All job losses suck

Liam Hehir writes:

In 2019, the government led by Jacinda Ardern announced a ban on the issue of new permits for offshore exploration of oil and gas. The ban was nationwide but, naturally, hit some regions much harder than others. While centres of media, art and government like Wellington and Auckland were not directly affected the results were devastating for Taranaki.

Thousands of well-paying, blue-collar jobs would go. Tens of thousands of dollars would be lopped off average household incomes. Families would be forced to move.

There was some mention of this in reporting at the time. Nothing quite likes the outpouring of grief that has accompanied the recent loss of media jobs, however. To be fair, if Taranaki oil workers had means of mass communication, then we probably would have seen a fortnight of jilted-lover style attacks on the government of the day.

The media demand the Government must save jobs in their industry, yet show little empathy for employees in industries such as mining, oil, primary industries who face large industry job losses also.

The media is going to have to face the reality of its situation. There is no white knight who is going to ride to the rescue with an unconditional basic income for media firms. There is just not enough trust or goodwill among the public or the politicians for this to even be proposed. That is a fact that the sector has to come to grips with.

You should never, ever presume to tell anyone how they should feel about a tough situation. Journalists are facing great uncertainty and worry. And it’s not just them, remember, but production crews, makeup artists and all manner of others required to put together a quality broadcast production.

But as media is forced to cover itself, it may be good to look back and remember the disciplines and balance of sympathies that were maintained when it came to reporting on other sectors that underwent similar disruptions. Because the plight of welders servicing gas exploration companies in Taranaki were no less destabilised and worried by what the previous government did to them, and if nuance and detachment could be insisted upon then, it can be now.

Exactly.