He acknowledged this week's announcement of up to 150 jobs going at Fairfax.
"That's a tragedy. Journalism matters and we have a public broadcaster - TVNZ - through no fault of their own are configured under a piece of legislation that requires them to pay a dividend first and foremost.
"We have to have discussions about this as a country. We have to say, 'Do we value journalism and do we need to pay for it'."
Earlier, an emotional John Campbell took a look back on a decade of current affairs as Campbell Live took to the air for the final time.
The presenter received big, sloppy kisses from 3 News hosts Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts ahead of the final show tonight.
At the end of 3 News tonight, Barry and McRoberts paid tribute to Campbell. The pair embraced the current affairs host and both offered him a "sloppy kiss."
"We love you so much," Barry said.
More than 20 members of the show's production and reporting team were in the studio.
"What an excellent group of people," Campbell said.
A montage of previous reports was presented to viewers.
Journalists covering stories on the Novopay scandal, battery chicken farming, the devastating Christchurch earthquakes and other major events were shown.
Reporters including John Sellwood, Tristram Clayton and Mike Wesley-Smith have featured on the show.
Campbell Live also reminded viewers of stories it broke including the exposure of advertising fraudster Anthony John Hendon, and the explosive interview former Employers and Manufacturers' Association boss Alasdair Thompson had with Mihingarangi Forbes.
Campbell Live also exposed fraudsters who duped people in travel and English language teaching scams.
The show's campaigning style, which reportedly irked some new members of MediaWorks management, included a focus on the Pike River Mine disaster's aftermath, and social issues such as the legal status of synthetic drugs or "legal highs."
Another social policy issue Campbell Live frequently addressed was that of child poverty.
The final episode's second segment showed snippets from visits to a low-decile school and to disadvantaged families.
"There are things in this job I will never forget," Campbell told viewers, as footage of destruction following the deadly 2011 Christchurch earthquake was shown.
In one of the show's most memorable recent reports, Tristram Clayton chased a man accused of running an employment scam down Parnell Rise.
Campbell also travelled to Samoa to investigate how aid intended for tsunami victims was being spent.
People light candles outside TV3 for Campbell Live's last show. Photo / Jason Dorday, NZ Herald
"That's not how the Fourth Estate works," he told the Samoan Prime Minister, who refused to front the issue and demanded written questions.
The current affairs host also visited Washington, DC for the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Mr Campbell's retrospective also suggested the 2011 Rugby World Cup was a highlight for him.
The show's campaign to take the All Blacks to Samoa for a test match also featured.
A notable exclusive interview Campbell Live secured was with Auckland mayor Len Brown immediately after the Bevan Chuang sex scandal broke in 2013 - although that has not featured in the montage yet.
"I started here aged 27 in a suit I borrowed from my dad. I could never have dreamed what would happen in the next 24 years. Thank you so much for watching us. Ka kite ano, and a very good evening," he signed off.
The show ended with a shot of Mr Campbell driving out of TV3's headquarters in Flower St, Eden Terrace.
Earlier today, reporter Ali Ikram said those on the team had not "quite confronted the reality that this is indeed the last programme we will make together as a team".
Campbell paid tribute to colleagues and supporters online, giving a special mention to Ikram earlier today.
"You have been a beautiful friend and colleague. It's been magic," Campbell wrote on Twitter.
