Members of the NZME Journalist Union back to the suggestion of billionaire Jim Grenon that they should be optimistic about their future
Private Equity Tycoon Grenon, a resident of New Zealand since 2012, bought a 9.3% NZME stake for just over $ 9 million.
NZME is the publisher of several newspapers, including the New Zealand Herald, as well as operational radio stations and the Oneroof properties platform.
Days after assuming participation, Grenon had written to the company’s advice, proposing that most of its current directors was replaced by new ones, including itself.
And Tū, who represents NZME journalists, raised “serious concerns” about what this would mean for journalism.
Grenon reacted in these concerns this week, saying that the new advice would improve NZME’s journalism.
He said this could mean that NZ Herald spent more editorial content and would mean training programs to help the team promote their skills and careers.
But Tū said that its NZME members had sent a letter to the Council and Grenon, reinforcing the need for editorial independence. They wanted Grenon to make a public commitment to this independence now and in the future.
Isaac Davison, a nzme delegate and tū, said that while members were taking a careful note from several positive comments from Grenon, they would like a clear public guarantee around editorial independence.
“This is the basis of our ethics and professional ability to do our work with precision and impartiality in a democratic society,” said Davison.
“We hope that Mr. Grenon – as well as the current council – has no problem committing to this basic principle and ensuring that it occurs by any changes that occur as a result of this struggle for control at the level of governance.
“Our members are emerging from a recent restructure of our essay. We need this guarantee and basic stability as we adapt to new structures as we strive to continue delivering our mission to keep the audience informed.”
He also rejected Grenon’s criticism to the and Tūel Wood’s and Tūel Wood. Wood said more information was still needed and he expected a positive response.
“Both [Grenon and the board] You need to hear more about how it is to work as a professional journalist in our current environment and the impact of increasing attacks on independent ethical journalism, especially in the last months after political changes in the United States. It’s not exactly the ‘protected enclave’ that Grenon evokes, “he said.
“At the end of the day, it is the journalists who gather and deliver the news that we depend on a democracy in operation and an NZME.
