There was speculation it was coming, and now Fairfax has confirmed one third of its editorial staff on community publications will face the axe. As a part of its 18-month overhaul of the Australian Community Media side of the company, 37 of 95 full-time editorial positions will be cut.
The publications affected by the job cuts include The St George & Sutherland Shire Leader, The Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser, Blue Mountains Gazette, Penrith City Gazette, Hawkesbury Gazette, Hawkesbury Courier, Hills News, Rouse Hill Courier, Liverpool City Champion, Fairfield City Champion, Parramatta-Holroyd Sun, Blacktown Sun, St Marys-Mt Druitt Star, Camden-Narellan Advertiser, Wollondilly Advertiser and South West Advertiser.
Director of ACM John Angilley does not think the cuts will prove a disadvantage to the community: “There’s no lessening in Fairfax’s commitment to providing coverage of our local communities. We are better focusing our resources and strengthening our newspapers and websites for the future.”
Angilley believes the move will strengthen Fairfax, saying: “Our journalists and our sales teams will work with new skills, capabilities and resources so they can continue to do what they do best – create quality journalism and connect advertisers to our audience. Our mastheads must embrace change to ensure they remain the most trusted source of news and information for years to come in the communities we serve.”
