In the wake of Dirty Politics, it seems that there is a real lack of transparency in the way our news is made. What journalists know and what is reported seem to be two different things.
So in the interests of transparency we thought we would experiment with free speech by conducting interviews with journalists over Twitter. We decided to interview ex-Salient journos who have made it big, and we were surprised by the sheer number of them in all parts of the ‘Mainstream Media’.
It was a bit of a learning curve. After pissing all our followers off by clogging their Twitter feeds, we learnt some things about the use of social media. One, that we should use hashtags more. Two, that we should say hello first. And three, people can be dicks over the internet.
But we also got some great answers. So thank you everyone for taking part in our awkward experiment over Twitter.
What did you do at Salient & when were you here?
Patrick Gower (Patrick Gower responded over email)
A ground-breaking sports column called “A Funny Old Game”… A joint-byline with a guy called Carl Allwood – who is now a lawyer in Burma! That was 1998. Our high point was an interview with Hurricanes second-five Jason “Bogues” O’Halloran, and covered the fact his cat had just been speyed.
@salientmagazine For as long as I was at @VicUniWgtn! First as a reviewer, then as a feature writer, then co-editor, then back to features
— Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) September 1, 2014
@salientmagazine official title was news editor ’07 but mostly I spun on a chair and mercilessly mocked VUWSA
— Laura McQuillan (@mcquillanatorz) September 1, 2014
@salientmagazine News and feature ed. Followed two applications to be editor – losing both. I’m an awesome bridesmaid.
— Matt Nippert (@MattNippert) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine 2003 was my year of Salient. We lost best trade rag at Qantas Media Awards to nappy magazine Little Treasures. #bridesmaid
— Matt Nippert (@MattNippert) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine I didn’t start at Salient. I was a @RadioActivefm boy. In love with music & all it said on my behalf. Besotted with bands.
— John Campbell (@JohnJCampbell) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine editor, 1997
— Toby Manhire (@toby_etc) September 3, 2014
.@toby_etc @BolshevikBill @salientmagazine @markcubey @richarda Editor 1978 – SW.
— Metro (@MetroMagNZ) September 3, 2014
.@toby_etc @BolshevikBill @salientmagazine @markcubey @richarda Editor 1978 – SW.
— Metro (@MetroMagNZ) September 3, 2014
What do you do now?
Patrick Gower
3 News Political Editor. Pretty busy right now.
Laura McQuillan (Laura McQuillan responded over email)
I’m a political reporter at Newstalk ZB, currently following John Key and the blue team around the country on the election campaign trail.
@salientmagazine I’m a producer at @TheWirelessNZ, which is @radionz‘s website for people 18-35. I switch between writing and editing
— Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) September 1, 2014
@salientmagazine Senior reporter for Fairfax Media’s business team. Mostly white-collar crime, but a bit of profiling and company coverage.
— Matt Nippert (@MattNippert) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine I work at TV3 on a programme called @CampbellLiveNZ. I work with great people. And when we do get it right, we really do.
— John Campbell (@JohnJCampbell) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine freelance writer & editor, mostly scribbling for Listener, Herald, Guardian
— Toby Manhire (@toby_etc) September 3, 2014
@salientmagazine I’m a political journalist for NZ Newswire/Australian Associated Press
— Sarah Robson (@rarahsobson) September 3, 2014
What’s the main difference between student media and mainstream media?
Patrick Gower
Got to wear a suit. And not one from an op-shop
Laura McQuillan
Student media has a lot of freedom to be outrageous and fun. Mainstream media is more serious, but my press gallery colleagues make every day great.
@salientmagazine Mainstream media has more resources, readership, clout. Not (necessarily) as fun, and rarely geared towards young people
— Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) September 1, 2014
@salientmagazine Mainstream has more money, reach, and conservatism. MSM really is an institution and stories are genuine team efforts.
— Matt Nippert (@MattNippert) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine The weight of scrutiny? The responsibility to be true & fair? Not that you aren’t true & fair, just different consequences.
— John Campbell (@JohnJCampbell) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine income, expectation, hours
— Toby Manhire (@toby_etc) September 3, 2014
@salientmagazine you’re allowed to swear heaps in student media. I really enjoyed swearing in print
— Sarah Robson (@rarahsobson) September 3, 2014
What are the best and worst parts of being a journalist?
Patrick Gower
The excitement of working to deadline. And the pain of working to deadline.
Laura McQuillan
Best: Every day is something different – news keeps you on your toes. I love the travel and the press gallery crew, and sometimes we get free snacks.
Worst: Sleep deprivation and always being in a hurry! But that’s outweighed by the good times.
@salientmagazine I like being able to ask pretty much whatever I want, of anyone who seems interesting; I don’t like transcribing interviews
— Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine Best: Self-directing, ability to chase curious ideas to their conclusion. Worst: Threats – both legal and personal.
— Matt Nippert (@MattNippert) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine Best bits: the privilege of being able to be there, and the way people trust us with their stories. Worst parts: sadness.
— John Campbell (@JohnJCampbell) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine having no idea what the industry will look like in 10 years
— Toby Manhire (@toby_etc) September 3, 2014
What story of yours are you most proud of?
Patrick Gower
The last one. Only as good as your last yarn in this business. I really liked the 3 news team coverage of the demise of Crusher Collins.
Laura McQuillan
At Salient, I had a great yarn about a student politician misusing VUWSA money on psychic hotlines. Today, it’s any story that involves digging, or when I’m live on air with breaking news.
@salientmagazine I hate all of them as soon as they’re published, really. Onwards and upwards
— Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine All the stories where we’ve given a damn & changed the way people see things for the fairer. Giving the voiceless a voice.
— John Campbell (@JohnJCampbell) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine I’m really proud of the 2010 women’s issue. No copies left, incredible feedback & got people talking about abortion rights
— Sarah Robson (@rarahsobson) September 3, 2014
What are the pros and cons of using social media in your job?
Patrick Gower
Getting to engage with good cats, like Salient. That’s good. Copping endless abuse – that’s bad.
Laura McQuillan
You’ve got to be careful not to be a dick or to feed trolls. I’m a prolific tweeter and it’s a great way to break news or run commentary.
@salientmagazine Pros: “Personal brand”, raking up faves with witty commentary about kale. Cons: Time suck, misplaced source of confidence
— Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine Engagement is a pro. New ways of seeing. A wider paradigm. Ugliness is a con. But ugliness is everywhere. Time wasting!
— John Campbell (@JohnJCampbell) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine It’s a time sink, and potential magnet for controversy. But also generates odd lead and my sole outlet for humour.
— Matt Nippert (@MattNippert) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine it’s a freelancers’ watercooler, a wellspring of ideas and laughs, but it has left my home life in tatters
— Toby Manhire (@toby_etc) September 3, 2014
What’s the biggest issue this election? Who do you think will win?
Patrick Gower
The economy and “dirty politics” – and everything in between. I don’t pick winners – there’s such a complicated picture under MMP.
Laura McQuillan
Dirty Politics has been huge, but it has, unfortunately, overshadowed policy. National will win, but will they have the numbers to form a government? It’s an exciting election for political geeks.
@salientmagazine no comment pic.twitter.com/MWr7LPoHrc
— Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine Everything’s up in the air – I think all bets are off.
— Matt Nippert (@MattNippert) September 2, 2014
Final Q we promise! Advice to budding journos?
Patrick Gower
Make your start with Salient. Worked out OK for me.
Laura McQuillan
Back yourself, put yourself out there, sort the truth from the bullshit. Be fearless but fair. Write for Salient! It’s a great stepping stone
@salientmagazine Practice horizontal loyalty/”shine theory”; you never know who of your student media colleagues you’ll work with one day
— Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine Spend 90% of time on getting source material, only 10% writing. Let material talk: Leave literary stuff to @SteveBraunias
— Matt Nippert (@MattNippert) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine Work REALLY hard. Don’t be cynical. Nod when the old timers give advice. Trust your own voice. Curiousity, empathy & spine.
— John Campbell (@JohnJCampbell) September 2, 2014
@JohnJCampbell @salientmagazine Learn to say no to your bosses. At appropriate times, of course. That one took me ages to learn.
— Matt Nippert (@MattNippert) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine read everything. Get off your computer and go talk to people. Try writing news before you enrol in journalism school.
— Sarah Robson (@rarahsobson) September 3, 2014
Re: Tweets
@salientmagazine You should ask all former editors how many of them have made out with other former editors :-)
— David Farrar (@dpfdpf) September 1, 2014
I just assumed @salientmagazine was making some kind of meta statement about whaledump and online conversations.
— David Slack (@DavidSlack) September 2, 2014
@robbasaurusrex @salientmagazine We do unfortunately get to see a salient interview before its published
— Maggie (@maggiemaeveanne) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine @keith_ng Can I answer? I tried unsuccessfully to roll our editor in 95 but failed. She later got fired for embezzelment.
— Damian Christie (@damianchristie) September 2, 2014
One day I aspire to be twitter-interviewed by @salientmagazine. I wrote the crosswords a few times, you know.
— Giancarlo (@louderthoughts) September 2, 2014
@robbasaurusrex @JohnJCampbell hey man, we’ve got feelings too
— Salient (@salientmagazine) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine Apologies, it’s just surreal to see @JohnJCampbell replying to the question “what are you doing now?”
— Robert Kelly (@robbasaurusrex) September 2, 2014
@salientmagazine I don’t think the question dump method is very good mates
— Harry Evans (@hdeee) September 2, 2014
@hdeee @salientmagazine I thought it was cool that those tweets showed so many people had been involved in Salient. Were people upset?
— A . B . H (@anguswow) September 2, 2014
@robbasaurusrex @salientmagazine @MicheleACourt @keith_ng @mlle_elle or how to say hello, even
— Toby Manhire (@toby_etc) September 2, 2014
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