New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) is combining its digital, radio and print teams into one combined newsroom.
The intention is to create an “integrated, multi-platform, 24/7 operation” in Auckland, led by managing editor, Shayne Currie.
Currie now reports directly to NZME CEO Jane Hastings.
“We already think digital first, and this will make it fully operational, allowing us to better serve rapidly growing mobile audiences. We have engaged leading international newsroom consultants in addition to gaining first-hand experience of best practice newsrooms around the world to ensure we create a newsroom that can leverage NZME’s unique mix of print, digital and radio,” Currie said.
“It’s about being totally focused on our audience and delivering even better journalism and content wherever they are.”
The new structure will see NZME invest in new roles including a head of sport, a creative director for the digital team, and a planning editor as well as training and development for existing staff.
A number of new appointments have been made. Irene Chapple will be joining NZME from CNN.com to lead all of the digital platforms as digital editor. Weekday editor, Murray Kirkness, and weekend editor, Miriyana Alexander, and the GM of talk radio, Steve Kyte, will now report to Shayne Currie, as will the GM of digital innovation, Marcus Forbes.
Journalists will work across the New Zealand Herald or the Herald on Sunday, and radio breaking news reporting will be embedded into the digital news team.
Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport, the New Zealand Herald and Herald on Sunday will move into the purpose-built newsroom at NZME Central in Auckland at the end of the year.
“We have spent time over the past 12 months testing the model and we are confident of the benefits it will deliver," Hastings said.
"The Herald was recently judged the Newspaper of the Year at the annual Pacific Area Newspapers Publishers' Association (PANPA) awards, which included all newspapers across New Zealand, Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. The judges’ comments indicated that the Herald is leading the way in how it presents the news in print and online. The campaigns and stories they referred to are all part of our new strategy and direction, proving we are absolutely on the right track with our approach.”
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