Stuff (website)

Last updated

Stuff
Stuff 2022.svg
Wordmark
Stuff.co.nz screen capture.jpg
Screenshot of the Stuff main page, taken on 5 April 2018
Type of site
News
Available inEnglish
Owner Stuff Limited
Created by Independent Newspapers
URL stuff.co.nz
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
Launched27 June 2000;23 years ago (2000-06-27) [1]
Current statusOnline

Stuff is a New Zealand news media website owned by newspaper conglomerate Stuff Ltd (formerly called Fairfax). As of early 2024, it is the most popular news website in New Zealand, [2] with a monthly unique audience of more than 2 million. [3]

Contents

Stuff was founded in 2000, [4] and publishes breaking news, weather, sport, politics, video, entertainment, business and life and style content from Stuff Ltd's newspapers, which include New Zealand's second- and third-highest circulation daily newspapers, The Post and The Press , and the highest circulation weekly, Sunday Star-Times , as well as international news wire services.

Stuff has won numerous awards at the Newspaper Publishers' Association awards including 'Best News Website or App' in 2014 [5] and 2019, [6] and 'Website of the Year' in 2013 [7] and 2018. [8]

History

Independent Newspapers Ltd, 2000–2003

The former New Zealand media company Independent Newspapers Ltd (INL), owned by News Corp Australia, launched Stuff on 27 June 2000 at a cybercafe in Auckland, after announcing its intention to go online more than a year earlier. [1] [9] The development of Stuff was supported by Don Higgins, Corporate Development Manager and Mark Wierzbicki, founding Internet Business Manager. Advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi conceived the name "Stuff", and INL had to buy the domain name from a cyber squatter. [1] In its first month, the site had 120,000 unique visitors. [9] At the time, Wierzbicki described the name as a copywriter's dream, although he conceded that "it's not without risk, especially if we stuff up." The start up was built by a group of engineers from a few tech companies in Wellington led by founding CTO and engineering manager Will Everitt and project manager Bill Alp and used a software platform from News Corp Australia's news.com.au.

Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment, 2003–2020

On 30 June 2003, INL sold its publishing assets including The Dominion Post, The Press, and the Stuff website to Fairfax Media. [10] [11]

Fairfax upgraded the website in December 2006, and again on 4 March 2009, adding the ability for visitors to personalise the homepage. [12] The first mobile phone news service from Stuff began in 2003, in a partnership with Vodafone New Zealand. On 21 April 2009, Stuff launched a dedicated mobile site. [13]

Old logo used from 2016-2022 Stuff.co.nz logo.svg
Old logo used from 2016–2022

On 1 February 2018, the parent company of Stuff changed its name from Fairfax New Zealand Limited to Stuff Limited. [14] In December 2018 Stuff was merged into Nine Entertainment. [15]

Sinead Boucher, 2020–present

On 25 May 2020, Nine Entertainment sold Stuff and its holdings including the Stuff website to Stuff's CEO Sinead Boucher for NZ$1, with the transaction completed on 31 May. This marks the return of the company into New Zealand ownership. [16] [17] [18]

On 30 May 2022, Stuff updated its logo and brand colours. [19]

On 27 April 2023, Stuff confirmed that it would launch separate subscription-based websites for three of its newspapers: The Post, The Press, and Waikato Times . These websites will co-exist with the Stuff news website, which will remain free. [20]

On 17 January 2024, Stuff rolled out a new website and app with a new layout and design. It was immediately met with overwhelming criticism, due to a number of features and sections previously being available removed, including the search function and the technology section. The new design also caused a number of functionality issues, mostly around loading the new homepage with several users reporting the homepage to be stuck in a loading loop. A story posted by Stuff touting the new design and also seeking feedback received over 300 responses with about a dozen positive and the rest negative. Comments on this story were later removed. Since the rollout, traffic and readership has reportedly dropped by up to 20%. [21]

Awards and nominations

Stuff.co.nz has won numerous awards at the Newspaper Publishers' Association awards (currently branded as the Voyager Media Awards) including Best News Website or App in 2014 and 2019, [22] [23] and Website of the Year in 2013 and 2018. [24] [25]

Content and coverage

In July 2008, during the trial of Clayton Weatherston, press.co.nz, a subsidiary section on Stuff, accidentally ran the headline "Guilty of Murder" the day before the jury delivered the verdict. The article was quickly withdrawn, and Fairfax executive editor Paul Thompson said it was a mistake "we take very seriously." [26]

On 17 April 2013, to celebrate the passing of same-sex marriage in New Zealand, the colour of the Stuff logo was changed from black to the colours associated with the pride flag. [27]

In 2017, Stuff's first podcast Black Hands received over 3 million downloads [28] and was the number one podcast in five countries. Stuff also produced Gone Fishing with Radio New Zealand, which won podcast of the year [29] at the 2019 NZ Radio Awards.

In 2018 Stuff launched Quick! Save the Planet [30] to increase news coverage of climate change in New Zealand and in 2019 Stuff joined the Covering Climate Now [31] international initiative.

Stuff Circuit

In 2019, Stuff launched an investigative journalism documentary series called Stuff Circuit with funding from New Zealand on Air. Notable titles and topics have included Big Decision (abortion law reform), Life + Limb (New Zealand's military involvement in the War in Afghanistan), False Profit (which focused on conspiracy theorist and New Zealand Public Party founder Billy Te Kahika), Deleted (which looked at New Zealand companies alleged to be complicit in human rights abuses in Xinjiang), Disordered (which focused on the treatment of people with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome), and Fire and Fury (which looked at vaccine disinformation and conspiracy theories in the wake of the 2022 Wellington protests. The documentaries are published on Stuff's website. [32] [33]

In November 2019, Stuff's Life + Limb documentary's coverage of unexploded ordnance on New Zealand Defence Force firing ranges in Afghanistan prompted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to order the clearing of the ranges. [34] [35]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>The Post</i> (New Zealand newspaper) Newspaper published in Wellington, New Zealand

The Post is a metropolitan daily newspaper published in Wellington, New Zealand. It is owned by media business Stuff Ltd, formerly the New Zealand branch of Australian media company Fairfax Media. Weekday issues are now in tabloid format, and its Saturday edition is in broadsheet format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aotearoa Music Awards</span> New Zealand music recording award

The Aotearoa Music Awards, conferred annually by Recorded Music NZ, honour outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording industry. The awards are among the most significant that a group or artist can receive in New Zealand music, and have been presented annually since 1965. The awards show is presented by Recorded Music NZ. A range of award sponsors and media partners support the event each year.

<i>Waikato Times</i> Daily newspaper in New Zealand

The Waikato Times is a daily newspaper published in Hamilton, New Zealand and owned by media business Stuff Ltd. It has a circulation to the greater Waikato region and became a tabloid paper in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuff (company)</span> New Zealand news media company

Stuff Ltd is a privately held news media company operating in New Zealand. It operates Stuff, the country's largest news website, and owns nine daily newspapers, including New Zealand's second and third-highest circulation daily newspapers, The Post and The Press, and the highest circulation weekly, Sunday Star-Times. Magazines published include TV Guide, New Zealand's top-selling weekly magazine. Stuff also owns social media network Neighbourly.

<i>The Press</i> New Zealand newspaper

The Press is a daily newspaper published in Christchurch, New Zealand, owned by media business Stuff Ltd. First published in 1861, the newspaper is the largest circulating daily in the South Island and publishes Monday to Saturday. One community newspaper—Northern Outlook—is also published by The Press and is free.

The Sunday Star-Times is a New Zealand newspaper published each weekend in Auckland. It covers both national and international news, and is a member of the New Zealand Press Association and Newspaper Publishers Association of New Zealand. It is owned by media business Stuff Ltd, formerly the New Zealand branch of Australian media company Fairfax Media.

The Marlborough Express is a newspaper serving the Marlborough area of New Zealand. Its headquarters are in Blenheim and has been published there since 1866.

<i>The Nelson Mail</i> New Zealand newspaper

The Nelson Mail is a 4-day a week newspaper in Nelson, New Zealand owned by media business Stuff Ltd. It was founded in 1866 as The Nelson Evening Mail; the first edition was published on 5 March 1866. It absorbed another local paper, The Colonist, in about 1906.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nine Entertainment</span> Australian media and entertainment company

Nine Entertainment is an Australian publicly listed mass media company with holdings in radio and television broadcasting, publishing and digital media. It uses Nine as its corporate branding and also prefers this usage to be used for the parent company.

The Manawatū Standard is the daily paper for the Manawatū region based in Palmerston North. The Manawatū Standard has been recognised as one of the best in New Zealand being a finalist in the 2008 Qantas Media Award for best regional daily newspaper; it won the same category in 2007. It also won Best Headline and Student Journalist of the Year at the Qantas Media Awards 2017.

<i>The Southland Times</i> Newspaper in New Zealand

The Southland Times is the regional daily paper for Southland, including Invercargill, and neighbouring parts of Otago, in New Zealand. It is now owned by media business Stuff Ltd, formerly the New Zealand division of Fairfax Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taite Music Prize</span> Music prize in New Zealand

The Taite Music Prize is an annual New Zealand music award event. It features the same-named prize awarded for the best album from New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand Women of Influence Awards</span> Annual awards in ten categories

The New Zealand Women of Influence Awards are an annual set of awards which recognise women who make a difference to everyday New Zealanders' lives. The Awards were first made in 2013 and were initially sponsored by Westpac Bank. In 2016, Stuff NZ became a joint sponsor.

The 2018 Voyager Media Awards were presented on 11 May 2018 at Cordis, Auckland, New Zealand. Awards were made in the categories of digital, feature writing, general, magazines, newspapers, opinion writing, photography, reporting and videography.

The 2016 Canon Media Awards were hosted by the New Zealand Newspaper Publishers' Association on Friday 20 May 2016 at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, New Zealand. The Newspaper of the Year was The New Zealand Herald, and the Reporter of the Year was Matt Nippert of The New Zealand Herald.

The 2019 Voyager Media Awards were held at the Cordis, Auckland on 17 May 2019. Awards were made in the categories of digital, feature writing, general, magazines, health journalism, scholarships, newspapers, opinion writing, photography, reporting and videography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Chisholm</span> New Zealand investigative journalist

Donna Elise Chisholm is a New Zealand investigative journalist and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike White (journalist)</span> Journalist and author

Mike White is a New Zealand investigative journalist, photographer and author, and former foreign correspondent. He has written two books and has won awards for his magazine articles on themes of justice within New Zealand. He is also an awarded travel writer. White has won New Zealand Feature Writer of the Year three times, and a Wolfson Fellowship to the University of Cambridge. He has also won the Cathay Pacific New Zealand Travel Writer of the Year title three times.

Sinead Marie Boucher is a New Zealand journalist and chief executive of Stuff Ltd. On 31 May 2020 she became the owner of Stuff Ltd and in July 2023 became executive chair.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Scherer, Karyn (28 June 2000). "Online launch for INL 'stuff'". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "New Zealand's Top Local News Sites – July 2018". nielsen.com. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "First Herald paywall audience numbers". Newsroom. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Crean 2011, p. 9.
  5. ↑ "2014 Winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  6. ↑ "Digital Winners 2019". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  7. ↑ "2013 Winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  8. ↑ "2018 winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  9. 1 2 "A million readers get Stuff". National Business Review . 6 August 2005. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "Inl Shareholders Approve Sale To Fairfax". Scoop / INL press release. 30 June 2003. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  11. ↑ "Fairfax snaps up NZ publisher". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 14 April 2003. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  12. ↑ "Stuff redesign: All the stuff you ever wanted". Scoop/Fairfax Media press release. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  13. ↑ "Stuff Goes Mobile – Get Stuff Wherever You Go". Scoop/Fairfax Media press release. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  14. ↑ "Stuff's journey from newspaper pioneer to website to 'portfolio' business". Stuff. 1 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "Stuff's journey from newspaper pioneer to website to 'portfolio' business". Stuff. 1 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  16. ↑ Pullar-Strecker, Tom (25 May 2020). "Stuff ownership to return to NZ after management buy-out". Stuff. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  17. ↑ Rutherford, Hamish (25 May 2020). "Stuff sold for $1 to CEO Sinead Boucher by Nine Entertainment". New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Stuff chief executive Sinead Boucher buys company for $1". Radio New Zealand . 25 May 2020. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  19. ↑ Norris, Joanna (29 May 2022). "Bold, fun, original: The kaupapa behind Stuff's new look". Stuff. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  20. ↑ "Stuff to put up first paywalls for news". Radio New Zealand . 27 April 2023. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  21. ↑ "Sky's upbeat while NZME falls short". Newsroom . 22 February 2024.
  22. ↑ "Digital Winners 2019". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  23. ↑ "2014 Winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  24. ↑ "2013 Winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  25. ↑ "2018 winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  26. ↑ Porteous, Debbie (25 July 2009). "Contempt rethink needed, academic says". Otago Daily Times . Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  27. ↑ Stevens, Mark (17 April 2013). "Stuff celebrates marriage equality". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  28. ↑ Brown, Alison (28 November 2017). "Marketing Renaissance". Blink Public Relations and Marketing. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  29. ↑ "Two wins for RNZ at international media awards". www.scoop.co.nz. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  30. ↑ "Media's worldwide push for climate change coverage". RNZ. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  31. ↑ "Partners". Covering Climate Now. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  32. ↑ "CIRCUIT – An investigative documentary series". Stuff . Stuff . Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  33. ↑ "Stuff Circuit investigative reporting". Stuff . Stuff . Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  34. ↑ "Blast from NZ firing range ammunition kills Afghan children". Radio New Zealand . 17 November 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  35. ↑ "Prime Minister expects Defence Force to speed up clearance of Afghanistan firing ranges". Radio New Zealand . 18 November 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2020.

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