NZPA new model confirmed

2 August, 2005

MEDIA RELEASE

NZPA new model confirmed

NZPA today confirmed plans to change its 125-year-old co-operative model to a new commercial structure selling its news to all media.

In the past New Zealand’s daily and Sunday newspaper owners of NZPA have shared their news copy through the agency.

From 3 October the copy sharing arrangements will begin to be phased out and NZPA’s own journalists will produce a national newswire available to all media including broadcasting and Internet-based channels.

NZPA news will become available on websites, through cellphone messaging services and other media.

NZPA will set up a photo newswire, taking and supplying photographs and graphic images for the first time.

The board of NZPA agreed in April in principle to a new model and today confirmed detailed plans.

NZPA Chairman Julian Smith said the plans would see the agency grow into a substantial business in line with national news agencies around the world.

“We will continue to service the traditional newspaper industry but the quality output of our journalists will now be available to all sectors of the news media.”

Chief executive Lincoln Gould said initial approaches to other media have been very successful and anticipated that the NZPA service would spread rapidly.

ENDS

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