‘It’s more broken than losing advertising dollars’: MEAA director slams industry model
The recent deal struck between the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) members and Nine Publishing has come to light because the industry model is “broken” according to a director of the union.
Appearing on a new episode of the Mumbrellacast this week on the back of MEAA’s pledge to also secure minimum standards for freelancers, acting director of Media, Michelle Rae, said she was proud of the journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times and WAtoday who undertook the five-day strike and locked in pay rises and improved conditions.
Rae said the catalyst for the breakdown between journalists and Nine management started with the network’s June announcement of cutting up to 200 jobs, 70-90 of which would come in the publishing division.
“What they felt at that moment was no respect,” Rae said.
“But also, this industry model that is ‘We need to save the margins for shareholders, so therefore we cut jobs,’ it’s more broken than losing advertising dollars, because you cannot do quality journalism without journalists.
“And so, it became this moment in time where, for the workers, they knew they had to stand up: they had to stand up for the communities they represent, but they also had to stand up for the protections we deserve.”
“And so, a lower margin is actually got a worth when it delivers quality journalism. I think that conversation has to happen.”
As part of the deal struck last week, Nine Publishing promised to deliver pay rises of 4%, 3.75% and 3.75% over the next three years. Members have also won protections against AI and a diversity commitment in the newsrooms for all mastheads.
Listen to the full conversation with Rae here.
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