Fairfax boss labels report of closure of print editions ‘fabricated nonsense’
Fairfax Media CEO Greg Hywood has this morning labelled “fabricated nonsense” a report in The Australian that the publisher is on the verge of closing its weekday print editions of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Hywood sent an all staff email to refute the claim, hinting it came as a result of an agenda from The Australian’s publisher News Corporation.
This morning’s article in The Australian – headlined “Fairfax shortens print timetable” – began “There is growing speculation Fairfax Media will bring forward the date of closure of its Monday to Friday editions in Sydney and Melbourne, amid a weak advertising climate and next year’s planned reduction of the company’s printing capacity.”
The online version of the headline has since been toned down to read: “Hywood says print will stay”, while the story now begins: “Fairfax Media chief Greg Hywood has denied speculation the company will bring forward the closure of its Monday to Friday editions in Sydney and Melbourne.”
I wonder if in a few years time we’ll see Jamie and Lauchie raising a glass to toast how they killed off Network Ten?
If it is true that the Darren Davidson story is a piece of fabricated and he knew that before the edition went to print then it would be hard to understand how he could keep his job. He needs to explain. Then again, may be The Australian has given up on journalism and is just running gossip now. It would be sad if that was the case.
@ Lindsay –
He would have known, he doesnt need to explain.
The Oz gave up on facts years ago, infact it could be questioned as to whether they were ever relevant to any oz story.
the phrase “whatever it takes” comes to mind.
Poor old Fairfax… I wish they had more good news to talk about =(
Hywood started this by openly and publicly talking of the end of print. He gave News the edge. Hywood has been foolish on many fronts. Sucking up to Packer was always going to end in tears. But talking down his print business when he has no viable alternative business was plain stupid. The editorials are spin and the spin is thin.
Corbett and Hywood are feeling the heat and so they should. The idea of reducing costs is hardly novel, but they seem to be actively breaking the business to no purpose.
It’s good to see Fairfax actually defend themselves for once.
They let so many stories about them here and elsewhere go unanswered.
Fairfax have always been under medias surveillance,yet again they are..