Media Insider: RNZ boss Paul Thompson defends increases in salaries, bonues and staff numbers amid media industry challenges

RNZ’s boss has today defended the public broadcaster’s salary costs and increased staff numbers, while also revealing work is under way to stabilise its traditional radio listenership. Invited to respond to a question line that his organisation was “splashing the cash”, RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson told Parliament’s social services and community select committee that the Government was investing in the broadcaster to be a “stronger cornerstone” in a fragile media industry. And while overall RNZ audiences were up across digital platforms - the overall story was “positive”, he said - work was under way to tackle tone and content changes on traditional radio programmes, such as RNZ National’s Morning Report .

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