Huge majority believe media independence has been undermined by government funding

A Curia poll for the Taxpayers' Union has found 59% of NZers believe government funding of private media companies has undermined the independence of media with only 21% disagreeing.

The media will of course never report on poll finding, but it should concern them. It doesn't matter whether or not the media have compromised their independence by taking the $55 million, because the vast majority of NZers believe they have been compromised. Taking the money has been the largest own goal for media.

Note that this was not a partisan issue. A plurality of and Green voters also agreed media independence has been compromised.

The $55 million PIJF (Public Interest Journalism Fund) is unpopular. Only 24% of New Zealanders support it. Time to scrap it.

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