The age of intolerance
I fear that the recession might have accelerated the age of intolerance and ultra conservatism to risk.
Is our new-found enthusiasm for saving versus spending, the resignation of the CEO of HP, and the decision of the Christchurch councillor to quit at the next election over a sandcastle spat symptom of this, or the disease itself?
We seem to be in a time when how things look is more important that how things are, i.e the facts. This is underscored by journalistic minions trolling through the café receipts of elected representatives and their officials to find an ill-gotten coffee, while the reasons for the burgeoning welfare cost go largely unexplained.
It’s now a world where being given a bun with mould on it in a takeaway store is worthy of editorial coverage by our major newspapers
I recall the comments of Philippa Fee at a liability seminar last year organised by Lumley: “There have been in New Zealand a sudden shift in social behaviour reflected in greater demand for accountability, less tolerance, deeper acrimony and a growing appetite for class actions. These behaviours are evident in businesses, consumers, employees and even agencies of government, and there are implications for all forms of public and professional liability. We are no longer litigation shy.”
This was the backdrop to Philippa’s presentation on Directors & Officers insurance, and she counseled that when it comes to liability paranoia is healthy, particularly in times of economic stress.
I hope she’s right, and as economic stress dissolves (economists-assured), these picky traits we are exhibiting are not so deeply embedded in our national character they remain permanent fixtures.
For communicators, these times give us different opportunities to exhibit our issue management skills, so we shouldn’t complain. It’s for Kiwis who’ve prided themselves historically on having a “fair go” attitude that I feel sorry.
But perhaps I’m just paranoid.
Tags: Christchurch councillor sandcastles, HP, Intolerance, Media coverage, newspapers
August 17th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
I feel you’re trying to draw a long bow here, Paul. I’m not convinced that recession = intolerance = ‘popularisation’ (dumbing down?) of the media. We’re living in the age of instant gratification and growing distrust of business and authority. I feel that the combination of these factors (rather than the recession) is what’s driving dissatisfaction, intolerance and demand-led consumer/customer behaviour.
Combine this with the trend towards ‘citizen journalism’ and the instant, global and potentially devastating impact of social media and other Web-based communication, and you have the makings of a long-term trend that will likely be impacting on us for far longer than the current recession. This, of course, makes effective and insightful communication a ‘must have’ rather than a ‘nice to have’ for any right-thinking organisation.
As for the dumbing down of the media, what we’re seeing in NZ is nothing more than a continuation of a global trend caused by the unprecedented proliferation of information sources. Detailed analysis and painstaking accuracy is now the preserve of specialist outlets, causing mainstream media (print *and* broadcast) to take the populist route. The ‘Grand Old Lady of Fleet Street’ herself, The Times, illustrates this perfectly. In terms of content (although not editorial style) she now more closely resembles The Sun or The Daily Mail than the august and venerable institution of just 20 years ago. I recall being briefed by the BBC’s business editor way back in 2000 on how his team were intending to start presenting hard news in a more ‘populist’ way. The challenge to communication professionals then, as now, was how to deal with the reality of this change.
August 17th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Hi Peter, my comments weren’t so much directed at the media as what I’ve observed as a fairly rapid change of Kiwi character – what we see in the media is only one expression of this. For example, the mouldy burger bun. Totally agree it was way short of what we should expect, but who among us hasn’t experienced the same thing in our own homes. Firstly, this was so outrageous as to prompt the consumer to ring a major newspaper; and the paper was clearly so surprised as this state of affairs, as to run it. The motivation was to “punish” the burger outlet and its brand. Hence the margin for any sort of error is fast disappearing.
August 17th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
No man is an island, Paul – the expectation of instant gratification and the growing distrust of business and authority is a *global* trend. As is the shifting focus of mainstream media. We as comms practitioners here on Outer Roa need to be right across these developments – not surprised by them . They should be informing and shaping the integrated comms programmes we should be developing and managing for our employers and clients.
As for the much-vaunted ‘Kiwi character’, I fear globalisation, immigration and social homogenisation have diluted its impact to a large extent. And while we must certainly bear it in mind in all that we do, and appeal to it where necessary, we should not let it romance us unduly or make us blind to reality. I have lived and worked in five countries, all of which had so-called ‘national characteristics’ echoing ‘Kiwi Ingenuity’, ‘Fair Go’, ‘Push Hard To The Final Whistle’ or any other NZ trait you care to mention.