Public trust in New Zealand media has fallen to a record low after the government’s funding of media organisations came “with strings attached” which caused people to view the media as a mouthpiece of the central government.
The Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF), a $55 million (US$32 million) government fund established in February 2021, is described as targeted, short-term support for public interest journalism through COVID-19.
“However, the fine print showed the funding came with strings attached,” Muriel Newman, founder of the New Zealand Centre for Political Research and former New Zealand MP, told The Epoch Times.
Newman was referring to the condition included in the funding that all recipients actively promote and acknowledge the Maori as a partner under the Treaty of Waitangi….