NBR weekend rumble: Mass shooting, Hosking’s BSA complaint upheld and CEO pay

NBR’s Nathan Smith, Campbell Gibson, Nick Grant, Tim Hunter and Jason Walls toss around some of the week’s most hard hitting, thought provoking and informative stories.

The Rumble gives its collective insights into this week’s mass shooting in Oregon, which claimed the lives of 10 people.

This event brought the number of mass shootings in the US this year to 294.

A mass shooting, according to the FBI, requires three or more people to be killed in gunfire.

Despite the calls for something to be done about the US’ appalling gun violence record, there is little faith that much will be done to amend the country’s firearm laws.

The “you can take my gun from my cold, dead hands” attitude of many Americans who cling to the second amendment to the American constitution makes the argument extremely hard – even when it comes to simple things like banning the sale of assault rifles at gun shows when a licence is not required.

US president Barack Obama delivered what has become his stock-standard “this is a tragedy, we need to do all we can to stop gun violence” speech in the hours following the shooting.

But Mr Obama himself indicated how routine these speeches have become, suggesting the US has become “numb” to mass shootings.

This was the 15th time since Mr Obama has taken office that he has given such a speech.

The Rumble also talked about the recent BSA decision to uphold complaints about Mike Hosking’s rant against a café waitress who complained her ponytail was repeatedly pulled over many months by Prime Minister John Key.

The Seven Sharp presenter’s attack on the waitress was “like a sledgehammer to a peanut,” according to one Rumbler, as his dominance in the New Zealand broadcasting landscape means his message was heard by hundreds of thousands of people.

In the comments section of an NBR story on the subject, a reader suggests they got the feeling from reading the BSA’s decision, that the panel struggled with the question of whether she had or had not crossed the line to being a public figure by the very act of blogging.

“My guess is that they thought that she wasn’t entirely the innocent, helpless victim and this influenced the decision to not impose a more severe penalty.”   

The Rumble tentatively agreed with the reader’s comment.

Finally, the issue of chief executives’ pay arose.

Last week, it was revealed Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings received a 17% pay rise in the year to July, bringing his pay to $4.9 million.

Does the problem lie with Mr Spierings’ pay cheque, or the fact it’s linked to his performance?

Finally this week, The Rumble introduces – for what will probably be one week only – “Jason’s minute.”

Following the success of Mike Hosking’s “Mike’s Minute,” NBR reporter Jason Walls tried his luck.

He launched into an insightful commentary about the over-use of attaching “gate” to a multitude of stories – Ponytalegate and Crotchgate to name a few.

Despite his enthusiasm, Jason’s Minute turned into Jason’s precious few seconds of humiliation, as a fellow NBR reporter cut him down to size.