PLANS for Fairfax Media’s flagship agricultural masthead The Land to base more of its journalists in regional NSW are moving ahead with six of its team set to work from Orange.
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The changes are part of Fairfax’s transformation of its rural and regional publishing business, Australian Community Media (ACM), which involves the introduction of new digital-first publishing technology, training in new ways of working for journalists and sales staff and some workforce reductions.
Staff were briefed on the changes yesterday, which were first proposed last month.
ACM’s NSW Central business manager Sally White said preparations would begin soon to relocate The Land’s senior editorial team from North Richmond in north-west Sydney to Orange.
“This is about placing our newsroom leadership closer to our readers and closer to the communities and industries The Land serves,” Ms White, a former editor of the award-winning weekly newspaper, said.
“Nothing changes about our mission to be a champion for the bush. Indeed we are strengthening those ties by moving more of our journalists closer to most of the state’s farmers.”
The Land, which already has journalists located at Dubbo, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga and the North Coast, will retain senior reporters in Sydney, close to industry leaders and decision-makers.
One journalist will be based in Moree and an Orange-based journalist will be designated to report on agribusiness and property news.
The ranks of ACM’s specialist national agricultural writers, who cover key industry sectors for The Land and its sister publications in other states, will be increased.
Group managing editor Vernon Graham, also a former editor of The Land, said relocation of key editorial staff to Orange would bring the masthead much closer to its readers, as well as key livestock markets, including Carcoar.
The restructure involves total voluntary redundancies of about 16 full-time equivalent positions at The Land, where editorial staff numbers will be reduced by about eight once new group roles have been taken into account.