Media roundup
25.02.10 | simon | 
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There’s been a flurry of media activity over the past two days since we announced that NZ Bus is rejecting the Campaign’s ads, and thereby trying to silence a positive atheist message in public. Here’s a brief selection of the coverage…
First off we have the Stuff/Dominion Post coverage of the story, complete with poll. The poll results are rather interesting, with 93.4% of respondents (when last checked) saying that this decision by NZ Bus to reject the ads is “unfair and discriminatory” (standard Internet poll qualifications apply of course).
Next we have the Stuff/NZPA article, which also includes a link to the TVNZ Breakfast video. There’s also the TV3 Sunrise article and video which follows a similar line.
In the blog world, No Right Turn thinks the decision is “blatantly unlawful” and calls for concerned people to communicate their thoughts to NZ Bus. There’s also a great post from a fellow called Frank, an “unashamed Christian” who while obviously not supporting the exact message of the Campaign, supports our right to get it out there. And last but not least, Brian Edwards summarises the recent events and astutely notes “the sure and certain fact that nothing can draw more attention to a commercial than banning it.”
February 25th, 2010 at 10:34 am
And a radio interview will full motion video in amazing technicolour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_SaWSxatS4
February 25th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Awesome media coverage, great rapid response!
Keep the pressure on and some change will occur
February 25th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
I recieved this email today from NZ Bus in response to my complaint about their rejection:
Dear Kevin
Thank you for your email.
Mr Fisher as spokesperson for the NZ Atheist Bus campaign launched his campaign in early December. This resulted in a number of press articles and broadcast coverage.
As a result of the publicity the campaign launch received, NZ Bus fielded a number of enquiries from the public asking about our involvement in and support of this campaign, raising their concerns. Additionally, a number of emails were received from customers expressing their distaste for the campaign and their distress. Similar concerns were also raised by a number of staff.
Mr Fishers campaign drew significant reaction from the travelling public and our people to be deemed controversial and divisive. NZ Bus has the right to decline advertising that may, in its perception, be considered controversial or divisive.
We have said no thank you to Mr Fisher and have wished him well in his endeavors to secure a bus company to work with.
Kind regards
Katie Greenaway| Customer Services Team Leader
Email katie.greenaway {at} nzbus.co(.)nz
I don’t know about you, but sounds like bullsh*t to me.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
I’m actually pleasantly surprised that NZ Bus responded – I got an identical email to Kevin’s in response to one I sent to them yesterday.
What disappoints me is the idea that some customers and staff expressed such sentiments for a campaign without swearing, violence, sex, or any controversial material – before it had even started, no less.
I am also worried that people who find ‘distasteful’ and ‘distressful’ such a harmless expression of doubt seem to have such a powerful influence over companies such as NZ Bus. If anything, this campaign is seeming to expose an undercurrent of medievalism in our otherwise supposedly modern and tolerant society.
Actually, remember the fuss about the Virgin in a Condom statue exhibition? They got away with that because of the artistic dimension. How are a few words somehow more offensive? Has anyone got a link to a posted/broadcast reason for objecting to the campaign? That would be worth a read/watch.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
And I’ve had exactly the same email from Katie Greenaway. I understand they can’t reply to each and every email but I’m hoping that people will continue to bombard them with emails expressing disappointment and frustration.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Good points SimonG, its frustrating on so many levels and really speaks of the weakness of God believers in the way they took such offense to opening a discussion about the idea that the MIGHT not be a god.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Keep in mind the response to the “St Matthews in the city” billboard over christmas – That was put up by a church to promote a more open minded approach to their own beliefs – a brave and meritable action in my mind. That not only elicited an immediate outcry of unseen proportions by the more conservative religonuts, but was also the target of rather violent vandalism.
These are the people we are dealing with…
February 25th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Alistair – a more accurate comment would be “the weakness of SOME God believers” – many of us are quite happy for the ads to go up and have been engaged in such discussions often.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Frank Ritchie:
Fair point, i agree. Revision; insert: “SOME” I appreciate open discussion as well, and think outright banning of the ad is trying stop discussion. Most believers will not at all be shaken as they “know” that god exists, so yes its most likely a minority which complained that somehow took offense.
February 25th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Don’t forget to hit them up at Infratil as well.
The company that actually owns NZBUS.
Buy shares in the company – only about $1.60 at the moment – buy a hundred and go to the AGM and ask questions from the floor to the company director’s about LOSS of REVENUE and BAD PUBLICITY.
With their current share price one would think that they would be doing a bit more to earn revenue.
I’ve posted a message on their facebook discussion page.
http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=57993919565
I expect that they might kill it off.
They also have NZBUS photo gallery – Leave a message on the gallery or photo’s
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=88642&id=57993919565
I left one
New slogan for NZBUS
NZBUS
Ride With Us We Discriminate