Management’s new agenda: cut and run
When in doubt, ditch the underlings and reshuffle the deckchairs on the Titanic. That’s one way of viewing Fred Hilmer’s management style during his seven years running Fairfax. And it’s cost your company dearly.
Newspaper quality is not linked to journalist numbers
Asked at the meeting how cutting staff would impact the quality of the papers, Mr Kirk replied: “We have 900 journalists across The Age and Sydney Morning Herald and I’m very proud and delighted that we can invest in that many high quality journalists.
“There is no question that we have the best journalists, the best editorial staff, in Australia and New Zealand. And that’s exactly the way we want to keep it.
“We have absolutely no intention of reducing the quality of our papers and I have no concerns that that is going to be the case.” (READ MORE)
Lights out for Fairfax
The lights went out at the Fairfax Annual General Meeting today.
Management continued to hold the meeting in almost complete darkness.
The symbolism was apt.
As management talked about the importance of the quality of the papers, they also said that staff cuts would not affect the quality of the papers.(READ MORE)
And as management continued to run the line that things were tough at the metro papers, they also argued that Fairfax has never performed better during the meeting.
Attend the Fairfax annual general meeting
The Fairfax annual general meeting is on Friday November 18
Supporters of quality editorial should meet at 9.30am for 10.30am start
The Sheraton on the Park Hotel
161 Elizabeth Street, opposite Hyde Park, between Market and Park streets.
Subs edited out
Losing subs means a drop in quality and revenue Fairfax editorial management is displaying a worrying attitude towards the production desks at The Sydney Morning Herald.
Sub-editors are asking editor-in-chief Mark Scott how many subs he wishes to lose in this round of redundancies and how he arrived at that number. More importantly how will these desks run after the cuts?
The subbing desks across the paper are already at breaking point.
Fairfax executive excess
The Fairfax annual report for 2005 contains no fewer than four pages devoted to the many reporting, writing and photographic awards earned during the year by Fairfax journalists.
The company loves to bask in the reflected glory of these awards - yet it is bent on cutting at least 65 positions from the workforce that achieved them in order to save money.
That goal is at odds with the litany of excessive payments to executives listed elsewhere in the same annual report.
Newsspeak at Fairfax
When it comes to the performance of Fairfax and the reasons behind the redundancy push there is what management tells the market, and then there is what management tell staff. The two messages could not be more contradictory.
A mission statement
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“Our editorial management shall be conducted upon principles of candour, honesty and honour … we have no wish to mislead; no interests to gratify by unsparing abuse, or indiscriminate approbation.”
- Sydney Herald launched on April 18, 1831.
The editorial staff of The Sydney Morning Herald can read those words every day, emblazoned on a painting which hangs in the foyer of the 27th floor. It is meant as a reminder of the required ethics as we go about our business producing Australia’s oldest and proudest newspaper.
The words can also be read in context with the battle the staff now faces against a management which appears not to hold the same values, and is prepared to gut a product it should treasure, protect and evolve.
Letter to shareholders
Dear Fairfax shareholder,
The journalists who work for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sun Herald , The Age and Sunday Age newspapers are writing to you, and other major shareholders of John Fairfax, to ask for your assistance in securing the future of this company.
Show me the money
