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INVESTIGATE
John Key targeted:
December 2008: Media bias • The Christmas Special issue • The Church of Oprah Issue 95
news media implicated
New Evidence
backs up the Christmas story
Oprah Winfrey’s new religion
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Contents 44 24
50
32 FEATURES
24 Dog-whistle Electioneering 44 The Christmas Spirit A Canterbury University study suggests the news media were heavily biased against the National Party and John Key during the election campaign. IAN WISHART analyses the study, and its implications for the daily news media
32 Christmas - The Evidence
For years major newspapers and magazines have devoted issues each December to attacking the basis of the Christmas story. But now, new evidence is backing up the traditional version. In this extract from his book The Divinity Code, IAN WISHART lays out where critics like Richard Dawkins and John Spong have got it wrong
In a continuation of our Christmas special, former Christian turned atheist turned agnostic SIMON GEMMILL questions some basic assumptions about faith
50 Oprah’s New Religion
America’s talk-show queen has not only sold The Secret in 124 countries, and pushed other bizarre New Age beliefs on her audience - now she’s helped launch Barack Obama into the White House as part of a brave new order. ROLLAN MCCLEARY backgrounds the New Age search for their own ‘Messiah’ Cover: NZPA
Editorial and opinion 06 Focal Point
Volume 8, issue 95, ISSN 1175-1290
Editorial
08 Vox-Populi
The roar of the crowd
16 Simply Devine
16
Miranda Devine on drugs
18 Mark Steyn
On a cartoon president
20 Eyes Right
Richard Prosser on ‘The People’
22 Line 1
Chris Carter rocks the boat
Lifestyle
18
60 Money
Peter Hensley on retirement
62 Education
Amy Brooke’s clarion call
64 Science
Earthquake warning systems
66 Technology
Notebooks, Dragon 10
68 Sport
Chris Forster on the Blackcaps
60
70 Health
New breakthrough in heart care
72 Alt.Health Probiotics
74 Travel
A Lost City, and Ireland
82 Food
James Morrow cooks noodles
84 Drive
Corvette’s new ZR1
82
86 Toybox
The latest and greatest
88 Pages
Michael Morrissey’s summer picks
92 Music
Chris Philpott’s CD reviews
94 Movies
Quantum of Solace, Ghost Town
96 DVDs
Mamma Mia!
84
Chief Executive Officer Heidi Wishart Group Managing Editor Ian Wishart Customer Services Debbie Marcroft NZ EDITION Advertising Sales
Richa Fuller Fuller Media 09 522 7062 021 03 74079 richa@fullermedia.co.nz
Contributing Writers: Melody Towns, Selwyn Parker, Amy Brooke, Chris Forster, Peter Hensley, Chris Carter, Mark Steyn, Chris Philpott, Michael Morrissey, Miranda Devine, Richard Prosser, Claire Morrow, James Morrow, Len Restall, Laura Wilson, and the worldwide resources of MCTribune Group, UPI and Newscom Art Direction Design & Layout
Heidi Wishart Bozidar Jokanovic
Tel: +64 9 373 3676 Fax: +64 9 373 3667 Investigate Magazine PO Box 302188, North Harbour North Shore 0751, NEW ZEALAND AUSTRALIAN EDITION Editor Ian Wishart Customer Services Debbie Marcroft Advertising sales@investigatemagazine.com Tel/Fax: 1-800 123 983 SUBSCRIPTIONS Online: www.investigatemagazine.com By Phone: Australia 1-800 123 983 NZ 09 373 3676 By Post: To the PO Box NZ Edition: $75 Au Edition: A$96 Email editorial@investigatemagazine.com ian@investigatemagazine.com australia@investigatemagazine.com sales@investigatemagazine.com debbie@investigatemagazine.com All content in this magazine is copyright, and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The opinions of advertisers or contributors are not necessarily those of the magazine, and no liability is accepted. We take no responsibility for unsolicited material sent to us. Please enclose a stamped, SAE envelope. Inquiries in the first instance should be made via email or fax. Investigate magazine Australasia is published by HATM Magazines Ltd
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