Local Matters welcomes Google partnership

Mahurangi Matters and Hibiscus Matters, published by Local Matters, are among a raft of national, regional and local news titles to join Google News Showcase – a programme paying publishers to curate content online.

Google New Zealand country director Caroline Rainsford says the programme shows Google’s ongoing commitment to New Zealand’s news industry.

“We’re so pleased to be continuing to bring a broad spectrum of Aotearoa’s publications to more audiences through Google News Showcase with digital natives such as Spinoff and Wanaka App to heritage mastheads from Stuff and Allied Press, through to truly local public interest journalism.

“Many of these titles have served their communities for decades, providing vital news and information to their regions. We’re pleased to reach these agreements to help support public interest journalism.”

Local Matters general manager Jannette Thompson says she is looking forward to Mahurangi Matters joining the Google Showcase line-up, which will give community news from the district a much wider audience.

“Community publishers work at the very coal face of information dissemination and through News Showcase we will reach more readers with news, events and stories from our neighbourhoods. In an era where national and international headlines often overshadow local affairs, community media ensures that the voices and issues of our communities are heard, recognised and addressed.”