The New Zealand Herald has revealed itself as one of the biggest bullies in the media landscape, and the latest example is their handling of Jonathan Ayling, the recently departed chief executive of the Free Speech Union.
Ayling has long been known as a vocal defender of open dialogue and the right for all New Zealanders to express themselves freely, but that seems to have hit a wall the moment money entered the picture. Speaking on The Platform, Sean Plunket read a message he received from Ayling, explaining that as part of his new role as a weekly columnist for the Herald, he is contractually forbidden from appearing on competing media outlets. That list of “competitors” conveniently includes The Platform.
Let’s pause on the irony for a moment. A man who spent years championing free speech in this country is now muzzled by a major media company’s exclusivity clause. He cannot speak with outlets like The Platform, not because he doesn’t want to, but because his new employer has silenced him.
Plunket rightly pointed out the hypocrisy. The very institution Ayling represented, the Free Speech Union, has leaned heavily on The Platform to promote the importance of free expression over the past four years. Yet the moment a lucrative media contract is signed, those lofty ideals seem to evaporate.
This is not an isolated case either. Damien Grant, another regular defender of free speech, faces similar restrictions as a Stuff columnist. If he wants to keep writing there, he too cannot appear on The Platform.
What emerges is a clear picture of mainstream outlets using their financial muscle to control voices and limit where they can be heard. These contracts are not about journalistic integrity or audience loyalty - they are about silencing independent competition.
The Herald and Stuff love to parade as defenders of democracy and accountability, but their behaviour proves the opposite. They are not champions of free expression, they are gatekeepers, pulling strings over what can be said, who gets to say it, and where those words are allowed to be heard.
Jonathan Ayling’s situation is a stark reminder - when money talks, free speech often gets gagged.
I’ve said before that I like The Platform as an independent media company. They give space to conversations and stories that mainstream outlets are too timid to touch. That’s valuable and worth supporting. Anyone who’s followed me for a while will know I’m not exactly Sean Plunket’s biggest fan.
Earlier this year he completely lost it when I declined to appear on his show…
