Net newsroom scooped on Web

By Adam Gifford

A falling-out among shareholders has led to the establishment of a second Web site offering one-stop access to parliamentary press releases.

The concept was developed three years ago by former Radio New Zealand journalist Peter Fowler, offering the public a chance to read for themselves the press releases put out by politicians and lobbyists, before they are tweaked by journalists. Other news and analysis services had gradually been added.

The site, www.newsroom.co.nz, is hosted by Wellington Internet service provider Actrix.

Its income came from banner advertising, writing news for other sites like Auckland Live and Yahoo!, selling e-mail news feeds on specialist topics, supplying material for corporate intranets and selling search access to its files.

Last month Newsroom went off the air after two minority shareholders, journalist Alastair Thompson and Webmaster Andrew McNaughton, removed the server from the Actrix offices, after showing a staff member a lawyer's letter alleging Mr McNaughton owned it. Mr Fowler said he would not discuss the reasons for the split because "it's in the hands of my lawyers."

Mr Thompson, Mr McNaughton and the other Newsroom minority shareholder, Ian Llewellyn have since established their own site, www.scoop.co.nz, using the Newsroom software and concept.

Mr Fowler commissioned Glazier Systems to create a new site, restoring subscription services within four days. The new database-drive site would allow better searches and provide a better platform for future development.