Newspaper Industry Chairmanship Changes Hands

Media Release

27 September 2006

Newspaper Industry Chairmanship Changes Hands

Mr Julian Smith has resigned as President of the Newspaper Publishers’ Association (NPA) and Chairman of the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) after a four-year term.

“It has been a very challenging four years of change within the industry and I am very pleased to be handing over the roles of President and Chairman with the industry in such good shape,” said Mr Smith who is also the proprietor of the Otago Daily Times.

The Boards of NPA and NZPA yesterday elected Mr Peter O’Hara, Chief Operating Officer and Editor-in-Chief of the Fairfax Group to replace Mr Smith.

Mr Smith said he had been particularly pleased that the major changes at NZPA in the past two years had seen the agency successfully transformed into a multi-service agency suppling news and photos on a commercial basis to all media in the country.

“Newspapers also retain their leading role as the preferred media for advertisers and the industry’s Newspaper Advertising Bureau (NAB) continues to provide an outstanding service. I am also pleased to say that all members are very dedicated to working together on key industry issues and supporting the various self-regulation organisations such as the Press Council and Advertising Standards Authority,” said Mr Smith

Mr Smith has been a director on both Boards since 1981 and was also chairman of NZPA for an earlier term from 1983. He will continue to be a member of both boards.

ENDS

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