News Ltd casts cloud over future of papers: Melbourne to be ‘state office’, Staff ‘in dark on fate of jobs’

By John Van Klaveren
GEELONG Advertiser staff face relocation to Melbourne as part of a News Limited “one city, one newsroom” strategy, the company’s boss revealed on Wednesday.
Kim Williams admitted a variety of positions would become redundant while announcing sweeping changes to the media giant’s operations.
Mr Williams told Geelong Advertiser staff in a televised address that the one city, one newsroom plan would include daily, Sunday and community products.
A new Victorian division would house all state-based operations, “uniting the skills and expertise of the metropolitan, regional and community operations”.
“The changes will provide streamlined operations in management, editorial, advertising sales and marketing across print and digital products.
“The new operating model is designed to empower staff to work smarter and faster.
“We will up-skill our central functions and eliminate wasteful duplication.”
Mr Williams said he was as yet unable to say how many positions would become redundant.
The changes included integration of a digital strategy across all News Limited platforms, he said.
A Geelong Advertiser source told the Independent on Wednesday that the paper’s managers and editors would discuss what the changes meant for Geelong on Thursday before telling staff on Friday.
An Advertiser employee, who declined to be identified, said staff were confused about their future.
“We’re all worried about our jobs because it sounds like we’re going to Melbourne but we haven’t actually been told anything yet.”
Advertiser general manager Wayne Buttner was out of contact “on a plane” returning from Perth on Wednesday afternoon, his assistant told the Independent.
The Advertiser earlier this month announced 10 editorial redundancies, with subediting functions transferring to Melbourne.
The Independent reported last year that the newspaper dumped 24 production staff, with Mr Buttner citing cost-cutting and increased efficiencies.
He said pre-press functions would move to Leader Newspapers’ office at Blackburn.
The move followed News Limited announcing that subediting for weekly newspapers Geelong News and Echo would shift to Melbourne.
Roy Morgan Research figures showed the newspaper’s Saturday readership dropped from 109,000 at March 2011 to 84,000 at March 2012.
Monday to Friday readership fell from 85,000 to 54,000 during the same period.
Saturday circulation has declined from more than 50,000 to 42,000, with Monday to Friday falling to 23,660, according to media and advertising authority B&T.