Newsroom. Worth making room for.
We created Newsroom because we believe New Zealanders deserve trustworthy, high quality independent journalism.
We are New Zealand owned and all the revenue that comes from our subscribers and donors goes into covering local news and current affairs.
Our journalists break exclusive stories, but we are not in a rush to be first. Newsroom focuses on bringing clarity and depth to the issues that really matter to New Zealanders.
Content comes at consumers from every direction in ever increasing amounts – the world is fighting for your attention. We promise to not to waste your time with clickbait or reckons or superficial analysis.
You can trust Newsroom because of our independence, integrity, and intelligence. The “three I’s” represent our core values.
We proudly invite New Zealand to “Make room for Newsroom” – because there has never been a more important time for high quality independent journalism to come to the fore.
Independence.
Newsroom is fiercely independent. Founded by journalists and run by journalists. Our ownership structure is simple, without complexity or agenda.
When we are reporting on controversial issues, we look for balance and a variety of voices. Our columnists and opinion writers are from across the political spectrum.
Newsroom has a variety of revenue sources apart from subscriptions and donations. Advertising, content partnerships with leading companies and public funding from NZ on Air and the Public Interest Journalism Fund. This does not change our rigorous editorial approach to the Government of the day.
Intelligence.
We treat all our readers with respect. No one needs to be told how to think. Our journalists are given more time to research the facts before they are put in front of you. At Newsroom we are always looking to put context around our reporting.
We employ mainly experienced journalists with a passion for their craft. Many have developed high levels of expertise in specialist areas – built up over years of working rounds or beats.
We use our partnerships with the country’s leading Universities to access the latest research and thinking on the major issues confronting New Zealand today.
Integrity.
Trust, truth, and transparency sit at the very heart of what we do. Relentlessly seeking the truth, reporting impartially, standing up to the powerful and being fair is embedded in our DNA.
Sometimes we will make mistakes, but we are committed to correcting these as quickly as possible and alerting readers to any changes and why we’ve made them. Newsroom is a member of the New Zealand Media Council.
We make sure that opinion columns and any content that has been paid for by a third party are clearly labelled.
Meet the Founders
Mark Jennings | CO-EDITOR
Mark Jennings’ career in journalism extends back to the late 1970s and, until the founding of Newsroom, was primarily anchored in broadcast news.
After 10 years in front of the camera in Australia from 1979-89, Mark returned to New Zealand and began a 27-year career with MediaWorks. He has mentored successive generations of acclaimed and respected journalists, and was responsible for launching Newshub across TV Three and Radio Live.
Mark writes about the media industry, business, and the tertiary sector.
Tim Murphy | CO-EDITOR
Tim Murphy is the former editor-in-chief of the New Zealand Herald, and led the newspaper and its digital channels through rapid change in the first two decades of the new millennium.
An experienced journalist with a background in breaking news and political reporting, Tim served as chairman of the Media Freedom Committee for five years. He was also a member of the executive committee of the New Zealand Press Council.
For Newsroom, Tim writes about politics and Auckland issues.
Awards
Voyager Media Awards 2023
Best crime and justice reporting
Melanie Reid, Newsroom Investigates
Best regular podcast
The Detail
Best reviewer
Rachel King
Voyager Media Awards 2022
Best investigation
Melanie Reid, Newsroom Investigates
Best arts and culture reporting
Steve Braunias
Best reviewer
Philip Matthews
Voyager Media Awards 2021
Best individual investigation
Aaron Smale – ‘Abuse, torture and a deep state campaign of denial’
Business Journalist of the Year
Nikki Mandow
Sports Journalist of the Year
Suzanne McFadden
Best columnist – general
Anna Rawhiti-Connell
Reviewer of the Year
Charlotte Grimshaw
Voyager Media Awards 2020
Best news website – runner up
Best single news story
Melanie Reid
Best editorial campaign or project
Melanie Reid – Oranga Tamariki uplifts
Opinion Writer of the Year
Emma Espiner
Voyager Media Awards 2020 continued
Science Journalism Award
Eloise Gibson
Feature writing – general
Steve Braunias
Best first-person essay or feature
Tayi Tibble – ‘Ihumātao: Everyone was there, e hoa’
NZ Shareholders’ Association Business Journalism awards 2020
Business Journalist of the Year
Nikki Mandow – ‘Bad Things Happen’
Best features
Nikki Mandow
Best commentary
Rod Oram
NZ Guild of Agricultural Journalists and Communicators awards 2020
Ko Tātou This Is Us Biosecurity Journalism Award
Nikki Mandow
Zespri Export Journalism Award
Nikki Mandow
Agricultural Journalism Encouragement Award
Nikki Mandow
2020 Citi Journalism Awards for Excellence
New Zealand Journalist of the Year Award
Nikki Mandow – ‘Bad Things Happen’
Marketing Magazine Media Hot List 2019
Hottest Publisher
Hottest Editors – People’s Choice
Mark Jennings & Tim Murphy
2019 Citi Journalism Awards for Excellence
Young Business Journalist of the Year
Thomas Coughlan – ‘The massive conflict of interest in vehicle imports into New Zealand’
New Zealand Journalist of the Year Award
Rod Oram – ‘How Fonterra hit the wall in China’
Huawei Mate30 Pro NZ TV Awards 2019
Best Current Affairs Programme
Newsroom Investigates
Voyager Media Awards 2019
Reporting (general) winner
Melanie Reid
Science and Technology Award
Eloise Gibson
Features – Crime writing and/or social issues
Teuila Fuatai
Voyager Media Awards 2018
Website of the Year
(joint) Winner
Melanie Reid
Eloise Gibson
Best (single) news story
Melanie Reid – ‘Police and the payout’
Reporting (general) winner
Melanie Reid
Huawei Mate30 Pro NZ TV Awards 2017
Best Current Affairs Programme
‘The Politician, The Police and The Payout’
