But, if the government of the day had helped the media in someway - I guess with a cash bail out. That then makes it far easier to question the media's independance. TVNZ for example, funded by Govt and is openly questioned by one of the three leaders in charge of the country as being a bribe. From July we only have state funded local MSM News, if WarnerBros was given a hand out to keep Newshub would they not just become less independant version of themselves?
I mean this is true. And a good objection. And not a new one either. Though often too politicians are afraid of interviewers on public TV who have a bit of job security comparatively.
But if, for example, some kind of bi-partisan policy was set up, that was perhaps a waiving of fees or a tax break that took the proceeds of the taxation of foreign online social media and redistributed it specifically for news without involvement of the government of the day…we can also look overseas cos they’re all having the same issues!
Actually there are some interviews with the CEOs of all the major media organisations coming out- they have been thinking about this for a while and might have some ideas.
I’m no expert, I’m just following the story too. And it has been pointed that it’s a very unfair market. The same way a lot of online retailers can get around GST, labour and environmental standards, and we’ve tried to protect them, we should do the same for our media and screen production market. That’s not a government hand out, but ensuring fair competition.
In the end it can’t be a bail out, but a series of sustainable measures to create a new media environment that allows for private companies doing public interest journalism somehow. That’s the amazing trick yet to be done. But it’ll be much harder to do if Newshub is completely gone already.
And New Zealand content on screens whatever the size, not just news, so we don’t forget who we are!