Senior editorial and video staff finish up at Fairfax as voluntary redundancies continue
Long-serving Fairfax Media journalists and almost half of the full-time video team are set to depart Fairfax Media, as the company begins the process of informing staff of their redundancies as part of drastic job cuts to the editorial department.
The news follows Fairfax’s announcement a month ago it was set to axe 125 editorial jobs as part of its restructure.
Staff who had applied for voluntary redundancies were notified of the outcome earlier this week, and are expected to finish up with Fairfax in the coming weeks.
Mumbrella understands more than 100 staff have been informed whether or not they have been successful with their voluntary redundancy applications.
On the video team, Mumbrella understands 12 of 25 full-time staff across the country are set to depart.
Mumbrella also understands an additional 12 casual staff still have work and are not eligible for voluntary redundancy.
Among those departing are court reporter Louise Hall, senior writer Adam Morton, AFL specialist Rohan Connolly, The Sydney Morning Herald’s digital editor Stephen Hutcheon, and national social media editor Georgia Waters.
SMH chief editorial writer and columnist, Alan Stokes, will also be departing Fairfax, bringing the end to his weekly column, “Such is life”.
Simon Morris, national video news editor for Fairfax Media Australia, is also leaving.
He wrote on Twitter: “Happy and sad leaving Fairfax Media on Friday as a voluntary redundee as FM cuts video. Lots of opportunities out there.”
Alan Moir, editorial cartoonist for The Sydney Morning herald since 1984 will now only appear in the Saturday paper, after being dropped from Monday to Friday editions.
Commenting on the video redundancies, a Fairfax spokesperson said: “We will continue to have in-house video capability and will continue using content from a number of third-party sources.”
In an email to staff last month, Sean Aylmer, Fairfax Media’s Australian metro media editorial director announced the cuts and the ensuing voluntary redundancy program.
“We will shortly open a voluntary redundancy program to achieve a reduction in staff of up to 125 FTEs, which includes the approximate 10 FTEs that have left the newsroom since this process began last month.
“While we will be looking across all parts of the newsroom, at the end of the redundancy program we expect there will be significantly fewer editorial management, video, presentation and section writer roles,” the email said.
Fairfax journalists took to Twitter to notify their readers:
Happy and sad leaving Fairfax Media on Friday as a voluntary redundee as FM cuts video. Lots of opportunities out there. #Australia #auspol
— Simon Morris (@SimonMorrised) June 7, 2017
After 12.5 fabulous yrs @FairfaxMedia Friday will be my last day @smh. I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had; now to new adventures!
— Louise Hall (@LouiseCHall) June 5, 2017
Lke mny othrs I have been hit by Fairfax budget cuts.I've been cut from
SMH mon to fri, but will still appear sats. Daily tweets will cont— Alan Moir (@moir_alan) June 6, 2017
After 10 years with @FairfaxMedia I've taken redundancy and tomorrow will be my last day.
— Georgia Waters (@GeorgiaWaters) June 7, 2017
My love letter to readers https://t.co/dVrW5BeKuq via @smh
— alan stokes (@alanstokes4) June 6, 2017
Have a bit of news people. Please read …. @theage @agerealfooty @SENfooty @marngrook pic.twitter.com/SuG3F3RUOD
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) June 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/MrDenmore/status/872248413735108609
topics
Adam Morton
Alan Stokes
Fairfax Media
Georgia Waters
Louise Hall
redundancies
Rohan Connolly
Sean Aylmer
