Fairfax Media has announced plans to restructure its regional operations in South Australia and revitalise its newspapers and websites across the state with a significant investment in new systems, training and equipment for journalists and sales staff.
The proposal is part of an 18-month overhaul of Fairfax’s Australian Community Media (ACM) division to build a stronger, sustainable and modern media network serving regional, rural and suburban Australia.
Staff across South Australia were briefed on Thursday about the proposed changes at Stock Journal, the Port Lincoln Times, Whyalla News, The Transcontinental at Port Augusta, The Times at Victor Harbor, the Murray Valley Standard, Barossa and Light Herald, Northern Argus, The Recorder at Port Pirie, On the Coast, The Naracoorte Herald, The Islander, The Flinders News, Border Chronicle, Coastal Leader, Eyre Peninsula Tribune, West Coast Sentinel and the Roxby Downs Sun.
Consultation with employees is now under way.
Director of ACM John Angilley said the proposed changes followed a detailed assessment of the needs of the business.
“Our mastheads must embrace change to ensure they remain the most trusted source of news and information for years to come in the communities we serve,” Mr Angilley said.
“We have developed a localised plan to sustain the important work we do across South Australia.”
Investing in a new digital-first publishing system and modernising newsrooms was all about “strengthening our newspapers and websites for the future”.
The proposal includes equipping local journalists and sales teams with new technology and skills, introducing new ways of working, and refreshing and redesigning the company’s stable of newspapers.
“Our journalists and our sales teams will work with new skills, capabilities and resources so they can continue to do what they do best - create quality journalism and connect advertisers to our audiences,” Mr Angilley said.
Recently appointed group managing editor Brooke DuBois and group sales manager Renee White will lead the restructured editorial and sales teams, respectively.
The company’s proposal involves voluntary redundancies of about 35 full-time equivalent positions across South Australia, including about 22 full-time equivalent editorial roles, with the balance from administration, sales and management.
Under the proposal, the Whyalla News will be published on Thursdays rather than twice a week, free weekly newspaper the Roxby Downs Sun will be discontinued and the distribution of the free papers Barossa and Light Herald and The Flinders News will be adjusted.
“These publishing changes do not mean a lessening of our commitment to coverage of our local communities - in fact, we will achieve even better results by better focusing our resources,” Mr Angilley said.
Other proposed changes include closing the commercial printing business in Bordertown and relocating staff at some sites to new premises in their local areas.
The restructure plan for South Australia comes as ACM’s 13 mastheads across regional Victoria introduce new technology and new ways of working following the successful transition of publications in south-west NSW, including The Daily Advertiser in Wagga.
“Our full focus and attention in the weeks ahead is consulting with our staff across South Australia to ensure everyone fully understands the proposal and has the opportunity to give feedback,” Mr Angilley said.
“No final decisions have been made.”
The ACM network includes hundreds of newspapers and websites serving regional, rural and suburban communities in every Australian state and territory.