Fairfax vague on restructure details

Attempts to obtain further details of the restructure at Fairfax Media have gone unanswered.

Yesterday NBR published an article about the controversial move after Fairfax staff leaked details of an announcement to implement a “Modern Newsroom” – a move that some staff believed would result in over 100 job cuts.

An official press release was sent by the ASX-listed company to media following the leaks but no details of how many jobs would be affected were given (see RAW DATA below).

Instead, the release emphasised that, “this proposed Modern Newsroom structure will be digital-centric and built around audiences and content, not specific products or mastheads.”

Fairfax spokeswoman Emma Carter then sent this email statement:

Just want to reiterate the proposal announced today by Fairfax Media NZ is a restructure – it's not about reducing headcount.

We are not proposing to cut jobs: we're actually proposing to boost the number of reporters across the country through the new structure, and there is no headcount reduction overall.  

As part of the reorganisation, roles are being redesigned and new roles will be created if the proposal is agreed and proceeds.

Today, Fairfax has told some media outlets that roughly 180-185 jobs will be disestablished and 160 will be created, a net loss of up to 25 jobs. Affected employees will have to reapply for the newly-created roles.

Radio NZ quotes Fairfax executive editor Sinead Boucher as saying that 12 new editorial positions will be created as part of the “newsroom transformation.”

Fairfax is understood to have approximately 700 editorial staff. It publishes titles such as Sunday Star-Times, Dominion Post, Waikato Times, the Press and a variety of community newspapers.

Bullshit that media organisations like Fairfax require everyone else to comment but say ZERO on their 'proposal' to sack staff. HTFU.

— Duncan Garner (@Garner_Live) May 28, 2015

Thinking of all those at Fairfax at the moment.

— Lachlan Forsyth (@LachlanForsyth) May 28, 2015

Cynical spin from Fairfax. Cuts mean better quality journalism. Why doesn't the company at least tell the truth?

— Brent Edwards (@rnzgallerybrent) May 28, 2015

Sympathies to journalists at Fairfax. Big hugs, even if I don't know you. In which case, still a hug, but one of those less-contact ones.

— Hazel Phillips (@hazelphilli) May 28, 2015

RAW DATA 28/5: Fairfax moves to create Modern Newsroom

Fairfax Media New Zealand continues its newsroom transformation this week, with a proposal to further organise its editorial operations into focused, local teams and specialist national topic areas.

The proposal underpins a fundamental shift in the way its newsrooms are geared to serve its audience.

Sinead Boucher, Executive Editor at Fairfax Media, says teams in this proposed Modern Newsroom structure will be digital-centric and built around audiences and content - not specific products or mastheads.

“The proposal is not about reducing headcount.  We are boosting our reporting capability in small and large communities, and by streamlining our print-focused production processes, increasing the ratio of content creators from just over half to almost two thirds.”

Last week Fairfax announced a new editorial leadership team, with roles focussed on audiences across local regions and specialist content areas - including Life & Style, Business, National News and Sport.  

“This proposal would change the structure within our editorial teams, creating a Modern Newsroom and allowing us to be perfectly positioned to deliver content in all its forms to our audiences."

Sinead continues: “We need digital-first, socially driven newsrooms that are structured to produce quality journalism for different audiences and across platforms - and this is an exciting structure geared towards building a dynamic, responsive newsroom.

“It’s an entirely different way of operating that puts our journalists even closer to the communities they cover."

RAW DATA 19/5: Fairfax Media NZ announces senior editorial team

Fairfax Media New Zealand has today confirmed its new editorial leadership team, as part of a transformation of its newsrooms aimed at enhancing local and national journalism across digital and print.

The new structure focuses on audiences across local regions and in specialist content areas.

Regions
• Sarah Jarvis is appointed South Canterbury editor

• In the Manawatu, Jonathon Howe takes up the regional editor position

• Ryan Evans is appointed Taranaki regional editor

• In the Nelson region, Victoria Guild takes up the regional editor role

• Nicola Coburn is appointed editor, Marlborough region

• Natasha Holland, Southland regional editor

• Kamala Hayman is appointed deputy editor, Canterbury and Otago region

They will work under the four current regional editors-in-chief, who will lead newsrooms around the country to provide the very best in quality journalism and experiences for audiences on all platforms: Cathy O’Sullivan in Auckland, Jonathan MacKenzie in Waikato, Bernadette Courtney in Wellington and Joanna Norris in the southern region.

Topic specialists
Across the country, activity and resource will be organised into broad topic streams, including news, business, life and style, agriculture, politics and sport.

These national portfolios will provide content across Fairfax publications and digital assets.

Bridget Hope has been appointed to the newly-established Group Editor, Life role. Currently Publishing Director at SHP Magazines, Bridget runs a suite of magazines in Singapore and Malaysia, includingHarper’s BAZAAR, Cosmopolitan andWomen’s Weekly. An award-winning journalist, Bridget has more than 15 years’ experience directing and producing quality editorial content for leading international magazines.

Sinead Boucher, Fairfax Media’s Executive Editor, says Bridget brings a wealth of skills and experience to the role.

“Bridget is well-known in New Zealand having edited and managed four women’s lifestyle magazine titles here. She’s full of great ideas to deliver excellent lifestyle products and content - and to maximise commercial opportunities and partnerships.”

Geoff Collett, appointed National Life and Style editor, will report into Bridget.

Aaron Lawton has been appointed National Sports Editor.

Ellen Read is already in place as National Business Editor, and - as previously announced - Jeremy Rees joins as National Communities Editor.

Sinead continues: “We’re reinventing our newsrooms to serve the ever-shifting needs of digital media. It’s about redefining the way we work - and adapting our newsrooms to produce quality journalism for different audiences and across platforms.

“We’ll be able to draw more readily on the great content we produce from across New Zealand, and develop some really world-class innovative storytelling.

“I’m thrilled by the calibre and experience of our senior team. This - and our array of quality local and national news - is unmatched, and we’re going to take greater advantage of it.”