WelCom June/July 2024
NZ Catholic, the national Catholic newspaper published by the Bishop of Auckland, is to cease its print publication at the end of June.
A new monthly digital publication, which will retain the title NZ Catholic, will be developed and shared from July.
The publisher of NZ Catholic, Bishop Stephen Lowe, sent a letter to the newspaper’s subscribers, supporters, readers and friends outlining the changes.
‘NZ Catholic and its predecessors, the Tablet from Dunedin and the Zealandia have been part of Catholic print media since 1873,’ Bishop Lowe stated in his letter of 21 May.
‘In more recent years we have seen dramatic changes in the media landscape with audiences moving away from print and TV news towards digital, social, and video news, entertainment and networking platforms.
‘Like other newspapers NZ Catholic has been impacted by falling circulation numbers, subscribers and advertisers. With now fewer than 1000 subscribers, it has reached the point where it is no longer sustainable to publish a printed Catholic newspaper.
The issue published on 30 June will be NZ Catholic’s last printed fortnightly edition.
Bishop Lowe thanked the NZ Catholic staff and contributors for their ‘amazing’ work.
He said the diocese remains committed to sharing its Catholic news and stories and intends developing a new monthly digital publication with enhanced use of video.
‘The digital news publication will be available free, with parishes, ethnic chaplaincies, schools and other communities encouraged to share through their newsletters, websites and social media pages.’
A digital/video storytelling role, to be added to the team to enhance the use of video and other digital platforms, will focus initially on producing videos that include prayer, homilies, event highlights, appeals, teaching, explaining ‘and helping to encourage a healthy dialogue our world so desperately needs’.
Bishop Lowe concluded his letter by stating, ‘It is my hope the digital NZ Catholic will continue to celebrate and promote our faith and to help continue to knit our diverse community into one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.’