Southern Cross Austereo confirms journalist redundancies in the wake of ‘streamlining’
Field
Broadcaster Southern Cross Austereo has confirmed journalists in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have been made redundant in the wake of a “streamlining” of the company’s news services.
Among the most high profile of the departures is Hamish and Andy’s newsreader Geoff Field who yesterday confirmed his departure after 18 years.
Southern Cross Austereo (ASX: SCA) has refused to confirm the number of journalists departing but said in a statement: “Due to the streamlining of news services in the coming weeks, some of SCA’s best news journalists will regrettably be leaving the business in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.”
Field is well known to Sydney audiences, having previously been former breakfast hosts Kyle and Jackie O’s newsreader for many years.
In a Facebook post Field said: “I have left 2Day FM and I will be taking time out with Jason. Rest assured I’m OK, and once again thank you so much for your kindness over the years. I’m sorry I can’t reply, but I know you’ll understand…
“To the thousands of listeners, staff that I have respected and people that have supported me over the last 18 and a half years at 2Day FM, thank you. You have been so loyal and caring, and I will keep you posted as to my future now that I have left the station.”
He will be replaced by former weather presenter Emma Freedman, who does not have a journalism background.
Freedman this week won Seven’s Dancing with the Stars.
Head of Hit Network Dave Cameron said in a statement: “Emma’s profile and popularity is at an all-time high. She’s one of the brightest new stars in the radio industry, and we are excited to increase her on-air role across the Hit Network starting in a few weeks.”
Last year Field drew national headlines suggesting he might write a book about his time with Kyle and Jackie O, noting that the revelations would leave listeners “gobsmacked”.
Nic Christensen
This stinks for so many reasons.
Are we going to have news presented by Big Brother contestants next?
I fear for the real journalists who are losing their jobs and careers.
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Helen – I am hoping to win MasterChef next year simply so I can get a job as newsreader on an FM station.
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It was bad enough when they recruited reality stars to fill breakfast radio slots. Now you don’t even need training to be a journalist? Presenting on weather on Today and hosting a 1 hour gossip show does not equate to journalism experience. SCA has lost the plot – the wrong people are getting the sack.
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and when her profile and popularity is no longer at an all time high?
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Oh dear, short memories again Helen & DH. Many of the best and most “trusted” newsreaders (think Jim Dibble, Brian Henderson et al) were not journalists, they were just paid to read the autocue in a manner that the average Joe could understand. This idea that newsreaders have to be journalists is a fairly recent construct brought about because many journalists aspire to be stars rather than just writing the copy.
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