Reporter Patrick Gower.
photograph: RNZ/Malika Habbazi
Paddy Gower predicts Warner Bros. Discovery will struggle to retain viewers without its news division and is continuing to campaign for someone to save at least part of the company’s newsroom.
It’s been a disastrous 48 hours for news media, with many jobs lost in the sector, with TV3 confirming the closure of its news hub and TVNZ announcing it will go ahead with redundancies. Sunday, Fairgo And two breaking news items.
The closure of Three’s national news service, which closes in July, will result in the loss of around 250 jobs.
Gower said. Morning Report Warner Bros. Discovery had to make a deal with another company to take over breaking news.
He was one of seven senior Newshub journalists who opposed the company’s proposal and submitted their own plans.
He called the proposals, led by his colleague Michael Mueller, “radical” and “aggressive” and would strip the news division to the bone.
Its central focus was a 6pm news bulletin, which brought in significant advertising revenue, sustained its website and, later, expanded its digital operations.
“Essentially this was a radical proposal for cuts to maintain the 6pm news bulletin and find a digital solution for the future.”
Paddy Gower
photograph: RNZ/Nick Monroe
Management gave them access to the numbers and helped them in other ways, but ultimately decided not to go ahead.
When the closure was confirmed, he said there was a “weight of history” to the loss of the taonga and that New Zealanders would miss it when it was gone.
“It will be a dark time for news in this country.”
Gower said Warner Bros. Discovery would find it a “huge struggle” to retain viewers without Newshub providing news and current affairs.
“We’ve made an effort. That’s the New Zealand way. That’s the Newshub way.”
He said other media companies such as Stuff and NZME could step in and rescue some of their key news businesses, allowing them to further build their own news brands and reputations.
They will oversee the production of a 6pm news bulletin that will be sold to Warner Bros. Discovery, working with one of the world’s leading media companies in the process.
“That should be a possibility… They’ll be seen as saving the news in New Zealand and that’s a big plus for them…”
“Any company that can get this deal done is going to hire some great journalists to make it happen,” Gower said.
Probably 40 to 50 jobs will be saved, he said.
Warner Bros. Discovery declined to be interviewed. Morning Report.
Broadcasting Minister accused of lack of vision
Former TV3 news head Mark Jennings thought Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee was “at a loss” as the country headed towards a media crisis.
He found her response to the Newshub closure confusing and did not believe the Cabinet report she was working on would bring any useful information.
“The three parties – New Zealand First, ACT and National – all have different perspectives and I don’t think we can agree on a future course of action, especially with Melissa Lee who appears to have no vision on this at all.”
Mr Jennings said he was not surprised the Mora Gower scheme was not successful because employers had considered other options and made decisions before the consultation period began.
Even if the proposal from the outside organization were approved, it would be a “basic product” and would be “less newsworthy,” he said.
It is likely to be filmed on an iPhone and edited by journalists and will bear little resemblance to Newshub’s current flagship breaking news bulletins.
Both the pandemic and social media have lowered the standard of quality that viewers are willing to accept, but it will still be compared to what TVNZ is showing.
“The challenge for them is to maintain their viewership and, more importantly, their share. Their share has been declining over time and if it declines any further, they will really be back to square one.”
Lee did not want to be interviewed. Morning Report.
She again refused to speak to RNZ on Wednesday about plans for reform in the sector, citing cabinet confidentiality.
She said she was focused on ensuring New Zealand’s media industry was sustainable and modernised and was considering a review of broadcasting laws.
She wrote the Cabinet document but will not reveal its contents.
Mr Lee said he had had discussions with international companies about ways to support and increase film production in New Zealand, but that quotas would not be included.
She said it would not have improved Newshub’s situation.
There’s not much room for support for NZ on Air
New Zealand On Air CEO Cam Harland said the broadcaster’s remit was to provide funding to large audiences across a wide range of genres, so it had limited ability to intervene.
He heads the agency responsible for allocating public funds, but its budget is nowhere near enough to cover the shortfall.
He said he thought NZ On Air wouldn’t be of much use because producing daily television news was expensive. Morning Report.
He said the job and talent losses would be “enormous” and NZ On Air bosses intended to meet with TVNZ, Newshub and senior journalists such as Mr Jennings to get more information before making any decisions.
“We absolutely want to help. So I think our thinking right now is, can we be more innovative with what we’re funding, can we make more of an impact?”
The organisation also faced the need to review its spending in line with government requirements for the public sector.
Trade union files legal action against TVNZ
Michael Wood
photograph: RNZ/Angus Drever
Unions representing journalists have sued TVNZ, alleging it breached its own consultation requirements during the job cuts.
E Tu negotiations expert Michael Wood said the broadcaster should have involved employees before any proposals were put forward.
Discussions are ongoing with the employment authorities to see whether the case can be heard as soon as possible.
“This is now an urgent matter. … We are trying to reach a conclusion as quickly as possible and want to see an outcome that respects the process.”
He said mediation between the parties could be part of the process.
Although unions and employees won a small victory in that a few jobs were saved, there was still a “massive loss of capacity” as some programs were eliminated.
