Resignation Of Scoop Editorial Manager/Director Selwyn Manning

Selwyn Manning today publicly announced his resignation as co-editor, editorial manager/director roles with Scoop Media. His resignation took effect at the conclusion of New Zealand's 2011 General Election.

Selwyn joined Scoop about a month after it was founded in 1999. His first significant task was to lead coverage of the APEC leaders' summit held in Auckland in September 1999.

During the APEC 99 assignment, Selwyn broke numerous big news items including a burgeoning three-way trade pact between Chile, Singapore, and New Zealand; and geopolitical issues surrounding massacres that were taking place in East Timor. His observations of the crisis were summed up in the article Goodbye APEC - Has Been Nice Knowing You.

In December of 1999, Selwyn left Scoop to take up a press secretary/political advisor role with the Labour/Alliance Government. During that time Scoop continued to grow, and by September 2001 Selwyn was back assisting co-editor and general manager Alastair Thompson in an effort to position Scoop as a significant entity within the global independent news, and domestic news fraternity. Scoop's growth from 2002 to 2007 was phenomenal, both in internet traffic and in business terms.

Over the years, the Scoop team has included great thinkers, including: Alastair Thompson, Wade Bishop, Kevin List, Lyndon Hood, Jackie Llewellyn, Ian Llewellyn, Gordon Campbell, Margaret and Stephen and the tech-savvy Thompson brothers.

Selwyn Manning said: “Working on the Scoop project for the last decade has been a life experience. It has presented many challenges, but also many rewards. I have met so many great people, and have networked with so many fabulous organisations and news outlets, often while delivering live analysis to broadcast entities here in New Zealand and abroad. I will continue this korero with many of them.”

Selwyn is particularly proud of the analysis-based series of works that he wrote in 2002-03 that examined US and European foreign policies in the lead up to, and after, the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Significant among those were:

Imperial PAX Americana, Lessons In Justice – Bush's European Nightmare, Is Bush About To Be Stiffed?, and, The Diversion of Rhetoric Over Reason, and an editorial titled: Scoop Continues To Publish Reality Of War Images.

He led reportage and analysis into other big issues, including Scoop's inquiry into the Ahmed Zaoui case, and headed many foreign affairs assignments around the globe.

“Since 2002, Scoop has maximised its reach into becoming a primary source of raw news and information. It has continued to be a brave advocate for progressive thought, and has carved out a solid editorial policy resting on humanitarianism, environmentalism, and sustainable business ideals. And Scoop remains independent and a place where the national debate thrives,” Selwyn Manning said.

He said: “After a decade working on the Scoop project, it is indeed time to focus on other adventures. The Scoop team is solid, reliable, and knows what its purpose is. Indeed, this is a good time for me to pass the editorial management torch on.”

From here, Selwyn will develop a fun hobby multimedia site called LiveNews.co.nz, and, in March, will announce, along with significant others, a serious brave new venture.

For those who wish to keep in touch with Selwyn, he can be contacted on:
Email: selwyn@spectator.co.nz
Cell: +6421 611958
Skype: SelwynManning
Twitter: Selwyn_Manning.

© Scoop Media