The Press - It's a jump to the left
I read the online editions of NZ's metro papers on a daily basis. In August 2025, I noticed a worrying trend in readers' letters published in the Christchurch Press. At month-end the tally was 17 anti-Israel and just 3 pro-Israel. I contacted the Press as follows:
'I wish to complain about the complete lack of balance in your published letters on Israel during the month of August this year (2025). My tally is 17 (82 percent) anti-Israel letters, compared to just 3 (18 percent) pro-Israel. A few anti-Israel letter writers have had more than one letter published.According to the Media Council website, I am required to bring my complaint to your attention and I look forward to your response.'Details of the letters were not sent to 'The Press' or requested by them, are:
Anti Israel
1 Aug Brian Turner
5 Aug Richard Dykes
9 Aug Garth Nowland-Foreman
11 Aug David Close
13 Aug John Minto
14 Aug Bronwyn Jones
16 Aug Bruce Morrison
16 Aug Bronwen Summers, John Minto' wife (1)
18 Aug John Wilson
19 Aug Anna Dalzell
20 Aug Martin Crick
20 Aug Jon Everist
21 Aug Mark Aitchison
23 Aug Clare Coveny
28 Aug Bronwyn Jones
29 Aug Ben Lowe
30 Aug Bronwen Summers, John Minto' wife (2)
Total 17
Pro Israel
16 Aug Charles Etherington
18 Aug Brian Preddy
20 Aug Charles Etherington
Total 3
Two of the letters were so crazy that I replied as follows:'Bronwyn Summers: 'Elected government' (Letters 16 August), has been bizarrely served by whoever chose that title. In Gaza, there has been no election since Hamas shot its way to power after the Israeli withdrawal in 2005. Meanwhile, over on the West Bank, President Abbas is now in the 20th year of his four-year term. Ms Summers identifies dislike for the PLO as being 'Too close to Israel'. Hey, what's not to like? Israel provides most of PLO critical-level hospital care - including that given to Mrs Abbas. On the governance front, the PLO relies on Israel to collect 70-80 percent of its tax revenue and hand it over'. and
'Richard Dykes 'Immediate action' (Letters 5 August), joins a long line of correspondents who can excoriate Israel in Gaza without once mentioning October 7th 2023. This suggests further analysis by Mr Dykes. How about: 'Dresden without Auschwitz', or 'Hiroshima without Pearl Harbour or Bataan?'"
Kamala Hayman not unexpectedly, was 'not burdened by what has been' and replied:'Kia ora Rob
Our policy is to publish a diversity of views in our letters page from the most recent which have been submitted. It is not always possible to achieve a strict equal number of letters on a topic if the number arriving are skewed heavily one one. For instance, it is not unusual for us to receive more letters opposing a new cycleway than in support. Our letters page may reflect this.In the case of Israel and the Gaza conflict, we endeavour to publish a balance of views but this is not always possible. The majority of letter writers in recent months have been critical of Israel's actions, as has NZ's Prime Minister, and the International Criminal Court. However, in this long running war there have been many letters published which have criticising Hamas, in particular its actions on October 7, 2023, and expressing support for Israel. I can assure you that there has been no policy of prioritising letters from those who criticise Israel, nor of suppressing support for Israel or criticism of Hamas. We continue to publish a fair selection of letters chosen from those submitted each day but cannot guarantee an equal balance of views every day, week or month, especially if the majority of writers fall on one side of the matter.Please note, we prioritise local letters and would very rarely publish a letter written by someone outside our print circulation area. As you live in Masterton, I would encourage you to submit any letters for publication to our sister paper The Post in Wellington.You may complain to the Media Council if you are unhappy with this response'. My reaction to Ms Hayman is two-fold.
Firstly: The comment that my letters are not acceptable, as I live outside their print catchment area is insulting.I am a paid subscriber and 'The Press' takes my money in exactly the same way as they would do if I had bought my copy through a newstand.In addition, the Stuff Group of which 'The Press' is a member, makes much of the expansion of online sales. A June 19th media release from Stuff is fulsome in its self-congratulation:https://stoppress.co.nz/news/stuff-sees-strong-audience-growth-across-online-and-print-brands/
Secondly: That the Letters column reflects the balance of letters, is bizarre given that a) they print multiple letters from the same source couple yet b) my two letters taking the opposing view are excluded on parochial grounds. I understand that 'The Press' are willing to accept major paid advertising from a pro-Israel group which suggests that I could pay to be published.Another way of redressing the imbalance of Opinion, often used by publishers of newspapers. is to commission an op-ed putting the alternative view. This lies entirely within the capability of 'The Press', but they show little interest in pursuing 'balance' to that extent.