Fairfax’s suburban, regional and rural publishing business Australian Community Media (ACM) announced plans last month to revitalise its non-metropolitan newspapers and websites in Sydney with new technology and training for journalists and sales staff.
Employees were briefed on Thursday on the final shape of ACM’s new Sydney operating structure after a period of consultation with staff and community members.
Publications involved include the St George & Sutherland Shire Leader, Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser, Blue Mountains Gazette, Penrith City Gazette, Hawkesbury Gazette, Hawkesbury Courier, Hills News, Rouse Hill Courier, Liverpool City Champion, Fairfield City Champion, Parramatta-Holroyd Sun, Blacktown Sun, St Marys-Mt Druitt Star, Camden-Narellan Advertiser, Wollondilly Advertiser and South West Advertiser.
As a result of feedback, journalist and photographer resources have been added to the structure originally proposed, with provision for senior journalist positions in editorial teams to provide local newsroom leadership.
The company expects voluntary redundancies of about 25 full-time equivalent positions from its operations across suburban Sydney, two less than originally proposed.
Led by group business manager Sally White, group managing editor Vernon Graham and group sales manager Karen Graham, the restructured editorial and sales teams will deliver new-look newspapers, more digital content and enhanced advertising solutions.
Publishing changes across the region in the coming months include changing the frequency of the St George & Sutherland Shire Leader from twice a week to publishing once a week, and discontinuing the free weekly South West Advertiser.
Some existing office premises will be vacated or sold and staff relocated to new premises in their local areas.
In thanking ACM’s Sydney staff and community members for their constructive feedback, director of ACM John Angilley said the final decision outlined to employees on Thursday would help make the region’s local newspapers more sustainable into the foreseeable future.
“It is heartening to see that our communities care as much as we do about our journalism, our local content and our trusted mastheads," Mr Angilley said.
"With the continued support of our audiences and advertisers, this plan for the future will help our newspapers and websites remain sustainable and vibrant local voices.”
Staff were briefed on the voluntary redundancy program, new roles created in the restructure and the implementation schedule for new technology and training.
“Our staff will adopt more efficient ways of working and new technology to improve how they provide news and information to their communities, with our journalists and photographers continuing to do what they do best - telling local stories," Mr Angilley said.
“This is a substantial upgrading for our newsrooms with new systems, digital-first editorial production and quality checking processes plus a vastly better local sales approach.”
The restructure of the Sydney operations follows the introduction of new technology and new ways of working at ACM’s 13 mastheads across regional Victoria and at publications in south-west NSW.
The ACM network includes hundreds of newspapers and websites serving regional, rural and suburban communities in every Australian state and territory.
