In an article covered by The Big Idea, Jennifer Ward-Lealand leads the conversation rallying Aotearoa to confront the diminished arts coverage in the media and why this is important to the culture of a city and society.
She states, “When I started my career, there were countless opportunities to build a public profile, and consequently audiences, via media. Theatre-makers had strong support in the media. Journalists attended rehearsals, giving audiences insight into the creative process. There were cast and crew profiles, feature articles, and—crucially—reviews that shaped public perception and ticket sales. It wasn’t just mainstream newspapers; suburban and street press also played a role. You could open a publication or turn on the TV and find coverage of the arts with ease. Today, it’s a different story.”