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The country's media union is seeking public feedback for a review of journalism in New Zealand.
The Engineering Print and Manufacturing Union committed to the review yesterday after the Journalism Matters summit - attended by journalists, academics and media executives - in Wellington, which was called amid claims that media organisations are pushing profits at the expense of quality journalism.
"One concern is a drive towards celebrity personality-driven news to sell newspapers," said the union's media industry council convener Brent Edwards.
"In order to make a dollar, we see Paris Hilton on the front page rather than a serious news story - how is that serving the public? This woman doesn't affect the lives of people in New Zealand."
Mr Edwards said such stories were given weight because of the perception they drive readership - and with it, advertising revenues and profits - but "quality journalism" and business interests were not mutually exclusive.
The union hopes the review will be ready to publish early next year.
Even if media owners ignored the results, Mr Edwards said public debate was important, "raising awareness and putting pressure on media owners to put journalism at the front of their thinking".
While quality journalism was still abundant, he said the consensus was a concern about dropping standards, in the wake of cuts at Television New Zealand and the proposed outsourcing of sub-editing duties at a number of newspapers - a process already under way at the Herald.
Mr Edwards said other talking points were inadequate pay and whether the country's newsrooms properly reflected the country's diverse population.
APN deputy chief executive Rick Neville hadn't heard about the review but said print journalism seemed to be thriving.
"I believe newspapers have made huge gains in quality and depth, especially the weekend papers. The size and content is richer and broader. Look at the Weekend Herald, some days you can hardly pick it up. I don't think the readers have ever had it so good."
- additional reporting, Alanah May Eriksen
