Kiwi columnist sacked by Daily Mail
Journalist Dan Wootton apologises on social media but ‘laughing emoji’ texts are later revealed
New Zealand journalist Dan Wootton has been sacked by the Daily Mail website as a columnist, in the fallout of an interview on his GB News TV show in the United Kingdom.
Wootton, the host of a nightly GB News show, was suspended by the channel following an interview he conducted with fellow presenter Laurence Fox on Tuesday, in which Fox made offensive and sexist comments about a female journalist.
“Show me a single self-respecting man that would like to climb into bed with that woman ever — ever — who wasn’t an incel,” Fox told Wootton, adding: “Who would want to shag that?”
As the Daily Telegraph reported, Wootton laughed as Fox spoke and did not censure him. “She’s a very beautiful woman, Laurence, very beautiful woman.”
Wootton, whose journalism career started in New Zealand and who has broken a number of big exclusive stories including Harry and Meghan’s exit from the UK, apologised on social media this week.
However, Fox later shared screenshots of a text conversation he had with Wootton directly after the show, the Daily Telegraph reported. In that exchange, the Telegraph reported, Wootton sent a series of laughing face emojis and joked about his producers “freaking out”.
Wootton has been suspended by GB News and the British media regulator, Ofcom, has opened an investigation. It says it has received more than 7000 complaints about the interview.
Wootton has already been the subject of headlines in the UK this year, following allegations he used a fake identity, Martin Branning, to solicit sexual images from colleagues when he worked at News UK. The media firm is investigating the allegations.
A spokesperson for DMG Media, owner of MailOnline, told the Guardian: “Following events this week, DMG Media can confirm that Dan Wootton’s freelance column with MailOnline — which had already been paused — has now been terminated, along with his contract.”
Top magazine: ‘All options on table’
One of New Zealand’s few but certainly best-read sports magazines is facing an uncertain future.
NZ Rugby World is in a hiatus period — its editor and several highprofile writers have been given notice, while its respected publisher appears to be working on a possible sale.
The magazine has produced more than 200 editions over more than two decades.
“NZ Rugby World is a marketleading magazine steeped in history,” says owner Mike Hansen.
“There are some rumours out there about the future of the magazine. At the moment we are unable to comment further as it is commercially sensitive.”
Hansen said he was “looking at all options on the table”.
“If we feel the best option is to sell the magazine as a going concern, we are sure that the next publisher will build on the great work that our team has achieved,” he says.
“We would like to thank the loyal
NZ Rugby World subscribers and followers that have continued to support us and love our publication.”
Editor Jim Kayes confirmed he had been given notice, and he in turn had advised high-profile columnists such as Dylan Cleaver, Rikki Swannell, Neil Reid, and Jason Pine.
“I enjoyed working for Mike,” Kayes told Media Insider.
He said it had been a thoroughly enjoyable job, but the uncertain future reflected the pressure on media businesses more widely, with the impacts of an economic recession and rising costs such as postage and printing.
“I think it’s sad for the industry and sad for the game of rugby. I thought we produced a fantastic magazine. We tried to bring new voices into the magazine — women, Pasifika — and we did that really well.”
Latest readership data from Nielsen — for the 12 months to the end of June — shows NZ Rugby World has a healthy
161,000 readers, up
4000 on the previous quarter, and
50,000 ahead of its rival
Rugby News.
Kayes said he had been the first editor to feature a female rugby player, Portia Woodman, as a cover star.
Lip-reading Prince Harry is OK — Media Council
The British media have occasionally used lip-readers to try to ferret out what the royals might be telling each other during high-profile public events, such as weddings, funerals, and other get-togethers.
NZ Herald reader Richard Hulse took exception to the practice.
And he didn’t like that the Herald picked up a UK newspaper story, in which a lip-reader quoted Prince Harry as saying, “I’m fed up with the way they treat me” as he took his place in Westminster Abbey for King Charles’ Coronation in May.
Hulse complained to the Media Council that the story breached two council principles — privacy and subterfuge.
He said public figures should have the right to expect that normally private conversations would remain private.
And he complained that the content of the conversation was obtained by foul means, tantamount to spying.
He told the Media Council the Herald also had a duty to confirm the accuracy of the report, as lip-reading was an art, not a science, and “certainly not fool-proof ”.
The Herald told the council there could be no expectation of privacy in an event broadcast live around the world. It was not a private conversation, being in a wide-open public space, and the Herald did not accept the assertion it was tantamount to spying.
The Media Council, in a ruling today, said a person “having a sotto voce conversation with no expectation that it might be observed, might have a legitimate expectation of privacy.
“But this was not an ordinary person, and this was not an ordinary occasion,” said the council.
“This was a conversation in a public place watched by millions, many of whom could lip-read.
“Prince Harry is one of the most watched people in the world, and this was one of the most watched spectacles in the world.
“A public figure, particularly one who has lived his whole life in the public eye and who has made a career of courting media outlets might expect lip-readers to pick up on what he said at such an event. As for the accuracy of the lip-reader’s report of what Prince Harry said, there is no indication that the lip-reader got it wrong.”
The council ruled there were insufficient grounds to proceed with the complaint.
TVNZ launches CEO hunt
TVNZ has launched its hunt for a new boss, almost three months after the departure of CEO Simon Power.
The job ad, in last Saturday’s Weekend Herald, talks of a new CEO needing to navigate “an increasingly complex local and international media landscape”. It also calls for someone with “a strong understanding of the political environment in which TVNZ operates and an ability to pragmatically balance political and commercial priorities”.
In my view, unless the successful applicant comes from within the business, the state-owned broadcaster will be doing well to have someone in the role by the end of the year. The most likely internal applicants are interim CEO Brent McAnulty, and chief transformation officer Cate Slater.
There is likely to be a lot of external interest, although timing might be an issue. The recruitment firm wants applications by 5pm Friday next week.
I suspect some potential candidates will want to know the make-up of the Government come October 14. Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson will be a different proposition from Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee (or perhaps, being cheeky, Broadcasting Minister Winston Peters!)
A third-term Labour Government is likely to be a lot more hands-on in driving TVNZ as a public service broadcaster, compared with a likely wholly commercial focus of a National Government.
Internal Affairs wants gambling ads removed
The Department of Internal Affairs wants advertisements for an offshore gambling company removed, but it may be on a collision course with some media firms.
JackpotCity has run television and radio ads for several years, advertising free-to-play gambling sites, with URLs such as jackpotcity. net. Internal Affairs is concerned the ads are a gateway to illegal sites — the URLs are similar to real pay-to-play sites.
“We see those sites as just being a gateway to an online gambling site where you can spend real money. We’re pretty clearly of the view that that advertising doesn’t meet New Zealand legal requirements and is unlawful,” Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) general manager of regulatory services John Sneyd told 1 News this month.
Internal Affairs told Media Insider it had written to a number of media firms — NZME and MediaWorks have confirmed they are in talks with the government department; Warner Bros. Discovery and TVNZ say they are not aware of any letter.
“We received a letter from the Department of Internal Affairs recently regarding JackpotCity advertisements NZME and other media companies were running,” said an NZME spokeswoman.
“We continue to liaise with the DIA on this, as well as seeking our own legal advice. However, in good faith, we made the decision to immediately stop running the ads on our platforms.”
A MediaWorks spokeswoman said: “MediaWorks is in dialogue with the Department of Internal Affairs in relation to Jackpot City advertising.”
She did not respond to specific questions as to whether the ads were still running on MediaWorks channels.
Representatives for TVNZ and Warner. Bros Discovery said they had not received any letters from Internal Affairs.
“TVNZ airs this advertising after 10pm at night and only in AO classified content (M/16/18). We also apply frequency caps to prevent any repetition in ad breaks,” said a TVNZ spokeswoman.
“We take steps to ensure all our advertising activity complies with advertising standards. We also consider our viewers in the way we schedule our advertising.”
A Warner Bros spokeswoman said: “On occasion, we run advertisements for gaming websites on Three and ThreeNow within strict parameters that we choose to enforce on our platforms over and above what the ASA requires.
“We take our role as a responsible broadcaster very seriously and this includes only allowing advertisements to run after 9pm with a limit of one advertisement per programme or movie, and requiring all creative to be reviewed and approved by our legal team prior to airing, as well as being cleared to screen by the Commercial Approvals Bureau.”
An Internal Affairs spokeswoman said though they were still engaged with media firms, it was their preference “not to name them to allow open and constructive dialogue to continue”.
“The letters state our position that the advertising is unlawful and request a commitment to withdraw the advertising from their platforms.
“One outlet has responded positively and agreed to withdraw the advertising. We are pleased at the willingness to engage constructively with DIA, however our goal does remain to have the advertising removed.”
The spokeswoman said the department was not in a position to determine next steps “until we fully understand the approach the media outlets intend to take”.
“As section 16 of the Gambling Act states, advertising overseas gambling websites is an offence it would potentially be open for DIA to take a prosecution. However, there is some way to go before we could determine if that was the appropriate course of action.”
A public figure, particularly one who has lived his whole life in the public eye and who has made a career of courting media outlets might expect lip-readers to pick up on what he said at such an event.
Media Council ruling
The call of the Empire
Regular readers of Media Insider will be well across the rampant changes under way at almost every major New Zealand media firm. Now one of Auckland media’s favourite watering holes is facing its own upheaval.
Auckland’s Empire Hotel — an oasis for many NZME, TVNZ and Spark staff, and the scene of a massive Voyagers after-party this year — has been sold, with details yet to be publicly announced.
“What makes a pub is its patrons and staff,” says outgoing general manager Colin McMillan.
“Without them you have nothing. We’ve been very lucky over the years to have had a strong, loyal group of regulars who have supported us by simply walking through the door. Over time you get to know these people and they very much become a part of your life. Thanks to all who made it happen.”