Stuff Wins Media Business Of The Year - Beacons

Stuff Group has won the prestigious Media Business of the Year at the Communications Council’s Beacon Awards, being named as New Zealand’s leading media organisation for its bold vision and strategy implemented for success.

The Beacon Awards celebrate outstanding media thinking and execution in Aotearoa and the Business of the Year is celebrated for its proven success across financial performance, industry reputation and audience growth and engagement.

In 2024, commentators noted that no media organisation had gone further or faster than Stuff as it leapt into growing video audiences and revenue on the country’s largest news website stuff.co.nz through strategic investment into technology, talent and training. The Comms Council judges said

that boldness and positivity underpinned Stuff’s winning entry which was titled ‘Lights, Camera, Traction’.

“(Stuff made) moves that benefitted not just their own business but also the wider media ecosystem in Aotearoa. This business took risks . . . and in doing so demonstrated undeniable positivity and forward momentum.”

Stuff Owner and Publisher Sinead Boucher said the award was brilliant recognition of a year in which the company made good on its promise to ‘Follow No One’, accelerating its shift into video, taking on ThreeNews for Warner Bros. Discovery and navigating challenging waters with a focus on the future.

“I am so proud of all of our teams as they have seized opportunities, created value for our partners and continued to grow the largest digital and print audiences in the country,” she says. “Media is such a dynamic business and being acknowledged for both our strategy and delivery is a real testament to our people who are committed to driving Stuff forward.”

Commercial Director Jaana Collins says receiving industry recognition at a time of immense change in media is particularly important and the Communications Council award is a real honour for the whole team.

“Stuff is an organisation that makes strong strategic moves and is always looking to connect our partners with audiences in new and exciting ways,” she says. “Innovating together with our partners is a vital part of that strategy and critical to the next stage of Stuff’s evolution.

“A huge thank you to all of the agencies, brands and customers we work with every day for their support of independent New Zealand journalism, to the Communications Council for their leadership and to the other finalists NZME, TVNZ, Sky and Are Media who are all great local competitors in a fast-changing industry.”

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