A postmortem from a journo student

“Can we please watch the news?” little me would beg at 6pm. We would flick on Newshub and I would watch in awe, ready to one day be a journalist just like the people on my screen.  

19 days ago, my heart dropped. Newshub, the place that inspired me to get into journalism, is closing in June.  

And then, barely a week later, I read that TVNZ may cut 68 jobs.  

Many people may have seen the news, shrugged, and gone on with their lives. But for journo students, it was a bit more alarming. It felt like another nail in the coffin of an industry we are fighting to be a part of. 

Second year journo student, Leonie Sheehan got a call from her mum.  

“She said, 'oh yeah did you know Newshub is closing' and was like, 'fuck, okay'.” 

“I thought about it and I'm like – shit.” 

Third year Grace Kane spent thirty minutes reading articles about it. 

"I looked it up and l was like oh my god this is really sad." 

It's a weird contradiction, going to class and listening to teachers talk about how vibrant and fun a life in journalism is, then going home to another headline of mass layoffs at yet another news organization.  

The Wall Street Journal, Pitchfork, Sports Illustrated, The LA times... Newshub and TVNZ. 

Second year Bex Hogan said, "I can't deny that there's a whole new niggle at the back of my mind." 

"This industry is tough and even if you do 'break out', your job and experiences are never promised."  

Beyond a personal tragedy, the closure of Newhub leaves a gaping hole in the mediascape of New Zealand, not only leaving TVNZ as the last TV broadcaster standing but removing the voices and perspectives that Newshub represented and their capability to create real change.  

My favourite journalist is Newshub’s Paddy Gower – not only is he insanely talented, but he really cares about the stories he tells.  

In 2022, he met a girl with Cystic fibrosis who was struggling to obtain the lifechanging drug Trikafta. He advocated tirelessly on her behalf, bringing attention to her story, putting pressure on the Government – until it became impossible to ignore. Pharmac agreed to fund the drug for everyone with the condition in New Zealand.  

And then there's us. The journalistic hopefuls of tomorrow. When my class and I visited the TVNZ Wellington newsroom, the bureau chief announced to the room “The future is here!” Journalists came up to us and told us about themselves and what they were working on. You could feel the comradery and the passion in the room. 

Now their jobs could be on the chopping block too.  

I’m left wondering if there is still a place for young journalists. Sandwiched as we are between mass layoffs and the imminent rise of AI.  

A few days ago, I messaged Paddy Gower, telling him how sorry I was about the closure of Newshub, and how much he and everyone there inspired me to pursue journalism.  

"You will have an amazing career," he told me, "I promise. Just focus." 

For better or worse, this is the life I have chosen. Newshub may be gone but the news cycle will keep going.  

I only hope I will have the chance to be a part of it.