5. What did you want to do after leaving school?
I always had ideas about being a journalist, romantic ones. I imagined sitting poolside at hotels in interesting parts of the world. I was one of the last cadets, at the Christchurch Star. As the most junior reporter I would be sent out to interview diamond wedding anniversary couples. I was the only journalist to miss the '81 Springbok tour as I had to sit in the office listening to the radio in case we missed anything. After a year in the Timaru office I decided to go and deputy-edit Rip It Up magazine instead.
6. What, in your opinion, is the best and worst of media in New Zealand today?
I admire the investigative journalists - Fisher, Savage, Kitchin, Hager. And I have the utmost respect for the way Campbell Live stays with important, unfashionable stories. The worst of the media, sadly, is probably to be found in the comments sections.
7. Why has your TV media show found it so hard to find a home, do you think?
Not because no one watched! Media7 ended because its channel did. Media3 found an audience of 60,000 to 70,000 viewers weekly, but it didn't attract enough viewers in the target demographic that commercial television needs. That's life.
8. Should Cameron Slater be afforded journalist protections, in your opinion?
In principle, yes. In practice, his actions can be appalling, in my opinion. Let's just say case-by-case on that one.
9. What gives you the right to criticise media?
I don't know what gives anyone the right to do anything. I lived in London for five years and I think that was a big part of me developing my interest in media and politics. I certainly get things wrong sometimes, and I'm always more than happy to say when I do. There are times I wish I'd been more measured. What am I most intolerant of? Smug people who don't know how good they've got it. Yeah, sometimes I'm accused of being smug and maybe I have been. It's one way of dealing with the trolls and angry people, to patronise them.
10. You've written about music for many years - is there a danger in being an old pop music fan?
I always call to mind [British writer] Julie Burchill's comment about the inherent sadness of a 40-year-old man enthusing about this week's 7-inch single. That was an incentive to getting out of being a music journalist. But I like it. I still go and see bands. I'm used to being the oldest person in the room at 51. But I'm there to see the music and also for people watching. I like seeing what's happening. Music is my heritage, the cultural community I grew up with, but it's also the thing that keeps me in touch with the new.
11. You're a left-wing blogger: how will the Labour Party fare in the next election, in your opinion?
Everyone knows I'm a tribal Labour voter but I'm not a member of any political party and have no wish to be. I'm a centre-left liberal but I have some fairly significant disagreements with people on the left side of things, like on free trade and the whole discussion around mining. As things stand, I don't think [Labour] are going to do very well. But we'll see.
12. What is love to you?
It's more than one thing: the sheer thrill of passion, my bond with my closest friends, but ultimately, for me, the bonds of family.
• Media Take begins on Maori TV on July 1, 10.25pm.