Dr Gavin Ellis was our speaker in November,

Gavin Ellis holds a PhD in political studies.He is a media consultant and researcher. A former editor-in-chief of the New Zealand Herald, he has a background in journalism and communications that spans more than half a century. His editorship of the Herald coincided with a period of major redevelopment of the broadsheet weekday newspaper, the launch of the Weekend Herald, and the creation of the newspapers’ Internet presence. A strong advocate of freedom of speech, he was chairman of the New Zealand Media Freedom Committee and was recipient of the British Commonwealth Astor Press Freedom Award in 2005. He was created an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to journalism. He has been a university lecturer in politics and media studies and a regular commentator on radio. As a consultant, he has advised on significant developments in media in New Zealand. He is the author of Trust Ownership and the Future of News: Media Moguls and White Knights (London, Palgrave) and Complacent Nation (Wellington, Bridget Williams Books).

Gavin Ellis gave a very lively presentation drawn from his research on important aspects of the trial of the perpetrator of the Christchurch mosque attacks:

The care taken by the NZ media ensured that the focus following the attack was almost entirely on the victims and their plight. Keeping attention on them and what they suffered, their communities and the bravery of certain citizens, ensured that the perpetrator had no platform for his white supremacist and racist views and messages. Nor was the spotlight ever on him. The media, Government, and Justice focus was to thwart his purpose to become ‘somebody’ through this extreme crime.

Gavin described the careful and detailed lengths to which the Justice system went to ensure that the focus remained on the victims. That they could tell their stories and be heard. This emphasis was vindicated in the increase in numbers who felt confident to come forward to have their stories heard at the sentencing hearing. Over 100 such stories were told, after Brendon Tarrant pleaded guilty to all the charges of murder and attempted murder that he faced. His face was pixillated when published in the NZ media.

In contrast the Australian media (Tarrant was an Australian) published his photo on the front page and featured his story rather than the focus taken in New Zealand.

Gavin Ellis presentation was riveting, very well researched and well received by the U3A members