Crux to host BBC Local News Editor

Crux will be hosting BBC Local News Editor Jason Gibbins in Queenstown, Wānaka and Wellington from March 9 - 13.

Mr Gibbins has played a major role in the BBC’s flagship project to hold local councils to account with such success that councils now welcome his team of 165 Local Democracy reporters across the UK. Initially, ten years ago, the project met with something of a hostile reaction from local government leaders and communications teams.

Mr Gibbins will meet with a variety of groups in Queenstown - plus a session to be organised in Wānaka and a CODC meeting to be scheduled in Alexandra/Cromwell. He will also meet in Wellington with Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith as well as RNZ.

The detailed itinerary is still being organised but Crux will publish details as they are confirmed. The Wellington Government and RNZ meeting are confirmed for Wednesday March 11 - with Mr Gibbins being based in the Southern Lakes and Central Otago before and after that date.

The purpose of the visit is to help local residents, business groups and local councils learn more about the vital role of hyper local news in a digital world as audiences shift away from legacy print based publications.

Here’s Mr Gibbins’ biography from the BBC:

“A multi-media editor and journalist, Jason was appointed Senior News Editor of the BBC Local News Partnerships in 2024 after initially joining the project as Assistant Editor in 2017.

Prior to joining BBC News Online in 2015, he was an editor responsible for all print, online and social media output for a range of National World newspapers and websites.

Titles he has edited include the Banbury Guardian, Daventry Express, Buckingham Advertiser & Review, Bucks Herald and Hemel Gazette.

In a newspaper career spanning more than 30 years, he has also worked for titles including the Northampton Chronicle & Echo, Coventry Telegraph and, on a freelance basis, the Mail on Sunday and Sunday Express.

His ongoing passion for the regional news industry, alongside a desire to ensure UK councils continue to be challenged and held to account, were his core motivating factors for joining the Local News Partnerships.

Away from work he is most likely to be found at Stamford Bridge, following the highs and lows of Chelsea Football Club.”

You can read more about the BBC’s local news partnerships and Local Democracy Reporting Service here.