[Image © Pixabay]
Did You Know?
Back in September of this year, NZ On Air, the agency that administers the government’s $55m Public Interest Journalism Fund, announced $18m of funding “for an additional 110 journalists* across Aotearoa with a specific mandate to produce stories that keep New Zealanders informed and engaged, and support a healthy democracy.”
[*This figure does include 16 Local Democracy Reporter roles that were funded for a fixed term originally out of one-off allocation.]
Sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it? Pay media organisations to produce content that is in the Public Interest.
Well, until you ask, who decides what is in the Public Interest.
Is it unreasonable to suspect that a journalist whose very wages are being paid by the government, may be at least wary of biting the had that feeds him or her?
Is it unreasonable to suspect that an editor whose own role may be funded or, as a result of this funding, has more reporters, may take care how he or she deploys those reporters and the stories they cover?
It is unreasonable to suspect that media boardrooms may be quite happy to have their wage bills paid by the taxpayer and be willing to influence the editorial policies of their organisations to ensure continued funding?
According to the Prime Minister, such suspicions would be entirely unreasonable, according to her statement to parliament during Question Time.
Perhaps I just have a suspicious nature? But I’m pretty sure I know a conflict of interest when I see one. And I’m looking at 110 of them, right now!
Role Funding Details
All roles are funded for two years unless otherwise stated.
| Recipient & Role | Total Funding | Average Salary |
| Stuff 20 x Community and Pou Tiaki roles for Stuff publications | up to $2,789,240 | $69,731 |
| RNZ 20 x Local Democracy Reporting roles for 26 publications/platforms | up to $3,554,000 | $88,850 |
| NZME 15 x roles for Open Justice – Te Pātiti scheme for 11 publications | up to $2,995,702 | $99,856 |
| Māori Television 7 x roles for Māori Television | up to $1,593,000 | $113,785 |
| School Road Publishing 1 x role for Woman magazine | up to $189,660 | $94,830 |
| SunPix 2 x roles for TP+ | up to $273,600 | $68,400 |
| Local Matters 1 x role for Local Matters | up to $150,148 | $75,074 |
| Crux Publishing 1 x role for Crux | up to $151,200 | $75,600 |
| The Spinoff 2 x roles for The Spinoff | up to $427,800 | $106,950 |
| Ashburton Guardian 1 x role for the Ashburton Guardian | up to $150,000 | $75,000 |
| Central App 1 x role for Central App, for one year | up to $31,200 | $31,200 |
| North & South 1 x role for North & South Media | up to $230,000 | $115,000 |
| Newsroom 4 x roles for Newsroom and 1 x shared role Newsroom and North & South | up to $528,316 | $52,831 |
| Allied Press 4 x roles for Otago Daily Times and other Allied Press properties | up to $711,797 | $88,974 |
| Valley Media 1 x role for The Valley Profile | up to $127,096 | $63,548 |
| The Gisborne Herald 1 x role for The Gisborne Herald | up to $183,240 | $91,620 |
| Metro Media Group 1 x part-time role for Metro Magazine | up to $47,600 | $23,800 |
| Mana Trust 4 x roles for E-Tangata | up to $650,000 | $81,250 |
| Kiwi Media Publishing 4 x roles for The Indian Weekender | up to $705,000 | $88,125 |
| National Pacific Radio Trust 4 x roles for Pacific Media Network, for one year | up to $275,000 | $68,750 |
| Television New Zealand 2 x roles for TVNZ News, for one year | up to $206,000 | $103,000 |
| Te Reo Irirangi O Te Hiku O Te Ika 1 x role for Te Reo Irirangi O Te Hiku O Te Ika | up to $176,200 | $88,100 |
| Very Nice Productions 1 x role for Local Focus, for one year | up to $105,000 | $105,000 |
| UMA Broadcasting 6.5 x roles for Radio Waatea, for one year | up to $774,000 | $119,076 |
| Discovery New Zealand 3 x roles for Newshub | up to $695,560 | $115,926 |
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