Finlay Macdonald is a widely respected contributor to newspapers and publications throughout the country. He is the former editor of NZ Listener, commissioning editor for Penguin Books, and now writes columns, social commentary and edits the Sunday Star-Times books pages.
He has also worked for Metro Magazine, and as a writer for television, including documentary, serial drama and comedy.
At last year's Qantas Media Awards, Finlay was given the Best Overall Columnist Award for his weekly Sunday Star Times column. British-born Macdonald recently joined Radio Live, hosting a Sunday morning show with a focus on current events, politics and reviews.
Brent Impey, Former CEO, MediaWorks
At the end of last year, after 10 years in the top role, Brent Impey stepped down Chief Executive Officer of MediaWorks NZ Limited, (operator of two national television channels (TV3 and C4), radio stations out of 23 markets (including network brands More FM, RadioLIVE, Solid Gold, The Edge, The Breeze,). Brent has been a leading media executive in New Zealand for many years and was named as 'Media Personality of the Year' in 2003. He received the award for 'Broadcaster of the Decade' in 1990, and 'Queens Commemorative Medal for services to broadcasting', also in 1990. He was also Executive Director of the Radio Broadcasters Association from 1983 until 1998. Brent graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Law from the University of Auckland in 1975 and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in 1976. Brent practiced as a lawyer for 15 years, specialising in media law.
Dr Martin Hirst, Associate Professor of Journalism, AUT University
Dr Martin Hirst joined the School of Communication Studies at AUT University in January 2007, after a 12 year teaching and research career in Australian journalism education. He has an extensive background in academic research in journalism and communication/media studies. His most recent book, News 2.0: Can journalism survive the Internet is now in press with Allen & Unwin in Sydney. He is also co-author of three other books: Look both ways: Fairfield, Cabramatta and the media (2001, with Antonio Castillo), Journalism Ethics: Arguments and Cases (2005, with Roger Patching) and Communications and New Media: Broadcast to narrowcast (2007, with John Harrison). Martin is a former radio and television journalist and has worked for the ABC and the SBS as a senior correspondent and spent three years in the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Canberra. He’s also had several short stints in government PR in NSW and Queensland. He is an experienced media consultant and an executive media trainer.
Colin Peacock, Media Commentator
After his postgraduate diploma in journalism from Canterbury University, Colin went to London and joined BBC World TV. He moved to the BBC's 24-hour news network '5 Live' where he worked on the news story for Princess Diana's fatal accident on his first night shift in the studio. He produced 5 Live's international programme 'Global' in 1999, then moved to BBC World Service the following year to work on news programmes such as 'Newshour' and 'World Update', a co-production with Public Radio International in the US. Colin returned to New Zealand in November 2002 and is co-host of RadioNZ’s Mediawatch.
Eric Kearley, General Manager of Digital Services, TVNZ
Eric is the General Manager of Digital Services at TVNZ and is responsible for The incubation and launch of new channels.
Eric has launched a wide range of channels throughout Europe and the Middle East. He is Swedish-American-English and has lived in the US, Sweden, France, Holland and now New Zealand. Before moving to New Zealand, he lived in the UK (with extensive travel), where he spent nine years launching channels, new media products and new business units for MTV Networks Europe and Viacom. He also has a past working for SVT, the Swedish Public Broadcaster, as well as in radio.
Little Bushman was formed originally as a trio in 2005. Warren Maxwell on Keys, Guitars & Vox (ex Fat Freddys Drop / TrinityRoots) teamed up with Tom Callwood on Bass and Rick Cranson on Drums. Joe Callwood (Tom’s older Brother) on lead guitars joined later in 2006 when it was realized that a virtuoso guitarist was required in order to be a real blues band. (Warren was more of a loose rhythm guitar accompanist). So, the journey began and 4 years later the band have played at almost every music festival in New Zealand, including WOMAD 09, Rippon 08, Homegrown, SoundSplash 08, Parihaka Peace Festival, Bluesfest as well as support tours with Dave Dobbyn, Don McGlashin, Donovan Frankenreiter and also Blue King Brown in Australia, and have mesmerized audiences with their raw and ‘wildly colourful’ concoction of psychedelic blues.
Little Bushman have released 3 albums ‘Onus of Sand’, ‘Pendulum’ to rave reviews and a live album recorded with the NZSO. Already it seems in just a short period of time, Little Bushman are well on the way towards achieving what they set out to accomplish - to recapture the raw, experimental, psychedelic sound of the late 60’s- the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zep, Cream, The Who, David Bowie, Pink Floyd etc. and in this modern day of digitally perfected, photo-shopped, quantised, diamante-bling glazed pop, it is very refreshing to experience something so electric and real.
Jeremy Toy along with and Julien Dyne are the original architects of Opensouls. Both had been members of live hip-hop group 5th Floor, but after it dissolved they decided it was time to start something new. And, after a careful hunt to find the right people to carry on the sound they were looking to create, Opensouls was born. Since their musical journey began in 2001, Opensouls have been busy winning over music lovers with their fresh, infectious energy. Infused with elements of soul and old-school R'n'B, the band’s unique sound is due to a collaborative effort from its seven talented members, each bringing their own personality, flair and musical taste to the mix. At LATE Jeremy will perform with members of Opensouls, Sola Rosa and Pluto among others.
