AUCKLAND: Sixty one leading New Zealand media educators and researchers today publicly protested over developments in broadcasting policy - especially the provisions for public television.
In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister John Key and four other senior cabinet ministers, the signatories have warned the government that "public television has declined to crisis point".
The signatories represent a substantial proportion of New Zealand’s leading media experts, particularly in the field of television.
The letter calls upon the government to rethink both its recent decisions to discontinue the funding for TVNZ 6 and TVNZ 7 and other policy decisions and directions which are "eroding public access to important public television services and programmes".
"It is highly unusual for the academic community to come together in such a broad consensus and express its concerns publicly. That we have done so underlines our collective professional view that provisions for public television have declined to crisis point," declared Victoria University of Wellington media studies senior lecturers Dr Trisha Dunleavy and Dr Peter Thompson.
Of course, this is not only an academic concern – the consequences of the current policy trajectory will affect all New Zealanders.
"If the government has any genuine concern for the future of public television in this country it really needs to start listening to the concerns of experts in this area."
The letter appeals to the government to urgently implement a review of the regulatory, institutional, and funding arrangements necessary to sustain public broadcasting outcomes in a digital media environment.
Contact details: Trisha Dunleavy and Peter Thompson on behalf of the signatories
Dr Trisha Dunleavy, senior lecturer in media studies
Victoria University of Wellington
trisha.dunleavy@vuw.ac.nz
Dr Peter A. Thompson, senior lecturer in media studies
peter.thompson@vuw.ac.nz
Full text of open letter and list of the signatories
Alex Perrottet's report on the petition
Pacific Media Watch
