Graham Adams: Fear and loathing grips the left over NZME shake-up

As a range of commentators on the left of politics pop up to denounce James Grenon’s proposed NZME board takeover, the objections by E tū director Michael Wood seem particularly hypocritical. 

In a press release last week, the head of the journalists’ union complained the Canada-born billionaire had a clear agenda to use NZME for his own interests. “[He] clearly wants to use his financial clout to steer the editorial direction of one of New Zealand’s largest and most important media networks.”

DTNZ: Canadian billionaire takes major stake in legacy media company NZME

Auckland-based Canadian billionaire James Grenon has acquired a 9.3% stake in NZME, the owner of legacy media outlets the New Zealand Herald, Newstalk ZB and BusinessDesk, fuelling speculation about potential shifts in editorial direction.