Business Times drives competition in marketplace

Business Times drives competition in staid marketplace
24 January 2001

NEW RIVAL FOR WEEKLY BUSINESS NEWSPAPERS

Launch of New Zealand Business Times drives competition in staid marketplace

IT Media Group is revitalising the staid business publications market with the launch of a new weekly paper, New Zealand Business Times.

Financial and political journalist Andrew Stokes has arrived from Australia to head up a strong editorial team that will focus on providing New Zealanders with a better balance of both international and national news.

“New Zealand Business Times is about providing a balanced and authoritative publication that informs and entertains our readers,” said Mr Stokes. “The existing publications have had the marketplace to themselves for a long time and the time is right for a new entrant."

He continued: “We believe there is a good opportunity to grow the market as well as providing an alternative for business readers. New Zealand Business Times will combine excellent local and international business coverage with the latest on overseas trends, the best in feature writing, and selected coverage of arts, sports and products. We know the overall package will be very appealing to the reader who wants more from their weekly business publication.”

With the launch issue due out in March 2001, New Zealand Business Times already has agreements with leading international syndication partners in Australia, America and the UK. A number of leading New Zealand opinion formers have also been signed up to provide regular commentary on both political and business topics for the full colour, tabloid style publication.

IT Media Group invested significant time in the search to find the right editor to create and launch the new weekly paper. The CEO of IT Media Group, Mark Battles, said: “We were looking for someone with excellent financial and journalistic credentials to take the helm at New Zealand Business Times and are convinced Andrew has the perfect skills to provide the strong leadership and informative editorial required.“

Andrew has an extensive background in financial and political journalism, having worked for many years as a correspondent for the Australian Associated Press, both in Australia and overseas.

He is no stranger to New Zealand, and has covered NZ interests at international conferences as well as interviewing key politicians and business leaders.

"I'm tremendously excited at the opportunity to make New Zealand Business Times a major force in the NZ media landscape," said Mr Stokes. "I feel very much at home in New Zealand and believe IT Media Group can create something that offers the best in journalism, tailored for the NZ market."

An announcement on syndication partners, editorial staff and columnists will be made in Feburary.

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For more information about New Zealand Business Times or to arrange an interview with Andrew Stokes, please contact:

Jackie Fairbairn Andrew Stokes
Communications Director Editor - NZBT
IT Media Group Tel: 09 300 3920
Tel: 09 300 3920 Mob: 021 505 363
Mob: 021 246 2505 Email: andrew.stokes@itmedia.co.nz
Email: Jackie@itmedia.co.nz

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