Managing Editor Peter Newport: Welcome to Crux Dunedin
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It's a big day for Crux as we launch Crux Dunedin and I'd like to offer a big welcome to our Dunedin Editor Andrew Ashton.
My personal connection with Dunedin goes way back to the 1970's when I ran away from home in Wellington to become a journalist. Rather boldly I walked into the Editor's office of the Otago Daily Times at the tender age of 16 and declared my future career choice.
I think he was so shocked that there was no other option but to say "welcome on board!"
Since then I've been lucky enough to work as a reporter and TV news producer all over the world. After the ODT and Evening Star, I worked for RNZ's Morning report in Wellington before returning Dunedin to work at TVNZ/NZBC with Alan Brady as my TV news boss - he of course went on to become the Godfather of NZ Pinot Noir. Sir Ian Taylor and I were both part of those heady early Dunedin days of TV. They were exciting times.
I was lucky enough to eventually work in senior news positions all over world including being the Deputy Editor of BBC TV news in London, Channel 9 Australia's first European Bureau Chief, and ITN's Far East news producer. I became the first journalist to be expelled from China after the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing and went on to make many feature length documentaries.
Now, almost 50 years later, New Zealand media is undergoing an upheaval of Alpine Fault proportions. The Internet has changed everything - for better and for worse.
The number of qualified working journalists in New Zealand has dropped by as much as 70% and there might now be only 1,000 of us left.
In my view, news is much better on a digital platform - it's fast, easier to navigate, and the ability to click on links makes the whole experience intuitive and informative.
Crux is a response to these big changes but more importantly we have set out to pioneer a new form of bold hyper-local journalism where we unashamedly take the side of the community. After all, with local journalism it's easy to become embedded or aligned with the local council and businesses that contribute most to the advertising that funds local news.
Staying truly independent requires strength and determination.
We expect our own children and our own families to embrace honesty and integrity. Good journalism simply asks that the entire community does the same thing, without fear or favour.
For journalism to survive in New Zealand that integrity and honesty must be our single beacon. It is the opposite of misinformation and PR spin.
Yes - a new business model for journalism is needed - urgently! But whatever that model turns out to be - it needs to be journalism first.
We look forward to our relationship with Dunedin - please take part, talk to us, share your stories with us, debate with us - we are on your side.
Here's Andrew Ashton's email address.
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