No risk, no investigations . . . no real media, really [update 2]

If you’re wondering why you don’t see real investigative reporting in New Zealand newspapers any more, the reason is quite simple.  It’s because they don’t do it any more.  It’s too “risky",” as a leaked internal memo from the publishers of the Herald and Listener confirms:

    “Where editorial identifies an issue or risk in an article the relevant passages could be proactively removed, or rewritten internally, to remove the perceived risk, as an alternative to obtaining legal advice on the risks of publication.”

Too risky.  Too much trouble. Much cheaper just to recycle press releases and print commentators that never say anything, eh.  As Danyl says,

    “Exercising caution is one thing – nobody wants to get sued – but if the editors are self-censoring instead of checking with the lawyers then it really is time to shut down the presses and turn off the lights.”

UPDATE: Herald editor Tim Murphy responds to Cactus.

Dim Post doesn’t buy it.

UPDATE: Quick as a flash, Cactus spots that Mr Murphy is set so spin cycle.