One last favour, please

Today I am no longer editor of this newspaper – more on that later – but I do have one last favour to ask. A large number of you already pay for your daily news fix, either through a print or digital subscription, and for that we and I thank you. Similarly to those who have made donations to support our journalism.

But there are also many people who read this paper or the Stuff website for free, and I want to appeal for their help in supporting credible, trustworthy journalism in New Zealand.

It will come as no surprise that the media landscape is having it incredibly tough. Costs have soared, advertising has shrunk – or gone to behemoths such as Google and Facebook with no local benefit whatsoever – and that was before the Covid-19 pandemic.

As the virus threat spread and New Zealand went into lockdown, many businesses were forced to shut their doors – and, understandably, stopped advertising altogether.

Deemed an essential service, the media continued operating, with Stuff recording record numbers of visitors to its website and most of its mastheads, including The Dominion Post, seeing a decent surge in subscriptions.

Yes, there was an avalanche of news and an unprecedented appetite for it, but also a dearth of advertising that normally makes up the bulk of the bottomline. And that’s a painfully costly business to run.

Which is why Stuff needs your support more than ever.

Bringing you news and holding the powers-that-be to account is a pillar of a strong democracy, and we’d all be the poorer if that ability reduced even further or disappeared.

Equally compelling is the fact that Stuff – which owns many newspapers including this one, The Press and the Sunday StarTimes – is now a New Zealand company after the brilliant and brave buyout by Stuff chief executive Sinead Boucher.

No longer does Stuff answer to the Australian media giant Nine. Instead, it’s now a local company, employing local people to serve up local and other significant news and opinion. All while paying its fair share of tax locally.

My departure, for the record, is entirely unrelated to the media’s tough times. After almost 35 years as a journalist, I’ve decided to pursue a fresh challenge in communications and make way for a new editor in due course.

In my three-plus decades of journalism I’ve seen so many changes . . . from typewriter to hi-tech, from purely print to online and apps, from simple letters to the editor to a plethora of feedback (constructive and abusive) via social media.

There’s one thing, however, that hasn’t changed: The absolute importance of an independent, responsible media, so the last thing I did yesterday before hanging up my proverbial quill was to subscribe to The Dominion Post. Not only to stay abreast of news but also to support the media and my former colleagues. I fervently hope Stuff and The Dominion Post go from strength to strength.

You too can be part of ensuring that success, by subscribing, donating and/or advertising locally with your paper and Stuff online. Please do. Eric Janssen, former editor