Herald on Sunday To Launch On Time

17 Sepetember 2004

Herald on Sunday to launch on October 3 despite industrial issue

AUCKLAND, September 16, 2004 – APN News & Media has confirmed that the October 3 launch of the Herald on Sunday in Auckland will be unaffected by an industrial issue involving a number of journalists on the daily edition of the newspaper. APN New Zealand National Publishing Chief Executive Ken Steinke said a refusal by members of the New Zealand Herald journalists’ union collective to handle material on the new Herald on Sunday was supported by less than half the journalists and would have no impact on production.

“The vast majority of journalists employed by APN New Zealand National Publishing, which includes The New Zealand Herald, the Herald on Sunday, The Aucklander and New Zealand Magazines, are not affected by this action and have chosen not to be part of any collective agreement,” Mr Steinke said.

“The Herald on Sunday is now staffed for launch, which will take place on October 3 as planned. “APN has followed its industrial obligations with its employees at all times. We will discuss any issues regarding the sharing of editorial with the new Sunday paper with union representatives of those journalists concerned.

“The Herald on Sunday is a new and exciting undertaking and we have had no difficulty attracting high-calibre editorial staff. Indeed, we have recruited 35 new editorial positions and are aiming for a complement of 40 by the time the Herald on Sunday is launched. We remain confident of a very successful launch.”

ENDS

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