Fairfax to cut more than a third of journalists in overhaul of Community Media business
Fairfax Media is cutting more than a third of its editorial staff in its Australian Community Media (ACM) business and axing a masthead as it looks to make sweeping changes to the business.
This morning staff were told 37 of the 95 full time equivalent editorial positions are going, with agricultural masthead The Land facing eight of those cuts once group roles are taken into account, with its editorial team to be relocated from western Sydney to central west NSW.
“These cuts are pretty devastating,” Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) CEO Paul Murphy told Mumbrella. “We are expecting some further detailed information from the company today and we will be having discussions with them in the coming days.”
Fairfax is almost halfway through an 18-month overhaul of its ACM business which will see new technology and training introduced for editorial and sales staff.
How many acres of prime redevelopment real estate does Rural Press hold at North Richmond???
There’s a quizzillion in real estate, just sitting there, just waiting for a rezoning and a few thousand houses to be built. Newspapers might not be profitable, but that hill The Land current occupies is mega millions in the (land) bank.
Facebook has overtaken the local “rag”.
I know at least one of these titles now does little more than plagiarise its FB page for its weekly rehash of old, stale, WRONG, information.
Genuine investigative and quality journalism of local issues went the way of the dodo at least 10 years ago – just after the Rural Press/ Fairfax merger/ takeover.
IMHO Brian McCarthy still has a lot to answer for.
People forget, move on, but the legacy of poor decisions and inept middle management from a decade ago is now reaping what was (not) sowed.
Brian McCarthy was a great Rural Press leader.
That site at North Richmond is huge. $$$ there.
Brian McCarthy was a feared figure at Rural Press. Ruled with an iron fist.
“Right across ACM, we are investing to secure the future of local news by building a stronger, sustainable and modern media network to serve our suburban, regional and rural communities,” director of ACM John Angilley said”
And you will do this by cutting your editorial staff to the bone? Yeah, right.
More sackings at Fairfax. Will the last person leaving the building please turn off the lights…
Will the last person leaving the building please check the spelling and grammar in the obituary of the final editions of the SMH, Age, Fin Review etc. No one seems to be doing that now.