AUCKLAND (UNESCO NZ / Pacific Media Watch): Media researcher and commentator Dr Gavin Ellis tackled the challenges of media freedom in a developed nation such as New Zealand in the second annual UNESCO World Press Freedom Day lecture in Auckland tonight.
Dr Ellis spoke as part of a global series of events marking Press Freedom Day on May 3 with a theme of Media Freedom for a Better Future – shaping the post 2015 development agenda.
His address at AUT University tonight was entitled “No-one died covering celebrity news”.
He warned about the “fundamental danger in taking freedom for granted” in New Zealand and argues for a return to responsible journalism values.
Dr Ellis is a former editor-in-chief of The New Zealand Herald and a weekly commentator about media issues on Radio New Zealand National. He was chairman of the New Zealand Media Freedom Committee and recipient of the British Commonwealth Astor Press Freedom Award in 2005.
New book
He is the author of Trust Ownership and the Future of News: Media Moguls and White Knights to be published in London in June.
At the UNESCO lecture, he also engaged with the audience in a discussion on the issues raised.
The discussion was moderated by New Zealand National Commission of UNESCO board member Trish Carter.
The event has been organised by the National Commission in partnership with AUT’s Pacific Media Centre.
The inaugural lecture last year was delivered by Dr Mark Pearson, professor of journalism and social media at Griffith University, Queensland.
When: Tuesday, May 6, 5.30-7.30pm.
Where: Sir Paul Reeves Building, Lecture Theatre WG126
Light refreshments
LIVE STREAMING AT AUT ON DEMAND
More information
Contacts:
NZ National Commission for UNESCO: Susan Isaacs
PMC: Professor David Robie
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 New Zealand Licence.
Pacific Media Watch
