Life remains in journalism
Despite the big media companies Fairfax, News Ltd. and APN slashing staff levels recently, there are some who will benefit from the restructuring.
The new ABC building in Southbank, a symbol of hope for the industry.
Doom and gloom, are two words that come to mind when you consider current events in the media industry. In Australia and abroad, newspapers are in decline as are their advertising revenues and share prices as a result.
New jobs are emerging from the ruins however, as businesses adjust to the changing technologies.
But journalism isn’t dead, according to journalist Katherine Feeney, from the Brisbane Times.
“The technology is changing that’s all, journalists just have to learn to adapt.”
Brisbanetimes.com.au has benefitted recently from partnership with Queensland Rail by becoming the homepage of the free wi-fi service on Brisbane trains.
Australian Associated Press has also survived the restructuring better then most: “We haven’t seen anywhere near the levels of job cuts as Fairfax and News Ltd,” said AAP journalist Toby Mann.
“Pagemasters have also just won a contract to do more subediting for News Ltd, meaning we will be hiring people if anything.”
In central Queensland two weekly newspapers the Mackay Telegraph and the Queensland Telegraph have been launched this year. By undercutting the advertising rates of established APN papers, they have broken into the market, proving that investment in print media is still a viable option.
According to a report from the MEAA the last round of redundancies announced by News Ltd earlier this month should see an end to job losses due to restructuring.
“We believe that as many as one in seven journalism jobs in the big newspaper companies have been lost over the winter months,” Media Alliance federal secretary Christopher Warren said.
According to the report, “It is now vital for the industry to focus on investing in journalism and exploiting the opportunities presented by digital technology.”
On the fourth of September News Ltd. announced up to 80 more editing jobs would face the axe including many in Queensland. Fairfax has also reported cutting 1,900 positions by the fourth of March next year.