The paper's publisher NZME had just announced plans to close almost all its free local papers in the North Island, including the Taupō & Tūrangi Herald, citing mounting costs and slumping ad revenue. The New Herald Zealand Herald Media Insider column said the papers could close as soon as Christmas, with the loss of 30 jobs. NZME's rival Stuff closed its community paper, Taupō Times, in June. "An arid outlook for local media," concluded former New Zealand Herald editor Gavin Ellis, raising the prospect of 'news deserts' overseas appearing here. LGNZ president Sam Broughton said in a statement the entire country could be covered this way to help local media report local issues, especially with the prospect of local elections next year in some places with no local journalists.

Source: Stuff November 24, 2024 09:09 UTC