Ownership of the NZ Media: NZME and the Herald

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The concentration of media ownership is a growing cause for concern. It reduces independent ownership, restricts media sources, curtails investigative journalism, and limits the informed, balanced presentation of news on important issues. Reader numbers and profits are the driving force of production. 

With media sources tied to the same ideological hitching post, there is less likelihood of differing ideas and informed, virulent debate on the news which in turn, increases the possibility of fake and biased news, depriving  us of information needed to make informed views and decisions. 

Democracy is threatened.  We do not need lobby groups to sway our leaders, legislators and public opinion as in the USA.  The media does it for them.  "Comment" and "Opinion" by biased journalists and talkback hosts thrive.

NZME, NZ Media and Entertainment,  is a octopus.  It reach an estimated 3.2 million New Zealanders through ownership of 57 newspapers, 3 sport news and 25 entertainment channels. (See list below) 

Its flagship is the NZ Herald whose readership has bucked the general trend with numbers increasing to 459,000 print readers daily. Nielsen poll data shows its Weekend Herald has 515,00 readers and the Herald on Sunday 359,000. The company's Facebook page has a further 843,000 readers a day. It is estimated that "Kiwis are also spending big chunks of their weekend reading these two papers - on average people spend 49 minutes on a Saturday poring through the Weekend Herald, and 44 minutes with the Herald on Sunday." 

Over on million people read the Herald on working days and a further 1½ million the two weekend papers.

The NZ Herald prides itself on it "facts, truth and expert analysis" claiming it is a "reflection of us as a nation." 

Their website claims:

"... the quality journalism from the Herald’s stellar stable of staff across news, business, politics, sport, lifestyle and entertainment.

 "The Herald is a reflection of who we are as a nation, and our regional titles are the foundations of their community.

"The Herald is still and always will be passionate about delivering New Zealand’s stories. It is created by New Zealanders for New Zealanders and reflects the shape and culture of the country we all love. This campaign celebrates the Herald’s journalism, expertise, credibility, variety and ultimately, the truth it shares."

NZME,  NZ Media and Entertainment owns:


THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD
HERALD NATIONAL NEWS
NEWSTALK ZB
WEEKEND HERALD
HERALD ON SUNDAY
HERALD BUSINESS
BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
HAWKE'S BAY TODAY
THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE
ROTORUA DAILY POST
WHANGANUI CHRONICLE
HERALD WORLD NEWS
HERALD CLASSIFIEDS
HERALDJOBS
NORTHLAND AGE
THE AUCKLANDER
COASTAL NEWS
WAIHI LEADER

KATIKATI ADVERTISER

TE PUKE TIMES
HAMILTON NEWS
TE AWAMUTU COURIER
ROTORUA WEEKENDER
TAUPO & TURANGI WEEKENDER
WHANGANUI MIDWEEK
HOROWHENUA CHRONICLE
STRATFORD PRESS
KAPITI NEWS
HASTINGS LEADER
NAPIER COURIER
HAVELOCK NORTH VILLAGE PRESS
CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY MAIL
WAIPA POST
BUSH TELEGRAPH
MANAWATU GUARDIAN
NZME. LOCAL NETWORK

NZME. NEWS SERVICE
NZME. EDUCATIONAL MEDIA
NURSING REVIEW
INSITE
EDUCATION REVIEW SERIES
JETMAG
NZ EDUCATION GAZETTE
CULTURAL BRIDGE
NZME DIVERSE AUDIENCES
TALENT17
THE COUNTRY
NZ HERALD FOCUS
CREATE ME
EDUCATIONCENTRAL.CO.NZ
EDUCATIONCENTRAL FUTUREFOCUS
HEALTHCENTRAL.NZ
YUDU
ONEROOF

RADIO SPORT
HERALD SPORT
HERALD RUGBY

ZM
THE HITS
GRABONE
BE WELL
TRAVEL
VIVA
TIMEOUT
DRIVEN
CANVAS MAGAZINE
WEEKEND
SPY
RADIO HAURAKI
IHEARTRADIO

MIX
HERALD ENTERTAINMENT
HERALD LIFESTYLE
HERALDHOMES
COAST
FLAVA
HOKONUI
INDULGE
VIBE
WATCHME
TRUECOMMERCIAL
RESTAURANT HUB