Fairfax Media to cut 47 jobs from Illawarra and South Coast newspapers

Fairfax Media has confirmed 47 journalists, photographers and commercial staff from its Illawarra and South Coast newspapers will lose their jobs as part of a restructure of Fairfax papers from Wollongong down the coast to the Victorian border.

The cuts follow on from the Illawarra Mercury editor Alistair Langford-Wilson stepping down from the role earlier this week.

Fairfax Media’s Australian Community Media director John Angilley has said the plan would “revitalise” newspapers and allow staff “to adopt more efficient ways of working”, according to the Illawarra Mercury, a comment the boss of union representing journalists has described as “Orwellian”.

Paul Murphy, Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance CEO told Mumbrella: “It is Orwellian for the company to say it will “revitalise” its papers when it is slashing staff numbers. We do not accept the company’s decision and for that reason we are seeking further assistance from the fair Work Commission.”