Michael Pascoe to file last column for Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media’s contributing editor Michael Pascoe will file his last column for the company on April 15.
Pascoe, who first joined Fairfax Media’s Australian Financial Review in 1979, has been contributing editor since 2008, writing for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He also contributes to The Brisbane Times and WA Today.
The Queenslander was also Nine’s finance editor for almost 18 years, where he launched Business Today, the first daily finance program on Australian television. He later became founding finance editor for the Business Sunday program.
His career also saw him become co-host of the Sky Business Report, finance columnist for Yahoo7 and a writer for crikey.com.au.
Today he tweeted: “Fairfax cost cutting continues, including inexpensive contributors. I’ll be filing my last column for @smh @theage @brisbanetimes @WAtoday on April 15.”
Fairfax cost cutting continues, including inexpensive contributors. I'll be filing my last column for @smh @theage @brisbanetimes @WAtoday on April 15.
— Michael Pascoe (@MichaelPascoe01) March 25, 2018
Mumbrella understands Pascoe’s exit is not part of a mass-scale cost-cutting exercise like that of last year where 125 editorial jobs were axed as part of a major restructure for the publisher.
A spokesperson for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age told Mumbrella the company had thanked Pascoe for his contribution over the years.
“This was a one-off editorial decision based on a number of factors. Decisions are taken from time to time to change our roster of contributors and we always seek to serve the best interests of our readers.”
Last year, a number of jobs were also lost at News Corp across Victorian and NSW contact centres, photography and production. It was part of News Corp Australia’s plans to make $40m in cuts to its Australian operations.
This decision smacks of a political decision to silence journalists who take on big business and conservative politicians. Pascoe has been one of the top-rating columnists for many years, easily outgunning many of his peers on the SMH and Age. As a contributor he would have been cheap as chips. No conincidence that the sacking comes so soon after Chessell’s appointment as editorial top dog.
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His column today is a hard-hitting piece about toothless tiger ASIC in the wake of the Storm Financial case. Huge loss for the readers.
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I think we will call this the Cato effect
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Sooooo sorry to see Michael Pascoe go. A journalist of integrity, skill and depth and breadth of knowledge. I am at a loss to understand why the once mighty and once respected Fairfax could justify this decision. PLEASE don’t tell me it is yet another political decision by Chessell or others.
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Michael pascoe was not as anti trump as Fairfax would like, hence the sacking
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