SMH economics editor warns he will consider his position if Rinehart refuses independence guarantee
Fairfax staff at the Sydney press conference. From left: Neil Chenoweth; Stuart Washington and David Marr. Pic: Zoe Ferguson
Sydney Morning Herald economics editor Ross Gittins has become the first senior Fairfax Media journalist to suggest he might resign if Gina Rinehart refuses to guarantee editorial independence.
His pledge came as Fairfax journalists called on mining billionaire Rinehart to commit to the company’s charter of editorial independence.
Bad luck team. She owns it (or hopefully will). The journalists should never have editorial independence, and not be accountable to anybody but their own cohort. If they want editorial independence from owners, that they should own their own company rather than wreck this one.
Fairfax journalists have destroyed the Fairfax metro newspapers over the past two decades by generally writing dribble and not targeting the centre and right where the wealthy audience is. They are the ones who are responsible for this debacle. That’s why Fairfax metro circulations have fallen more than News tabloids and “The Australian” over the past decade. The readers have deserted Fairfax more than they have deserted News. They have lost the Saturday Sydney circulation battle, lost the Sunday Sydney circulation battle, lost the Sydney evening circulation battle (1988), and lost the AFR versus “The Australian” battle. What a record.
I cannot wait until an active owner takes the reins of this company since the 1987 privatisation. (Keating stopped Conrad Black from gaining proper control). At least the conservative UK “Telegraph” has seen off News Ltd “The Times”, something these Fairfax journalists have been unable to do. In general Fairfax, journalistically just don’t do the hard yards anymore in the metro markets.
Fairfax’s Stalingrad.
Tim, Robin, et al,
Alarm bells.
Roger Corman: surely you’re fishing for a Moby Dick-sized bite?
Overall: losing Ross Gittens would be a blow to the SMH but David Marr can go and take his massive salary and relatively low and biased output with him.
“Fairfax journalists have destroyed the Fairfax metro newspapers over the past two decades by generally writing dribble and not targeting the centre and right where the wealthy audience is.”
Sure. And the Oz makes money. Carry on fantasising.
Roger? “The Australian” really? What a joke! That is the newspaper equivalent of an A380 taking off every day, Sydney to London with no passengers on it. Can be handy for a road trip with the kids though, playing spot the ad !
By the look of it, she’s bought 20% of KFC too.
Good on you Gittens and every other journalist and employee at Fairfax who is speaking up. If Gina gets her way the people will speak with their wallets including our family who have been buying subscriptions to the SMH (and now online subscriptions) for a very long time.
As for the Australain.. Fish and Chip paper.
You are so right Roger. Fairfax publications are the only publications in the world suffering declining hard-copy circulation and readership declines because of their left-wing independent views.
Oh … hang on … what’s that? It’s happening world-wide? I didn’t realise Fairfax journalists impact was so far-reaching. All the more reason to shut them down I say!
Not sure if that’s the real Roger Colman or a troll…but honestly – are you kidding me? You are not seriously suggesting that the “business” problem with Fairfax is that it’s too left wing? As opposed to the several hundred structural reasons why traditional paper printing is doomed. Have a read of this article Roger, might give you a bit more perspective, compared to the drivel you spouted here. http://blogs.hbr.org/fox/2012/.....oomed.html
I’d say it’s a given that Gina Rinehart will want to influence (read direct) editorial content. I think it’s the only reason she’s buying into the company.
As Alan Kohler said in yesterday’s Smart Company: “Gina Rinehart has absolutely nothing to contribute to the transformation of the company into a profitable digital publisher”. But that’s not why she’s buying it.
The fact is, unless Fairfax management can get its act together, Fairfax is merely a business in decline. And Gina’s billions can’t stop that only delay it.
Did someone mention suing other directors over coverage of the Hancock Prospecting family ownership stoush, given that directors insurance doesn’t apply if another director with more than 15% sues them? Do you reckon she’ll waive that one as well?
I think editorial independence should not be lost as you are gonna be bored as there is going to be only one point of view. no offence but be more open!