NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has criticised Fairfax Media's proposed restructure of its New England operations, which could result in 22 jobs lost at newspapers across the region.
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The company's Australian Community Media (ACM) division announced on Thursday that it was rolling out a new digital-first publishing system at its New England publications as it builds a more modern and sustainable network of newspapers and websites serving regional, rural and suburban Australia.
More than 50 ACM newspapers have moved to the new publishing system in the past year.
The company is now consulting with affected staff at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth Times, Namoi Valley Independent, The Armidale Express, Goondiwindi Argus, Country Leader, Walcha News, The Inverell Times, Glen Innes Examiner, The Guyra Argus, Tenterfield Star, Moree Champion and the Border News.
If the restructure goes ahead, the company expects to call for voluntary redundancies of about 22 full-time equivalent positions from the New England operating group, including 11 editorial positions such as sub-editing.
Mr Marshall welcomed the decision not to axe any mastheads from the region and retain the current publication frequency.
But he questioned how the remaining staff would be able to meet the workload required to maintain the publications’ local content.
“This news is a real kick in the guts to many journalists and other staff working at our local newspapers. I really feel for them in this difficult time,” he said.
“I acknowledge that media across all marketplaces are struggling to maintain services in the digital media world, but what Fairfax fails to understand is that the impacts of these cuts goes far beyond the jobs lost, it strikes at the heart of our communities, their spirit and cohesiveness which our local papers champion and nourish."
Mr Marshall urged local communities to rally behind their local newspapers.
"Local newspapers are our record of history, the heart of our towns and have a place in our homes," he said.
Responding to the MP's concerns, director of ACM John Angilley said that proposing changes to any newspaper in a small community was never easy.
"I can assure you that we are mindful of what our newspapers mean to communities across the New England region," he said.
"We are committed to keeping journalists in local areas writing about local people and issues.
"In order to be able to keep our voices in local communities we must make changes. We have no choice.
"People are reading our news and advertising in new ways and our proposal involves investing in a digital publishing system that delivers local journalism both in print and online."
Mr Angilley said the company had spoken to Mr Marshall about the proposal.
"We are consulting with our staff and the community and we are more than happy to receive feedback," he said.