EPMU launches Walkley media magazine

26 February, 2010

The EPMU hopes to broaden the debate about the role of journalism in New Zealand with the launch of Australia's leading media magazine, The Walkley, in New Zealand this week.

Brent Edwards, chair of the EPMU print and media industry council, says the magazine has potential to make a significant contribution to journalism in New Zealand.

"The Walkley has been published for decades by a foundation set up by our sister union, the Australian Media Alliance, and has made a huge contribution to Australian journalism. It's a great privilege to be able to work with the Alliance to make the magazine a transtasman publication.

"We're hoping The Walkley will not only inform journalists here but also provoke a wider debate about the role of journalism and how we practice it in New Zealand and Australia.

"This is a critical time for journalism in this country and we hope working journalists will take the opportunity to contribute to the magazine and get that debate going."

Chris Warren, federal secretary of the Australian Media Alliance, says he's pleased to welcome New Zealand journalists into the Walkley community.

"This gives us an opportunity to discuss and debate issues that affect us across Australia and New Zealand. We've got a lot to share and a lot to learn in what is becoming an increasingly common media space - same employers, same challenges, same issues."

The first transtasman edition of The Walkley will feature Brent Edwards writing about the EPMU's Journalism Matters campaign and Gael Woods on the debate over how name suppression and contempt of court should apply to bloggers.

For more information about The Walkley visit www.walkleys.com/magazine