Better journalism means better society: New Zealand journalist

Tim Murphy made the remarks in his lecture on the sidelines of the 23rd Press Exhibition underway at Imam Khomeini Mosalla (grand mosque) in Tehran.

'Fundamentally, readers want to believe that what they are given is true,' he added.

The veteran journalist referred to financial problems the media are facing today and said that 'If people believe, they will stay loyal and … are most likely prepared to pay.'

Murphy pointed to emergence of new digital media and their effect on the economy of print media and noted that 'we need to create journalism that audiences would pay money for it'.

The New Zealand journalist pointed to false news published in the cyber media like facebook and said, journalism has a duty to fight fake new and propaganda.

He said that it is important that make technology work for media rather than media working for technology.

'We need to improve media that own accountability and transparency,' Murphy stressed.

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, Auckland issues, and education.

Editor: Hamid Shamlou

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