RODNEY HIDE: Hosking’s “Impeccable Sources”: Pure Prebble Theatre, Zero Substance
- Administrator
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Mike Hosking’s claim of “impeccable sources” naming five National MPs as leakers is straight out of the Richard Prebble playbook. The veteran ACT leader was a master of the device: “usually reliable sources,” “reliable sources inform me,” “my sources tell me.” It sounded insider-ish, carried a ring of truth, and kept the story pumping for another news cycle.
In August 2000 Prebble told Parliament and the press: “Usually reliable sources have told ACT that the Cabinet has already made a decision to scrap the proposed Orion upgrade.” In December 2022 his NZ Herald column declared: “Usually reliable sources say the Defence Minister Peeni Henare… is not going to…” He deployed the line relentlessly as ACT leader and later commentator.
As a fresh MP I sat mortified in the House wondering what on earth these sources were. Then I learned the genius. Journalists reported it dutifully—not because they believed every word, but because it might be true, the speculation was real, and it gave them an easy story. Sometimes it proved accurate. Most times it was educated mischief. The point was never iron-clad proof. The point was momentum. And "news". Preb is a master.
Hosking did exactly that. He dropped five names on air, waved his impeccable sources like a wand, and let the outrage machine churn. National MPs deny it. Some threaten Media Council complaints. The story lives. Prebble would applaud the technique.
Here’s the reality check: anyone in politics or media citing anonymous sources is peddling unreliable speculation. Full stop. Real evidence has names, documents, or on-the-record quotes. Shadowy “impeccable sources” are for political operators wanting the headline without the accountability.
Prebble turned making news into performance art. Hosking is merely the latest act. But there is a difference: Preb was a politician. Journalists and radio hosts citing anonymous sources are doing politics, not news reporting.
Rodney Hide is a former minister and leader of the ACT Party
There's a bit of a recent pattern I've noticed recently with Mike Hosking talking up the economy and National. The economy bit I get, from the perspective of trying to influence sentiment positively, although again that's propaganda not news, albeit with good intentions. However talking up National and particularly Luxon feels very much like electioneering, although if they have to push partisan opinions over news I'd rather the media was advocating for National over Labour, better still ACT or even W̶i̶n̶s̶t̶o̶n̶ NZ First.
"Journalists and radio hosts citing anonymous sources are doing politics, not news reporting."
But it worked.