The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Arts journalism captures ‘the richness of being alive’, so why is New Zealand struggling to support it? And what's the solution?

  • Written by James Wenley, Lecturer, Theatre Programme, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Arts journalism captures ‘the richness of being alive’, so why is New Zealand struggling to support it? And what's the solution?

One of the primary roles of arts and culture is to hold a mirror up to society. The stories artists tell through books, performance, movies, music and visual art reflects an image of who we are, and shows us who we might yet become.

Journalism plays a crucial role in holding a mirror to this mirror. Investigations, interviews and reviews reflect and amplify the creativity and conversations explored by our artists.

But despite some bright spots of high-quality coverage, arts stories are often deprioritised in general media. Only 13% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s total media coverage focuses on arts and culture[1], and only 3.25% on art forms outside film, music and TV.

My new research report, New Mirrors[2], written with Rosabel Tan and commissioned by Creative New Zealand, investigates the state of contemporary arts journalism and proposes two pathways to strengthening this sector: a dedicated fund for arts and culture media projects, and an Arts Media Centre to connect media and creative sectors.

A dusty mirror

There is little dedicated arts space in the general media. Stuff, New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) and the Otago Daily Times increasingly place arts content behind paywalls. Specialist platforms often have to compete in the same funding rounds as the artists they cover.

To better understand these challenges, we spoke with 52 artists, arts organisations, publicists, editors, journalists and decision makers across the arts and media sectors.

1960s photo, girls read newspapers.
Arts coverage ‘tends to suffer first’. Museums Victoria[3]

We heard arts media is under critical pressure, and significant challenges limit its growth: stretched budgets, reduced staff, production pressures and low pay. Freelance journalist Tulia Thompson spoke about being paid NZ$250 to write a 1,200-word review of three books, “which makes it more like a hobby”.

But we found a huge appetite to strengthen coverage. Connie Buchanan, deputy editor at E-Tangata[4], said the ideal was to be able to offer “decent, informed criticism of the arts landscape”.

Our research confirmed the need for a stronger and more visible representation of our arts and culture sector in our media, better reflecting the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand.

There is a significant audience for arts and culture: 96% of adults in Aotearoa New Zealand[5] participated in arts and cultural events in the past three years.

As we argue in the report, strengthening arts and culture media leads to better public conversations, more engaged arts consumers, and a healthier arts and culture sector.

Coverage builds an audience, but it also supports future career opportunities for artists and ensures work is remembered.

Artist Bridget Reweti spoke about the importance of “high-quality writing” to support institutions and curators to understand the value of an artwork, and how mainstream media coverage “feeds into broader knowledge and people knowing that this work exists”.

As Mihi Blake, cofounder of communications agency Māia[6], told us:

There are so many stories, and people want to read them; people want to have their lives enriched by arts and culture and music. That is the richness of being alive.

Read more: Life after redundancy: what happens next for journalists when they leave newsrooms[7]

Under-resourced and under strain

New Zealand’s media sector has experienced considerable volatility over the past two decades.

Between 2006 and 2018, the number of journalists working in Aotearoa New Zealand more than halved[8]. New Zealand’s media sector is currently facing formidable headwinds due to the closing of the government’s contestable public-interest journalism fund[9], declining readership numbers[10], and a steep drop in advertising revenue[11],

Arts coverage, says David Rowe, head of journalism planning at New Zealand Media and Entertainment, “tends to suffer first, because in terms of core business, it’s not right at the absolute heart”.

It’s been 16 long years since Frontseat[12], TVNZ’s last dedicated arts show, broadcast its final episode. Today, opportunities for coverage of arts stories on television and commercial radio are rare.

While The Post expanded its daily arts and culture coverage[13] this year in response to audience demand, many major newspapers in Aotearoa New Zealand have dropped specialist arts positions.

Former Stuff journalist Charlie Gates painted a stark picture for us:

When I started at The Press, in 2007, there was an arts editor, two film reviewers, two or three cultural writers, a feature writer who specialised in culture and things, and that’s all gone now. That’s all completely gone.

A path forward

We’re facing a national deficit in arts and culture coverage. This has impacts[14] on social cohesion, wellbeing, and our sense of who we are as a nation.

We propose two key investment pathways to address this deficit.

1. Create a public fund for arts and culture media projects

The current funding models aren’t working. We need a dedicated fund that invests in arts and culture media projects, with co-investment across multiple agencies like Manatū Taonga, Creative New Zealand, NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho.

By pooling resources and ringfencing funding, we could enable both specialist art platforms and general media to grow coverage, shining a spotlight on more artist voices, building capacity in the regions, and recognising arts and culture coverage as a public good.

2. Create an Arts Media Centre

An independent body that connects our media and creative sectors could enable high-quality arts and culture journalism through training, advocacy and relationship-building.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s Science Media Centre[15], funded by the ministry of business, innovation and employment, offers a possible model. Since its launch in 2008, it has played a pivotal role[16] in strengthening the quality, accuracy and depth of science reporting.

These two interventions hold the potential to have an enduring and positive effect, creating the infrastructure needed to support the long-term sustainability of our arts media ecology and for our creatives’ views and voices to be heard more often.

With new mirrors, media can better reflect the central relevance that arts, creativity and storytelling plays in the lives of New Zealanders.

Read more: We need to break the cycle of crisis in Aotearoa New Zealand’s arts and culture. It starts with proper funding[17]

References

  1. ^ focuses on arts and culture (creativenz.govt.nz)
  2. ^ New Mirrors (creativenz.govt.nz)
  3. ^ Museums Victoria (collections.museumsvictoria.com.au)
  4. ^ E-Tangata (e-tangata.co.nz)
  5. ^ 96% of adults in Aotearoa New Zealand (creativenz.govt.nz)
  6. ^ communications agency Māia (maiastudio.co)
  7. ^ Life after redundancy: what happens next for journalists when they leave newsrooms (theconversation.com)
  8. ^ more than halved (mch.govt.nz)
  9. ^ public-interest journalism fund (www.stuff.co.nz)
  10. ^ readership numbers (thespinoff.co.nz)
  11. ^ in advertising revenue (www.rnz.co.nz)
  12. ^ Frontseat (www.nzonscreen.com)
  13. ^ arts and culture coverage (www.thepost.co.nz)
  14. ^ has impacts (mch.govt.nz)
  15. ^ Science Media Centre (www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz)
  16. ^ pivotal role (www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz)
  17. ^ We need to break the cycle of crisis in Aotearoa New Zealand’s arts and culture. It starts with proper funding (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/arts-journalism-captures-the-richness-of-being-alive-so-why-is-new-zealand-struggling-to-support-it-and-whats-the-solution-218110

Times Magazine

DIY Is In: How Aussie Parents Are Redefining Birthday Parties

When planning his daughter’s birthday, Rich opted for a DIY approach, inspired by her love for drawing maps and giving clues. Their weekend tradition of hiding treats at home sparked the idea, and with a pirate ship playground already chosen as t...

When Touchscreens Turn Temperamental: What to Do Before You Panic

When your touchscreen starts acting up, ignoring taps, registering phantom touches, or freezing entirely, it can feel like your entire setup is falling apart. Before you rush to replace the device, it’s worth taking a deep breath and exploring what c...

Why Social Media Marketing Matters for Businesses in Australia

Today social media is a big part of daily life. All over Australia people use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok , LinkedIn and Twitter to stay connected, share updates and find new ideas. For businesses this means a great chance to reach new customers and...

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Times Features

What Makes Certain Rings or Earrings Timeless Versus Trendy?

Timeless rings and earrings are defined by designs that withstand the test of time, quality craftsmanship, and versatility. Trendy pieces, on the other hand, often stand testimony ...

Italian Street Kitchen: A Nation’s Favourite with Expansion News on Horizon

Successful chef brothers, Enrico and Giulio Marchese, weigh in on their day-to-day at Australian foodie favourite, Italian Street Kitchen - with plans for ‘ambitious expansion’ to ...

What to Expect During a Professional Termite Inspection

Keeping a home safe from termites isn't just about peace of mind—it’s a vital investment in the structure of your property. A professional termite inspection is your first line o...

Booty and the Beasts - The Podcast

Cult TV Show Back with Bite as a Riotous New Podcast  The show that scandalised, shocked and entertained audiences across the country, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, has returned in ...

A Guide to Determining the Right Time for a Switchboard Replacement

At the centre of every property’s electrical system is the switchboard – a component that doesn’t get much attention until problems arise. This essential unit directs electrici...

Après Skrew: Peanut Butter Whiskey Turns Australia’s Winter Parties Upside Down

This August, winter in Australia is about to get a lot nuttier. Skrewball Whiskey, the cult U.S. peanut butter whiskey that’s taken the world by storm, is bringing its bold brand o...