David Cohen: author set to offer alternative Jacinda Ardern biography

The author of an alternative Jacinda Ardern biography says his book's different - because he's spoken to people across politics. 

The Former Prime Minister's memoir, A Different Kind of Power, hit shelves last week. 

David Cohen says he's writing his own book, backed by alternative news website, the Centrist.

He expects it'll be out later this year.

He says he's proud of the fact it brings in a multitude of voices - which he claims other Ardern biographies haven't done.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Godgether due to see Ellen's There's been a lot of
talk about Jasinda Ardun's new biography, of course, but in
the midst of it all you may have noticed some
ads for another Justina book. We can reveal tonight that
the mystery unauthorized Justinta biography is being written by journalist
David Cohen, and David's with me. Now, Hey, David, top.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Of the morning to you here there, I'm in rural Ireland.
Can you believe so? I think this is the first
time in my life I've done such an interview sort
of in spirit.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
Have you gone to Ireland? Have you gone to Ireland
to go interview Trevor Mallard for the book?

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Is he still here? I'm actually doing an assignment for
the listener over here. But I've been in Britain doing
the final interviews for my just cinder our during work.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Now, David, did you time the ads? Am I right
in thinking you timed the ads for your book for
the same day that she released her book?

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Correct? Or, more specifically, because I've been in the British isles.
The Centrist with whom I relatively recently made a commercial
arrangement with, we're behind the billboards and also the website

(01:20):
to send abook dot com.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Right, So does this mean that you're being financially backed
by Jim Grennan.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
By the Centrist which is financially back by Jim. I
don't know what their arrangement is, but you should ask them, Okay,
he said carefully.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
David, is this legit? Have you got yourself a publisher?

Speaker 2 (01:45):
The short answer is yes, But it's also been negotiated
at the moment, which is there is one international publisher
that is extremely keen on the project. So I'll know
within within within the coming weeks where that one's going.

(02:07):
Fairly confident. I am absolutely confident that this will be
out this year later this year of that, I've got
no doubt.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
I've had a look at your website and it seems
to me, based on the comments that you've got on there,
that you have spoken to at least one cabinet minister,
is that right? Former cabinet minister?

Speaker 2 (02:28):
Oh, more than one, more than one. One of the
reasons as a journalist that I'm that I'm really proud
of this work is because it does what every other
work on just sindra Adin has not done palpably, which
is to bring in a multitude of voices from the left,

(02:49):
from the right, from the center, and from everywhere else.
And as an example of that politically every party, virtually
every party is well represented among the voices, among the interviewees,
among the one hundred or so folk, including you, that

(03:16):
that generously gave their time and their comments and perspectives
on the former.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
Listening to Hoskin talking a few weeks ago and he
said he'd spoken to somebody about a book. Was that you, Yes, okay,
so you've got me.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
So, just to clarify, Mike is most certainly in the book,
will be he spoke with my offside, if I can
put that without it sounding patronizing. Rebecca Keeler I've been
working on working with She's a co author and has

(03:55):
done a substantial number of the interviews.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
Now, now, David, I mean, you've obviously had access to
a reasonable number of people who I think we would
all regard as being quite well informed in the very
center of it. The only trouble that you seem to
have is that an association with the Centrist would possibly
lend your book to kind of becoming a bit fringe.
Are you worried about that?

Speaker 2 (04:17):
If I had a Creative New Zealand funding, I would
be concerned about it being fringe, because that seems to
be the account for a lot of that agency's sponsorship
at the moment. No, there's no editorial intercession. I've done
nine books. My hands are clean journalistically and they're certainly

(04:41):
going to remain so. And if somebody were to say
from centrist or from anywhere, you must do this or that,
then I would be out brilliant.

Speaker 1 (04:54):
David, listen, look after yourself and enjoy Ireland, and I
certainly will be reading the book when it comes out.
That's David cohen Au of the Jainder Book.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
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