Fairfax Media set to outsource copy subbing
Fairfax Media is set to outsource most of its copy subbing to AAP’s Pagemasters in a move which will see radical changes to the way the company produces its newspapers.
The changes will include news, business and sports pages in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Canberra Times. Although the company has not said how many jobs will be affected, it is likely to impact a large number of sub editors, many of whom will have been with the company for many years.
CEO Greg Hywood said that the company planned to spend about $25m on redundancy pay offs although this may also include printing staff as it seeks efficiencies in that area too.
However, the move will be accompanied by an increased investment in reporters and writers, the company said.
We’ve just fought – and won – this same fight at The Mercury in Hobart, Good luck to our Fairfax colleagues with their campaign. There are plenty of reasons this is a bad idea which will damage the Fairfax brand. The board will need to be told long and loud before they change their minds.
I bought Fairfax shares in 1992 when they first floated at the staff discount of $1.10 per share. 19 years later they have come back to $1.20. Hmmm!!!
Fairfax metro mastheads don’t have “hundreds” of sub editors. That reference came from the news.com.au website.
Looks like Mumbrella needs some quality subs of its own …
Hi Doug,
My source for that is the statement from the Media Alliance.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Hi Tim,
The MEAA statement talked about hudreds of <jobs at Fairfax — these cuts go well beyond the sub editors’ ranks.
I say again: there are not “hundreds” of sub editors at the SMH or The Age — or the two of them put together.
Maybe the Age online will not have as many typos, grammatical errors or just plain bad writing now. Sometimes I think they have work experience kids for subbies.
Steve C: they will have more mistakes under this plan. get ready for them.
“Fairfax Media set to outsource everything”
might as well.
It’s like The Wire, season 5!