10 February 2005 - Wellington
MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
New Editor for Forest & Bird magazine
Forest & Bird has appointed former BirdLife International communications manager Michael Szabo as the new Editor of Forest & Bird magazine, Deputy President Dr Peter Maddison announced today.
"Michael takes over from Gordon Ell of the Bush Press, a former national president of Forest and Bird, who has edited
the magazine since 1998", said Dr Maddison.
"Michael has an excellent track record as a journalist, features writer and editor combined with a long association with
conservation organisations including Greenpeace New Zealand, ECO and BirdLife International", he said.
Mr Szabo has worked for the environment and conservation movement in New Zealand for ten years and has reported on
conservation issues for New Scientist, NZ Geographic, the Sunday Star, and World Birdwatch, and edited Greenpeace
magazine and Disarmament Diplomacy journal.
While working for BirdLife International in Cambridge, UK, he kept a close eye on conservation news in New Zealand,
reporting on latest developments and promoting them to the international media. Since returning to live in NZ in 2003,
he has continued to promote NZ conservation issues to a wider international audience through World Birdwatch and the
BirdLife International website ( http://www.birdlife.org.uk/ ).
"I'm excited to be appointed as the new Editor of Forest & Bird magazine because it is a leader in its field with an outstanding reputation for the quality of its writing and
photography. I relish the opportunity to take the magazine into the future and will ensure it continues to be the
leading voice for conservation in New Zealand", says Mr Szabo.
"My experience working for Greenpeace New Zealand and BirdLife International has taught me that we will need to include
even more coverage of Forest and Bird's vital conservation work in the magazine and, in turn, ensure a lively mix of the
magazine's contents are posted on the Society's website at www.forestandbird.org.nz ", he says.
"While welcoming Michael, it is fitting that the Society puts on record its appreciation for the amount of work Gordon
Ell has put into Forest & Bird to make it New Zealand's leading conservation journal," Dr Maddison said.
"Gordon's attention to detail and his insistence on making the magazine readable to a wide audience and his diligence in
seeking out the stunning photographs that accompany the articles, have all been highly appreciated by the Society's
membership," he said.
"Gordon's knowledge of the New Zealand Conservation Estate has often resulted in the very special articles he has
himself contributed to the magazine. We will look forward to the natural history and New Zealand books that Gordon and
Bush Press will continue to produce", he said.
Note: Mr Szabo will start working in the position in February.
ENDS