NZPA closure a huge loss for news journalism

EPMU, Wellington, 6 April 2011 -- The planned closure of NZPA later this year announced today is a huge loss for news journalism in New Zealand, says the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), the union that represents journalists.

NZPA announced today that 42 jobs will be lost later this year with the closure of the company, with most of the staff being members of the EPMU.

"A national news agency is an essential part of a healthy democracy," says EPMU national industrial officer Paul Tolich.

"Every nation needs a news gathering and dissemination organisation that can provide news feeds 24 hour a day, seven day a week, to all news media outlets, regardless of their ownership," he says.

"The dedicated staff at NZPA has done this for decades, some of them investing their working life in the agency."

"This leaves New Zealand with two large newspaper proprietors, Fairfax and APN. Independent and smaller community newspapers will now no longer be able to access NZPA's news service. This represents a decline in diversity in New Zealand's news media."

"The loss of so many journalistic positions means there will be less newsgathering and researching in New Zealand."

The EPMU and the company have agreed to consult on arrangements prior to the closure.

The EPMU represents a thousand journalists and other news room staff in the press and broadcasting.

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