New Head for NPA and NZPA

July 20 2007

media statement made by NPA

New Head for NPA and NZPA

Michael Muir, OBE, has been appointed president of the Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA), the trade association of the newspaper industry, and chairman of the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA), the country’s largest news agency.

Mr Muir is managing director of The Gisborne Herald and has been a member of NPA’s board for 15 years.

A leading figure in New Zealand newspaper publishing, Mr Muir is currently a director of the World Association of Newspapers. He was also a director of the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers Association for eight years, serving as president for two years, and a director of the International Newspaper Marketing Association for three years.

Mr Muir said the newspaper industry was responding strongly to the development of online media, with newspaper owners moving to own and develop stand-alone and complementary digital platforms.

“Newspapers remain a strong, mainstream source of news for the majority of the public and will continue to play an important role in interpreting, analysing and breaking news stories in the foreseeable future.

“On an average day almost twice as many people read a daily newspaper as watch the six o’clock news on TV One and TV3 (1.6 million, aged 15-plus, compared to 848,000 watching the TV news).

“The Newspaper Advertising Bureau must continue to promote the strength of newspapers, while the NZPA adds value to the services it provides in an increasingly digital world.

“I am intent on NPA remaining a progressive trade association which provides clear leadership, both in our relationship with Government, and in co-ordinating critical areas of common interest such as advertising standards, self-regulation, industry training and sponsorship.”

Fairfax Media has appointed Randall Burt, chief financial officer, as its representative to the board of NPA.

The changes to the board of the NPA and NZPA have resulted from the resignation of Peter O’Hara, the former Fairfax Media representative.

Mr Muir paid tribute to Mr O’Hara’s leadership of the NPA as president and the contributions he had made to the newspaper industry.

ENDS

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