Nine job cuts add to horror month for Australian journalism

Australia’s largest commercial media organisations must commit to quality journalism rather than look for easy savings by cutting editorial jobs, says the union for Australian journalists.

Today’s announcement by Nine Entertainment that it will make redundant 200 positions in its broadcast, print and digital divisions follows recent announcements of cuts at Seven West Media and News Corp.

These cuts, totalling hundreds of positions, diminish the organisations’ ability to fulfill their commitment to quality journalism, says the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance.

MEAA members at Nine Publishing, which owns the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times and WAtoday, this afternoon passed a motion of no confidence in managing director Mike Sneesby over the cuts, which have been announced in the midst of negotiations for a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

They have authorised their union to immediately commence preparations for a protected action ballot.

MEAA Media Acting Director Michelle Rae said the union acknowledged the cuts were in part a result of Meta’s decision not to renew deals under the News Media Bargaining Code, but urged Nine, Seven and News Corp to look elsewhere for savings.

“Any cuts to editorial will mean reduced coverage of a range of matters and result in a less informed Australian public,” she said.

“They bring into question how committed Nine, Seven and News Corp are to quality, public interest journalism.

“We will do all we can to support our members during this difficult time and advocate for media organisations to protect journalism by looking for other options to make savings.

“That these cuts are partly the result of Meta walking away from funding deals under the News Media Bargaining Code makes them even harder to swallow.

“Meta rakes in billions of dollars off the back of news content produced by Australian journalism. The funding deals under the News Media Bargaining Code allowed Nine, Seven and News Corp to invest in journalism and increase coverage after years of decline.

“If Meta continues to refuse to negotiate new deals, then it must be designated by the federal government.”

Ms Rae said MEAA members at Nine Publishing were angry that redundancies had been announced during bargaining for a new EBA and that the mastheads had been disproportionately targeted for cuts.

“Nine management has not put a serious offer on the table,” she said.

“With the current agreement expiring on June 30, members will be voting on whether to take protected action at the earliest possible opportunity.”