OPINION
It was sad to see the closure of the Hauraki Herald early last month after 45 years of serving our region.
Three out of five of our Valley Profile staff worked at the publication for many years, but unfortunately felt we had to leave because of Stuff’s decision to restructure, which ultimately resulted in the Hauraki Herald operating with no office and no staff stationed in this region.
Over the past few years, the Hauraki Herald has been run from Stuff’s Hamilton office, with syndicated content not relevant to our area, and only one or two – and sometimes no local stories at all, often written without the benefit of local knowledge.
As a result, the publication turned into a shell of its former self and eventually closed.
Sadly, this is a trend that’s happening nationwide. Stuff’s decision to pull resources from its community titles has been concerning. Together with the announcements that Newshub will be closing its newsroom and TVNZ’s plan to lay off journalists, the state of journalism in this country is diminishing, especially in the regions.
A recent Spinoff survey estimates the number of journalists in New Zealand has dropped from 3381 in the 2018 census, to 1439 after expected TV news layoffs mid-2024.
Over the past decade or so, Facebook and Google have taken much of our content and advertising, putting financial pressure on well-established publications. In addition, skyrocketing print and delivery costs have added to the downturn of the industry, especially now there’s no newsprint manufactured in New Zealand. Importing costs and exchange rates add to the cost of getting your local paper to your letterbox.
Thankfully, there are journalists who recognise the importance of holding those in power to account, and how important that is for a democracy. Independent titles, such as the Valley Profile, are emerging from the ashes and filling the gap.
There are many of us who are still committed to producing local community journalism, throughout the Waikato and beyond. Advertisers who understand how effective print advertising is for getting their message across have supported The Profile, and for that we are very grateful as we rely on advertising to cover costs. We also feel grateful for the support our community has shown us during a difficult time for the media industry.
For many decades, the Hauraki Herald has been an incredibly strong community title, one we were proud to work for, and we are devastated to see its demise thanks to a tough climate, rising costs and lack of commitment from its owners.
– Teresa Ramsey, Profile editor
