggars belief the @NZComCom does not see Facebook as competition for the $$ that funds newsroom

— Sinead Boucher (@sineadboucher) May 2, 2017

@sineadboucher @NZComCom Agree. Any outfit sucking up 80%+ of the revenue in your market = competitor??

— Simon Tong (@SimonTongNZ) May 2, 2017

(Editor's note: The Commerce Commission did appear to be playing down the threat of Facebook in terms of the battle of ad dollars at the local community level rather than Facebook per se – though arguably Facebook will hoover up more revenue from small businesses in the years ahead).

Hypocritical that @NZComCom spent 45% of its own ad budget on the non-taxpaying Facebook, YouTube it says aren't Fairfax/NZME competition? https://t.co/gLmDxlqiXL

— Sinead Boucher (@sineadboucher) May 2, 2017

We'll keep doing our jobs bravely fiercely in the face of plodding flat-footed naivety that ignores the reality of modern media. #stuffme

— Joanna Norris (@JoJourno) May 2, 2017

If we can't survive without merging with our mortal enemy, we don't deserve to survive

— tony wall (@tonywalljourno) May 2, 2017

This is the best thing you're likely to read on the merger. Media bosses – get creative and stop pissing around with clickbait https://t.co/JNaPPRARkj

— tony wall (@tonywalljourno) May 2, 2017

Nah, good for NZ journalism ! https://t.co/8lOnva32te

— tony wall (@tonywalljourno) May 2, 2017

Secret diary of the NZ Commerce Commission as a pack of fucking idiots

— Steve Braunias (@SteveBraunias) May 2, 2017

Bizarre that @NZComCom thinks websites only compete with websites pic.twitter.com/acBgUzM3ds

— Patrick Crewdson (@PatrickCrewdson) May 2, 2017

An opinion from one of the many media sites in NZ, and a very good point, too. @toby_etc @TheSpinoffTV pic.twitter.com/oqC6eDseQO

— Shayne Currie (@ShayneCurrieNZH) May 3, 2017

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