Latest news with #NickHanne
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Free Speech Union Welcomes NZME Board Refresh, A Hopeful Sign For Media Balance
Press Release – Free Speech Union This change promises a return to more factual reporting if the Board can restore the traditional journalistic ethics of the fourth estate. The announcement of NZME's board refresh signals hope for a return to more balanced reporting of news, which is an essential component of a healthy democracy. The Free Speech Union was pleased to play an advocacy role in this, says Nick Hanne of the Free Speech Union. 'Last year, the Free Speech Union urged supporters concerned about free and open discourse to get enough NZME shares to gain voting rights. FSU CEO Jonathan Ayling encouraged experienced people to put themselves forward for NZME board positions. 'The Free Speech Union has repeatedly called on NZME to stop censoring those views which appear to be offensive to certain staff and their stifling need to be 'politically correct'. The FSU also arranged meetings with the Managing Director and the Senior Editor, urging a restoration of the fundamental balance needed for the NZ Herald to stay a newspaper of record. 'We reminded them of how the Commerce Commission turned down their merger with Stuff, because the loss of media pluralism would be so damaging to democracy. We welcome the appointments of Steven Joyce and Jim Grenon on the NZME board and believe they'll play a crucial role in fixing this. 'Mr Grenon has weathered a lot of unjust criticism in pursuing this 'audacious' outcome. But his principled determination to defend broad viewpoint representation will help reestablish the centrality of free speech in our democracy. 'The media plays a crucial role in Kiwis' ability to seek, receive, and impart information, so it's essential that they platform multiple viewpoints on issues of public interest. This change promises a return to more factual reporting if the Board can restore the traditional journalistic ethics of the fourth estate. 'Kiwis deserve news which offers coverage rather than censorship.'
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Free Speech Union Welcomes NZME Board Refresh, A Hopeful Sign For Media Balance
The announcement of NZME's board refresh signals hope for a return to more balanced reporting of news, which is an essential component of a healthy democracy. The Free Speech Union was pleased to play an advocacy role in this, says Nick Hanne of the Free Speech Union. 'Last year, the Free Speech Union urged supporters concerned about free and open discourse to get enough NZME shares to gain voting rights. FSU CEO Jonathan Ayling encouraged experienced people to put themselves forward for NZME board positions. 'The Free Speech Union has repeatedly called on NZME to stop censoring those views which appear to be offensive to certain staff and their stifling need to be 'politically correct'. The FSU also arranged meetings with the Managing Director and the Senior Editor, urging a restoration of the fundamental balance needed for the NZ Herald to stay a newspaper of record. 'We reminded them of how the Commerce Commission turned down their merger with Stuff, because the loss of media pluralism would be so damaging to democracy. We welcome the appointments of Steven Joyce and Jim Grenon on the NZME board and believe they'll play a crucial role in fixing this. 'Mr Grenon has weathered a lot of unjust criticism in pursuing this 'audacious' outcome. But his principled determination to defend broad viewpoint representation will help reestablish the centrality of free speech in our democracy. 'The media plays a crucial role in Kiwis' ability to seek, receive, and impart information, so it's essential that they platform multiple viewpoints on issues of public interest. This change promises a return to more factual reporting if the Board can restore the traditional journalistic ethics of the fourth estate. 'Kiwis deserve news which offers coverage rather than censorship.'
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Tonkin + Taylor Investigation Of Employee's Speech Sets Dangerous Precedent
The heckler was wearing a Tonkin + Taylor lanyard at the time, but its common practice for employers to ask employees to wear items like lanyards to help with workplace identification for reasons such as security. Tonkin + Taylor is investigating one of their employees after he heckled Winston Peters on his way to work yesterday morning, to determine if the situation is against their code of conduct. But individuals don't give up their speech rights when they accept a job, says Nick Hanne of the Free Speech Union. 'Employers don't own employees time when they are commuting to work, and the choice to heckle Winston Peters has nothing to do with Tonkin + Taylor. No one asked their opinion. They have nothing to do with the situation. 'The company apologising off the bat sets a dangerous precedent, sending a message to employees that expressing political opinions in public is unacceptable. But individuals don't forfeit their right to express political views just because they have a job. 'We're contacting Tonkin + Taylor, urging them to respect their employee's speech rights, and not to set a poor example to other Kiwi businesses. Employers should not overreach into employees' personal lives, dictating what is and isn't acceptable to say. This would cause huge damage to our democracy. 'The heckler was wearing a Tonkin + Taylor lanyard at the time, but it's common practice for employers to ask employees to wear items like lanyards to help with workplace identification for reasons such as security. 'Companies can't have it both ways: requiring employees to be identifiable for branding or security purposes, but not when expressing lawful personal views on their own time.'
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Tonkin + Taylor Investigation Of Employee's Speech Sets Dangerous Precedent
Press Release – Free Speech Union The heckler was wearing a Tonkin + Taylor lanyard at the time, but its common practice for employers to ask employees to wear items like lanyards to help with workplace identification for reasons such as security. Tonkin + Taylor is investigating one of their employees after he heckled Winston Peters on his way to work yesterday morning, to determine if the situation is against their code of conduct. But individuals don't give up their speech rights when they accept a job, says Nick Hanne of the Free Speech Union. 'Employers don't own employees time when they are commuting to work, and the choice to heckle Winston Peters has nothing to do with Tonkin + Taylor. No one asked their opinion. They have nothing to do with the situation. 'The company apologising off the bat sets a dangerous precedent, sending a message to employees that expressing political opinions in public is unacceptable. But individuals don't forfeit their right to express political views just because they have a job. 'We're contacting Tonkin + Taylor, urging them to respect their employee's speech rights, and not to set a poor example to other Kiwi businesses. Employers should not overreach into employees' personal lives, dictating what is and isn't acceptable to say. This would cause huge damage to our democracy. 'The heckler was wearing a Tonkin + Taylor lanyard at the time, but it's common practice for employers to ask employees to wear items like lanyards to help with workplace identification for reasons such as security. 'Companies can't have it both ways: requiring employees to be identifiable for branding or security purposes, but not when expressing lawful personal views on their own time.'
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Tonkin + Taylor Investigation Of Employee's Speech Sets Dangerous Precedent
Tonkin + Taylor is investigating one of their employees after he heckled Winston Peters on his way to work yesterday morning, to determine if the situation is against their code of conduct. But individuals don't give up their speech rights when they accept a job, says Nick Hanne of the Free Speech Union. 'Employers don't own employees time when they are commuting to work, and the choice to heckle Winston Peters has nothing to do with Tonkin + Taylor. No one asked their opinion. They have nothing to do with the situation. 'The company apologising off the bat sets a dangerous precedent, sending a message to employees that expressing political opinions in public is unacceptable. But individuals don't forfeit their right to express political views just because they have a job. 'We're contacting Tonkin + Taylor, urging them to respect their employee's speech rights, and not to set a poor example to other Kiwi businesses. Employers should not overreach into employees' personal lives, dictating what is and isn't acceptable to say. This would cause huge damage to our democracy. 'The heckler was wearing a Tonkin + Taylor lanyard at the time, but it's common practice for employers to ask employees to wear items like lanyards to help with workplace identification for reasons such as security. "Companies can't have it both ways: requiring employees to be identifiable for branding or security purposes, but not when expressing lawful personal views on their own time."
