Fairfax Media’s restructure of its operations in regional Victoria will result in fewer job losses than originally planned, the company has told staff.
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Fairfax’s regional publishing business Australian Community Media (ACM) announced plans last month to revitalise its Victorian newsrooms with a significant investment in new systems, training and equipment for journalists and sales staff.
Employees at ACM publications including The Border Mail, The Courier, Bendigo Advertiser and The Standard were briefed on Thursday on the final shape of the new operating structure after a period of consultation with staff and community members.
As a result of feedback, the company expects voluntary redundancies of about 71 full-time equivalent positions across the state. This includes about 57 editorial roles, mostly management, sub-editing and photography, with the balance from administration and sales.
The original plan proposed voluntary redundancies of about 80 full-time equivalent positions, including 62 from editorial.
The changes affect fewer than five front-line reporter positions statewide, with journalist, photography and administration positions added after consultation.
Director of ACM John Angilley said the decision outlined to employees on Thursday was aimed at refreshing and revitalising all 13 mastheads serving local communities across Victoria.
“We are committed to our Victorian mastheads and the restructure will make them sustainable into the foreseeable future,” Mr Angilley said.
“We are pleased that our communities care about our journalism as much as we do. That support coupled with our changes will ensure our newspapers and websites remain strong local voices and are as vibrant, locally focused and as useful as our readers want them to be.”
Staff were briefed on Thursday on the implementation schedule for new editorial systems and new skills training for journalists and sales staff.
“Following the changes, our more than 200 staff in Victoria will focus on maintaining close connections to the communities we serve,” Mr Angilley said.
“Local news and sales capability will remain well resourced. We are upgrading our Victorian newsrooms by adopting more efficient ways of working, new systems and quality checking processes, digital-first editorial production practices, and a vastly better local sales approach.”
Mr Angilley said the reduction in front-line reporting staff was minimal.
“We will continue to provide local news and information to our communities, with journalists and photographers continuing to do what they do best - telling local stories - with staff adopting new ways of working and technology," he said.
Ballarat will operate as a hub for shared services. Local sales and editorial staff will continue to operate from the cities and towns they serve.
The Victorian changes are part of an 18-month overhaul of ACM aimed at building a stronger, sustainable and modern media network.
ACM’s hundreds of newspapers and digital network of more than 140 websites serve local communities in every state and territory.
