Word War

"Word War" is a scholarly book that addresses the development and challenges of New Zealand's news media. The author, Gavin Ellis, examines the decision made by New Zealand's daily newspapers in 2006 to cease the cooperative exchange of news through the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA). This decision marked the end of a 125-year tradition and had far-reaching consequences for the country's media landscape. Ellis analyzes how the restructuring of the NZPA was a response to fundamental changes in New Zealand's news organizations, driven by market liberalization and the shift to transnational ownership. The increasing competition called into question the cooperative foundation of the NZPA and led to an inevitable transformation that affected the quality and scope of reporting. The book provides an in-depth analysis of the impact of these changes on media coverage in New Zealand.