About Gavin Ellis

Gavin Ellis holds a PhD in political studies. He is a media consultant and researcher. A former editor-in-chief of the New Zealand Herald, he has a background in journalism and communications – covering both editorial and management roles – that spans more than half a century. His editorship of the Herald coincided with a period of major redevelopment of the broadsheet weekday newspaper, the launch of the Weekend Herald, and the creation of the newspapers’ Internet presence. A strong advocate of freedom of speech, he was chairman of the New Zealand Media Freedom Committee and was recipient of the British Commonwealth Astor Press Freedom Award in 2005. He was created an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to journalism. He has been a university lecturer in politics and media studies and a regular commentator on radio. As a consultant, he has advised on significant developments in media in New Zealand. He is the author of Trust Ownership and the Future of News: Media Moguls and White Knights (London, Palgrave) and Complacent Nation (Wellington, Bridget Williams Books). He is an honorary research fellow at Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures at the University of Auckland.  He can be contacted at gavin.ellis@knightlyviews.com.