FAIRFAX Media’s restructure of its South Australian operations will result in fewer job losses than originally proposed, the company has told staff.
Fairfax’s regional, rural and suburban publishing business Australian Community Media (ACM) announced plans earlier this month to revitalise its newspapers and websites across the state and upgrade newsrooms and local sales teams with new digital-first publishing technology and new ways of working.
Employees were briefed on Tuesday on the final shape of the new operating structure for South Australia after a period of consultation with staff and community members.
Publications involved include Stock Journal, the Port Lincoln Times, Whyalla News, The Transcontinental at Port Augusta, The Times at Victor Harbor, the Murray Valley Standard, Barossa and Light Herald, Northern Argus, The Recorder at Port Pirie, On the Coast, The Naracoorte Herald, The Islander, The Flinders News, Border Chronicle, Coastal Leader, Eyre Peninsula Tribune, West Coast Sentinel and the Roxby Downs Sun.
As a result of feedback, journalist resources have been added to bolster local content across the state and Stock Journal coverage of agricultural news and commodities markets.
The company expects voluntary redundancies of about 34 full-time equivalent positions from its South Australian operations. This includes about 21 editorial positions, about two less than originally proposed, with the balance from management, administration and sales.
Led by group business manager Percy Henry, group managing editor Brooke DuBois and group sales manager Renee White, the restructured editorial and sales teams will deliver new-look newspapers, more digital content and enhanced advertising solutions.
Publishing changes across the group include switching the Whyalla News to weekly publication on Thursdays rather than twice a week, closing the free weekly newspaper the Roxby Downs Sun and adjusting the distribution of the free papers Barossa and Light Herald and The Flinders News.
Other changes include closing the commercial printing business in Bordertown and relocating staff at some sites to new premises in their local areas.
In thanking staff and community members in South Australia for their constructive feedback, director of ACM John Angilley said the final decision outlined to employees on Tuesday would help make the state’s newspapers more sustainable into the foreseeable future.
"It is heartening to see that our communities care as much as we do about our journalism, our local content and our trusted mastheads," he said.
"With the continued support of our audiences and advertisers, this plan for the future will help our newspapers and websites remain sustainable and vibrant local voices.”
Staff were briefed on the voluntary redundancy program, new roles created in the restructure and the implementation schedule for new technology and training.
"Our staff will adopt more efficient ways of working and new technology to improve how they provide news and information to their communities, with our journalists and photographers continuing to do what they do best - telling local stories," Mr Angilley said.
"This is a substantial upgrading for our newsrooms with new systems, digital-first editorial production and quality checking processes plus a vastly better local sales approach."
The restructure in South Australia comes after ACM’s 13 mastheads across regional Victoria introduced new technology and new ways of working this month following the successful transition of publications in south-west NSW, including The Daily Advertiser in Wagga.
The ACM network includes hundreds of newspapers and websites serving regional, rural and suburban communities in every Australian state and territory.
