ARD
Member
New Zealand publisher begins newspaper editorial outsourcing program
By RAY LILLEY
Associated Press Writer
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Newspaper publisher APN News & Media began outsourcing editorial production work on Sunday, a plan that will be extended to five daily and three weekly newspapers by year end, a senior executive said.
The changes mean news editing and layout operations at The New Zealand Herald, the nation’s biggest daily, and a string of regional dailies will be done by an outside contractor, APN deputy chief executive Rick Neville said.
“I’m confident readers won’t notice the difference†in the papers’ editing and design, Neville said.
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union that includes New Zealand journalists, however, said the move will erode the quality of news coverage because stories will be handled by copy editors not familiar with local issues.
Starting Sunday, 20 sub editors will work full time at contractor Pagemasters New Zealand at a site 20 minutes from the paper’s editorial offices.
By year end, Pagemasters will employ about 45 editing staff at their site to edit the seven newspapers — nearly 30 fewer than the newspapers employed.
While there “will be some mistakes in the first three months ... we have got away to a flying start,†Neville said.
He said benefits included lower costs from fewer staff, better leveraging of content across titles, more efficient editorial production and “doing a lot more†with costly “knowledge technology.â€
Half-owned by Irish businessman Tony O’Reilly’s Dublin-based Independent News & Media PLC, APN publishes newspapers, operates radio stations and outdoor advertising sites in Australia and New Zealand.
The same editorial outsourcing strategy recently was announced at newspapers owned by O’Reilly in Ireland.
By RAY LILLEY
Associated Press Writer
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Newspaper publisher APN News & Media began outsourcing editorial production work on Sunday, a plan that will be extended to five daily and three weekly newspapers by year end, a senior executive said.
The changes mean news editing and layout operations at The New Zealand Herald, the nation’s biggest daily, and a string of regional dailies will be done by an outside contractor, APN deputy chief executive Rick Neville said.
“I’m confident readers won’t notice the difference†in the papers’ editing and design, Neville said.
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union that includes New Zealand journalists, however, said the move will erode the quality of news coverage because stories will be handled by copy editors not familiar with local issues.
Starting Sunday, 20 sub editors will work full time at contractor Pagemasters New Zealand at a site 20 minutes from the paper’s editorial offices.
By year end, Pagemasters will employ about 45 editing staff at their site to edit the seven newspapers — nearly 30 fewer than the newspapers employed.
While there “will be some mistakes in the first three months ... we have got away to a flying start,†Neville said.
He said benefits included lower costs from fewer staff, better leveraging of content across titles, more efficient editorial production and “doing a lot more†with costly “knowledge technology.â€
Half-owned by Irish businessman Tony O’Reilly’s Dublin-based Independent News & Media PLC, APN publishes newspapers, operates radio stations and outdoor advertising sites in Australia and New Zealand.
The same editorial outsourcing strategy recently was announced at newspapers owned by O’Reilly in Ireland.
