Understanding the nature of media scandals in light of recent revelations in New Zealand's political life

Abstract

The nature of media scandals is considered in light of the numerous scandals that have recently dominated New Zealand’s political life. These media scandals have centred on two individuals: rightwing blogger Cameron Slater and internet tycoon Kim Dotcom. In part, the scandals were driven simply by the fact some of the people involved were celebrities. However, genuinely important issues were raised, including journalistic independence and illegal government spying. Ultimately, the media scandals revealed the conservative character of New Zealand society.