Journalists at NZME's regional and community newspapers in the North Island want their local communities to join in on their call to save their jobs.
Earlier this month, meetings were held with the journalists after NZME proposed to cut more than 11 full-time equivalent jobs across its newsrooms.
In a statement to 1News at the time, publishing chief content officer Murray Kirkness said the cuts were "not about saving money" but rather "reinvesting into other editorial areas".
"The proposed changes would ensure we continue to serve regional online audiences while ensuring newsrooms have the resources and freedom to deliver excellent local content for print subscribers."
Titles like the Northern Advocate, Hawke's Bay Today, Bay of Plenty Times, Rotorua Daily Post, the Whanganui Chronicle, and other community papers will all be hit by cuts to journalists and the removal of all photojournalists, if the proposal goes ahead.
'End of an important era'
The proposal to cut out all regional photographers would be the end of an important era, Northern Advocate photographer Michael Cunningham said.
"The job was more than just taking photos – it was documenting Northland's history, and also becoming the custodian of nearly 150 years of photographic history in Northland."
Cunningham has been a photographer at the paper for 32 years and said the highlight of his work is the thanks he gets from the community.
"It's probably the joy that you get from members of the community who are so happy that you've come to cover their event. It could be anything from the local bridge club to a future All Black."
Northern Advocate journalist Denise Piper said it is local communities who will miss out on coverage if the proposal goes ahead.
"Our job is all about holding the powers-that-be to account and giving a voice to the region's most vulnerable, including patients, local businesses, and environmental champions."
Union calls on communities
E tū negotiation specialist Michael Wood said NZME must not underestimate the importance of regional news.
"The media are the vital connections between groups and individuals, from local sports groups to community culture, to emergency services organisations," he said.
"Recent history with emergencies and disasters has shown exactly how important it is to have good reporting on the ground in all our communities. Reducing the capacity for local storytelling would harm how communities respond to these events.
"It will be little comfort for these regions that NZME claims this is not a cost cutting exercise but will free up resources for investing in four new reporting jobs in Wellington, Christchurch, and business coverage.
"We're calling on the affected local communities to join our call to save these important roles. NZME needs to hear from local leaders and groups just how important it is to have strong local media."
NZME was approached for fresh comment on the proposed cuts but referred 1News to its statement earlier this month.
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