Tuesday, July 26, 2005



Thinktank: election coverage

With the election date finally announced, its time for another No Right Turn Thinktank. How should I be covering the election? What sorts of things do you want to see on here over the next seven weeks?

I have a few ideas: a final push on the candidate survey (though I suspect we've seen all the responses we're going to get), a series of posts on "interesting" electorates with recommendations on who to vote for, and maybe some candidate interviews (though I am not a journalist and so that would be new and dangerous territory for me). Is there anything else I can add on top of what I'm doing at the moment? Suggestions in the comments, please...

(The first No Right Turn Thinktank was devoted to liberal issues; the second to constitutional arrangements).

8 comments:

You suggest that you can give us advice on who to vote for ..
dont

Posted by Anonymous : 7/26/2005 10:07:00 AM

i think IS meant in regard to crucial electorates where there could be some interesting results.

but what's wrong with IS saying who he thinks people should vote for? this is his blog, not some kind of public service, although what he does is often of great value to the political debate in nz.

Posted by Span : 7/26/2005 10:14:00 AM

Peter: I'm an advocate, not a journalist. I will be giving voting recommendations, some broad, some specific, which people are free to take with a pinch of salt if they disagree with my general position.

Posted by Idiot/Savant : 7/26/2005 10:26:00 AM

Post information (or links to) specific ways individuals can help with lobbying eg for local candidates.
This is shaping up to be a gloves-off, razor-thin race.. getting people effectively motivated and mobilised will be key to winning for the left. Apathy is the enemy!

Posted by Anonymous : 7/26/2005 10:49:00 AM

Huskynut: I like that suggestion; democracy is a participation sport, after all. I'll look into it and get some general information on who to contact if you'd like to help out.

Posted by Idiot/Savant : 7/26/2005 11:39:00 AM

I/S - cheers.
The other thing that'd be useful is someone with an ftp server to host .pdf or similar pamphlets for download, print and post.
One or two creative photoshoppers and a distributed army of culture-jammers could get excellent exposure at relatively minimal cost.
The Nat billboards are achieving their purpose, but they ain't that clever.. talented mimicry is effective subversion.

Posted by Anonymous : 7/26/2005 01:16:00 PM

Huskynut: I'll repeat an offer I've made before (somewhere): free or cheap server space and web hosting (etc) to suitable people and projects. (What specifically to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, but that would certainly qualify).

An FTP drop isn't so workable for the obvious worries about what exactly goes into it, but something similar would be good, and it could be quite effective.

Any other projects or ideas people have from the proper side of the spectrum can be in touch too. I can be emailed at this name on wotfun.com.

Posted by Anonymous : 7/26/2005 04:02:00 PM

Kietsie,
Have dropped you an e on this. Anyone else with skills to contribute - arty, political, organisational, whatever, pls get in touch.

Posted by Anonymous : 7/26/2005 07:42:00 PM