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TVNZ restructures its News


TVNZ Head of News Anthony Flannery has announced the introduction of new technology, training to make staff multi-skilled and a reorganisation of news and current affairs gathering processes and practices. He said a group of news and current affairs managers have been looking at media operations around the world for the past 12 months and that, after initial consultation with staff, TVNZ expects to have a customised version of a multi-media approach.

"Instead of a number of different programmes all chasing after the same story and duplicating resources, a reporter and a producer will see a story through the whole day across a number of programmes and platforms," Flannery said. "The story ideas and follow-ups will be driven from and gathered back to a central hub. They will then be re-purposed for the particular programme or platform they are to go on."

Flannery said the proposed changes will see about 31 roles disestablished, including cancelling seven current vacancies. It will also see the establishment of about 14 new roles. The net impact of this is about 10 fewer roles in News and Current Affairs than now. The staff reductions and changes in work practices once bedded in will result in annual savings of between $3 million and $3.3 million. Some 150 reporters, producers and camera operators will shortly begin a training programme over a six month period to teach them the skills of editing. In future, reporters and producers will be expected to be able to edit their stories to a greater level of completion, with editors providing the final polish. Flannery said the company will be spending $1.5 million on the implementation, including new equipment and training as part of this strategy.

 


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