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NZPA staff speak out after public slap from Fairfax


Reporters not taking criticism lying down.

NBR staff
Fri, 08 Apr 2011

Yesterday, Fairfax defended its decision to shut down the 130-year-old New Zealand Press Association (NZPA), a move which will cost around 40 jobs.

Group executive editor Paul Thompson said the service was not creating the kind of compelling content Fairfax required.

NZPA staff were not impressed by the public slap-down.

One insider told NBR:

"We are a bit dark on Fairfax saying we were crap when they cut our funding so many times, and imposed a 500 word limit on stories last year."

A 500 word limit? That's not very compelling. No wonder Mr Thompson forgot to mention it.

Counting down the clock
NZPA is 60% owned by Fairfax Media, and 40% by APN. Both companies are based in Australia. 

Fairfax will withdraw funding in four to six months.

It is believed the Australian media company - which publishes The Dominion Post, The Christchurch Press and the Waikato Times, among other New Zealand properties - had come to believe that NZPA's continued existence was aiding rival APN (publisher of the NZ Herald).

Fairfax has said it will take on 15 of the 40 NZPA reporters. APN is assessing whether to create its own news service.

NBR staff
Fri, 08 Apr 2011
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NZPA staff speak out after public slap from Fairfax
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