Issues raised in audit of tax-funded regional video news
A report into $1.3 million taxpayer-funded regional video news has raised concerns over quality, resources, content and viewership.
New Zealand On Air (NZOA) allocated the cash to video news providersTe Hiku, Local Focus, Star.kiwi/CTV and Allied Press from a new regional media content fund in 2016.
Media consultant and former New Zealand Herald editor Gavin Ellis, who carried out a review for NZOA, said while the work produced allowed people in regional New Zealand to see their own stories, there were issues with poor video quality, low audience numbers and whether some of the stories produced met the fund’s brief. He found:
❚ Allied Press’ The South Today was committed to providing stories ‘‘but at the expense of time-consuming attention to quality’’.
❚ Star.kiwi/CTV had good intentions but had issues with production values and journalistic skills.
❚ Te Hiku was hampered by significant resource and logistical issues that adversely affected the quality of its delivery in journalistic and production terms.
❚ Subject matter for Local Focus, in many cases, would fall outside the definition of ‘‘stories that would not otherwise be told’’.
‘‘Audience numbers are generally low but coverage of specific topics is evidence of the potential for larger viewership. Platforms need to promote the content better,’’ Ellis said.
NZOA funding should carry with it an assumption that ‘‘a strong element of public service is expected’’. He questioned where public funding should be used: Should it be spent on stories about car crashes or ways to spend the school holidays.
Ellis recommended NZOA continue to fund regional news, but that it modified service contracts and tie ongoing funding to public interest and civic journalism.
A NZ On Air spokeswoman said contracts for each of the regional media expire around August/September.
‘‘We have recently reviewed the current regional media providers, have called for new applications for the coming year, and will consider those applications at next week’s scheduled board meeting,’’ she said.
Star.kiwi
Star.kiwi/CTV, a Christchurch-based news website, received $400,000 from the regional fund.
Ellis said the company’s rapid growth, plus the purchase of CTV and the cessation of non-web broadcasts, ‘‘seems to have had a destabilising effect on integration and video production’’.
‘‘However, it has the potential to make far better use of its editorial resources for video news coverage. It also has the means to promote that coverage.’’
Of the 20 videos reviewed, the production values on two were poor and one was very poor. Twelve were rated only average.
Ellis noted the high number of law and order stories, and questioned whether that was a good use of NZOA funding. Social issues and government coverage was lighter than he anticipated.
Star Media had good intentions but had issues with production values and journalistic skills, Ellis said.
The South Today
Dunedin-based Allied Press, publisher of the Otago Daily Times, received funding of $396,821 for The South Today bulletin.
Ellis said The South Today was committed to providing stories ‘‘but at the expense of time-consuming attention to quality’’.
‘‘In so doing, they [South Today staff] all admitted their people were pushed to the limit. Staff turnover suggests some were pushed beyond that point. Numerical targets such as these put quantity over quality.’’
Allied Press "had yet to fully realise its potential in the area of video news but is well placed to do so’’.
That was largely due to The South Today being part of a fully integrated news operation centred on the Otago Daily Times. However, ‘‘the benefits of integration have yet to be realised’’.
Otago Daily Times editor Barry Stewart said the company had taken on board feedback from the review.
‘‘We are addressing the issues in the Ellis report by getting all of staff skilled at multimedia delivery and will be meeting our obligations to NZ On Air,’’ he said.
Te Hiku
Te Hiku Media, a charitable collective owned by Northland iwi, received approved funding of $180,000 for 2016/17 for Hauka¯ inga.
‘‘The level of recognition of Hauka¯ inga is too low and the promotion of the programme is inadequate. There is little evidence of a coordinated marketing campaign,’’ Ellis said.
Te Hiku chief executive Peter-Lucas Jones said the Ma¯ ori focused provider had a steady flow of requests for coverage from Northland groups and individuals, and ‘‘if we cover it, they love it’’.
Ellis noted most of the video interviews did not feature questions and answers, with the subject talking directly into the camera.
‘‘A number of the videos were exclusively in te reo Ma¯ ori, several featuring a traditional oratorical style that carried with it a power and dignity seldom seen in mainstream media,’’ Ellis said.
While Te Hiku Media had the weakest editorial resource it brought a cultural perspective that is lacking in mainstream regional media in Northland.
It had also begun live-streaming coverage, ‘‘and potential changes to operating structures could improve its editorial qualities’’.
Local Focus
Very Nice Productions published its content on nzherald.co.nz under the Local Focus sub-brand, and its objective was to ‘‘uncover stories that would not otherwise be told’’.
To do so it was granted $400,000, and employed four full-time video journalists covering a large geographic area of the North Island.
However, in many cases the subject matter would fall outside the definition of ‘‘stories that would not otherwise be told’’, Ellis noted.
The company rated highly on production values, but concerns remained on how to locate its content.
He noted the journalists were well trained in videography, the use of professional level video and audio.
Some of the camera work was worthy of broadcast on national television, marking the transition from reporter-witha-camera to the all-rounder video journalist.