Prime Media confirms editorial redundancies
Prime Media Group has confirmed it has made a number of senior editorial positions redundant in Wagga Wagga, Tamworth and Canberra.
The redundancies were announced to staff earlier this month with The Australian today reporting that among the departures are editorial director Maxene Cooper and former newsreader and coastal bulletin director Fiona Ferguson.
The redundancies come as the regional TV networks lobby the Federal Government for media reform to laws such the reach rule, which restricts TV networks to only reaching 75 per cent of the population and ownership rules that restrict investment in more than two out of three media and fighting among the TV networks appears to worsen.
In a statement Prime Media Group CEO, Ian Audsley said: “After a period of consultation with our staff, we have taken steps to consolidate a number of senior editorial positions within our news teams.”
“It is always regrettable to lose good staff and this decision has not been easy or taken lightly”, he said.
Prime is not the only regional TV network to announce editorial cuts this year with WIN TV also cutting bureaus in Mildura Victoria and Mackay Queensland back in May.
Audsley added: “Prime still maintains a strong news presence in many regional centres, however, we have been making the point, for well over two years that regional voices in the national debate are under threat.”
Prime Media Group has journalists and camera operators based in Wagga Wagga, Tamworth, Canberra, Albury, Orange, Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Taree, Coffs Harbour, Lismore, Sydney, Bunbury, Albany, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Broome and Perth.
The stoush between the regional TV networks has grown increasingly heated in recent months with WIN TV pulling out of industry lobbying group Free TV earlier this month and the Australian Financial Review today reporting that Free TV chair Harold Mitchell’s job could be in jeopardy due to concerns by Seven about his support for media reform.
Nic Christensen
