Author: Nicky Hager

“Crosby v Hager”: defamation proceedings used as a political weapon

I have just been through an eleven month defamation case. Fortunately, we mostly won. About 20 to 1 if it was a score. If I was ever going to be sued like this, I am pleased that the suer was a man of Lynton Crosby’s standing and that his case against me was so weak….

Unfortunately, defamation is a tool that can be used by any well resourced company or individual against people who have annoyed them or who they do not like. This has serious implications for journalism and public accountability — potentially chilling freedom of speech about the people who most deserve scrutiny and criticism — since the sad fact is that it is much safer for a news organisation to criticise poor people than rich and powerful ones.

Questions frequently asked by journalism students

How can a busy journalist ever have time for investigative work?

I understand that time feels like an insurmountable barrier to ever being able to do investigative work. However after looking at real examples around the world I don’t think time is as important as motivation, creativity and persistence. Journalists who really want to pursue something often find a way.

“Imagining a world where the PR people had won”, Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Conference, University of

We live in an era where the public spaces are being crowded with paid spokespeople, spin and trickery; where news and political discussion are being polluted by the glib outpourings of ever growing numbers of PR people; and where the public spaces available for real democratic activity are drying up. My subject for today is considering the CUMULATIVE IMPACT of the growth of public relations, and particularly its cumulative impact on the media and the other public spaces where politics occurs