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APN
annual report
2011
corporate social
responsibility
APN is actively involved
with the communities in
which it operates.
Disaster Relief
The integral role
that APN’s
media assets play in their regions
was particularly highlighted
during the natural disasters
in 2011.
In the aftermath of the February
2011 earthquake in Christchurch,
our local newspaper, The Star,
became a vital link for a city that
was without power. Immediately,
it was converted to a free daily,
providing extensive earthquake
coverage and information on
emergency services. Our local
radio stations, particularly
Newstalk ZB, were also a critical
source of information. In the week
following the earthquake, more
people came to nzherald.co.nz
than to any other New Zealand
news website.
The experiences in flood-affected
areas of Rockhampton, Gympie,
Toowoomba and Ipswich were
similar. Our offices, newspapers
and websites were an essential
and trusted source of reliable,
up-to-date local emergency
information. The local teams went
to extraordinary efforts to ensure
newspapers and websites were
published, emphasising their deep
ties to the local communities.
We also played our part in
tangible ways.
Following the Christchurch
earthquakes in September
2010 and February 2011, APN
significantly contributed to the
community’s recovery fundraising
activity. New Zealand Media
published commemorative titles,
which facilitated donations
of NZ$300,000 (2010) and
NZ$178,000 (2011) to the
Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
Another NZ$68,000 was raised
by an online art auction run by
sella.co.nz. Together with APN’s
donation of $100,000 (2010),
total financial assistance to
the Christchurch Appeal Fund
amounted to NZ$646,000.
In addition, The Radio Network
ran two successful fundraising
campaigns following the February
earthquake. Firstly, ZM ran
the first “Tweetathon” in New
Zealand, a unique appeal utilising
Twitter and a video online stream
supported by on-air activity.
The appeal raised NZ$259,000 in
24 hours and over NZ$750,000
by the end of a week. Secondly,
Radio Sport organised an auction
of sports memorabilia from
New Zealand’s sporting stars.
The auction generated over
NZ$330,000.
After the 2010/2011 floods in
Queensland, our Australian
Regional Media publications
helped to raise funds to support
local communities re-establish
their homes and businesses.
The Queensland Times and the
Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
assisted the local mayors launch
their respective Flood Appeals
and provided ongoing coverage
to encourage greater community
participation. The Ipswich
Mayor’s Flood Appeal raised over
$1 million and the Rockhampton
Lady Mayor’s Flood Appeal,
which was chaired by the General
Manager of the Rockhampton
Morning Bulletin, raised over
$450,000. Australian Regional
Media also produced a glossy
publication across its mastheads
to commemorate the floods.
Charity
APN provided advertising
support
for a wide variety of
national and local charities,
including the Starship Foundation,
the Leukemia Foundation, World
Vision, Red Cross, Beyond Blue,
the Cerebral Palsy Alliance,
Mission Australia and Ronald
McDonald House.
The New Zealand Herald worked
with the charity ‘KidsCan’ to
publish a high profile news
campaign focusing on providing
breakfast to children who
arrive at school underfed. The
campaign resulted in over 1,500
new sponsorships of NZ$15 a
month for some of New Zealand’s
most underprivileged children
to be served breakfast at their
schools. Further, the ‘At Home
with the Herald’ initiative offered
a year-long complimentary
subscription to the newspaper
(Monday–Friday) delivered
to the home of every student
of 25 selected disadvantaged
schools in the Auckland region,
aiming to promote literacy skills.
Over 2 million newspapers were
delivered through this initiative.
Community
Our businesses take pride
in
promoting the development
and debate of key issues in our
communities. The New Zealand
Herald hosts the annual ‘Mood
of the Boardroom’ breakfast for
CEOs, announcing the results
of a survey canvassing business
and policy issues, as well as the
‘Project Auckland’ lunch with
key business leaders. The New
Zealand Herald supports the
Sir Peter Blake Trust including
publication of the Sir Peter
Blake Trust’s annual ‘Leadership
Magazine’, and is a sponsor of
the Trans Tasman Business Circle
and the Auckland Chamber of
Commerce Business Awards.
The New Zealand Herald also runs
an annual national ‘Future Stars
of Sport’ program, which honours
up-and-coming sports achievers.
The program’s award winners
receive financial assistance and
promotion of their media profiles.
In addition, The New Zealand
Herald also assisted the
Society for Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals in finding
homes for abandoned pets
through newspaper coverage.
Unprecedented adoption
rates at peak times during
2011 occurred as a result.
The Radio Network held its
Special Children’s Christmas
Party, enlisting the sponsorship
of local businesses in New
Zealand to provide an
unforgettable experience for
disabled and disadvantaged
children in the community.
APN Outdoor’s ‘Think
Sustainability’ program continued
to improve the division’s
environmental contributions. In
2011, APN Outdoor implemented
new programs to progress waste
management and further reduce
energy consumption.
Arts
In New Zealand
, APN supports
a wide variety of cultural
organisations and events. In 2011,
these included the Auckland
Philharmonic Orchestra, the
Auckland Writers and Readers
Festival, the Royal New Zealand
Ballet, the New Zealand
Symphony Orchestra and the
New Zealand International
Arts Festival.
In Australia, APN Outdoor is a
sponsor of iconic outdoor events
such as the St. George Open
Air Cinema, the Sydney Festival
and the Adelaide Festival. APN
proudly supported the Australian
Chamber Orchestra, the Art
Gallery of New South Wales, the
Sydney Opera House and the
Australian Ballet.