450 days ago

Community newspapers Horowhenua Chronicle and and Kāpiti News to close

Veronica from Manakau

14 November, 2024

Community newspapers Horowhenua Chronicle and Kāpiti News, owned by NZME, is closing.

NZME chief executive Michael Boggs said in a statement published by 1news.co.nz the changing media landscape and a “substantial increase in costs” meant they were no longer profitable.

Additional comments: There is a great need for reporting on local government. That includes Horowhenua District Council and the regional council Horizons in the first instance.

Especially at this time because the community is going through so many demographic changes and pressures from population increases.

The question is how to fund it. Which is where the community comes in. Many of you will know of my work to inform the Horowhenua community mainly about council news but there's definitely room to expand.

But no man - or woman - is an island. And neither do I want to be. I know how much should be reported on but this isn't possible to achieve as a one-woman band.

An organisational model is preferred as I continue to build on my Master's thesis to develop a new media model servicing the people of Horowhenua - not vested interests.

As a qualified journalist and practitioner it disturbs me a great deal to think there will be no independent coverage of council news available to the community. Instead all the public will be left with is the spin produced by councils with the funding, capability and infrastructure to saturate the many and varied communications channels. That's not good enough.

So, I'm looking for people in the community who are interested in potentially funding a new media model based on an organisational structure.

Full disclosures will be provided to interested contributors. Please direct message me if you would like to assist. The first practical goal, in tandem with developing a new media model, would be to employ journalists to do the mahi.

And finally, "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow."

[A link to the full article www.1news.co.nz...

More messages from your neighbours
17 days ago

Time to Tickle Your Thinker 🧠

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

If a zookeeper had 100 pairs of animals in her zoo, and two pairs of babies are born for each one of the original animals, then (sadly) 23 animals don’t survive, how many animals do you have left in total?

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.

Image
1 day ago

Rara 1496-1

Paul from Levin

Another view of Rata at Horseshoe Bend

Image
19 days ago

Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.

Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.

We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?

Image
As a customer, what do you think about automation?
  • 9.6% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
    9.6% Complete
  • 43.2% I want to be able to choose.
    43.2% Complete
  • 47.2% Against. I want to deal with people.
    47.2% Complete
2304 votes