NZ Community Journalism Will Suffer If Jobs Outsourced, Says IFJ
www.ifj-asia.org
AUCKLAND (IFJ/Pacific Media Watch) - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has slammed APN News and Media’s
decision to outsource New Zealand subediting and layout jobs, as a cost-cutting exercise which would have a detrimental
effect on the quality of news.
According to IFJ affiliate, the EMPU (New Zealand Amalgamated Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union), the
decision, announced on March 22, is likely to cost more than 70 jobs across New Zealand.
The outsourcing contract has reportedly gone to Australian company PageMasters.
“The IFJ shares the concerns of the EMPU that the quality of journalism in community newspapers and magazines will
suffer, particularly if the jobs are now Auckland-based,” IFJ president Christopher Warren said.
“APN’s decision to outsource undermines the important role subeditors and copywriters play in factual and accurate
reporting,” said the president of the IFJ, the organisation representing more than 500,000 journalists in over 115
countries.
“Quality subediting and proofreading requires local knowledge and a rapport with journalists, that an outsourced worker,
removed from the community, will not possess,” Warren said.
“APN clearly cares more about the raising revenue than ensuring local communities get factually correct and relevant
news,” Warren said.
The IFJ is also greatly concerned that any similar decision in Australia, where APN owns many regional newspapers, would
have a drastic impact on the job security of Australia’s copywriters and sub-editors.
According to EMPU, the outsourcing in New Zealand effects workers at The New Zealand Herald, The Northern Advocate,
Hawkes Bay Today, The Bay of Plenty Times, The Aucklander, The Listener, The Herald on Sunday and the Daily Post in
Rotorua.
EMPU has said they will fight the decision.
“We give our full support to EMPU and our New Zealand colleagues in their stand against this decision,” Warren said.
Ends