Matthew Hooton Named Editor of The Post
The hire could reshape The Post's political coverage by pairing a relaunch toward paid national politics with an editor who has left his consulting work.
Overview
- Stuff owner Sinead Boucher appointed Matthew Hooton to lead The Post and the paper says he will give up his strategic consulting as part of taking the role.
- The decision has prompted strong negative reactions from some media insiders and raised immediate staff concern about political bias and editorial independence.
- Hooton is not a career journalist but a former political operative, lobbyist and media pundit who has worked for National, ACT and private clients through his firm Exceltium.
- Operationally The Post will remain a Wellington paper that will be printed in Christchurch and Hooton is understood to be based in Auckland, which may affect newsroom dynamics.
- Observers warn Hooton's past undisclosed consulting and a 2018 episode in which he backed a political leadership bid without declaring involvement will increase scrutiny of conflicts of interest and trust in reporting.