JOB cuts in regional journalism at WIN News are a blow to Central West communities, Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Dr Travis Holland says. Journalists, camera operators and editors in Orange's WIN newsroom were told on Wednesday afternoon that their bureaus would be close for good on Friday, June 28. Three other newsrooms will close, they include: Albury, Wagga Wagga and Queensland's Wide Bay (which covers Hervey Bay and Bundaberg). READ ALSO: Petition started for local man to be Elton John's Central West tour guide In a letter to its staff WIN said the decision to cease production of the bulletins was based on the "commercial viability of funding news in these areas". "Changing content consumption habits and increased competition from digital content providers, that don't face the same regulatory conditions that challenge traditional media, has led to a reduction in demand for local news bulletins in these regions," the letter read. CSU Communication and Creative Industries course director Dr Holland said it would be easy for regional communities to think that they don't matter following this decision. "There's actually 288,000 people in the Central West/Orana regions which is bigger than the Illawarra," he said. "I think the commercial opportunities really need to be taken into account of as far as investment goes. "It's really disappointing that a company like WIN sees that some of the most vibrant cities are not viable." Mr Holland said the closure of the office will have an impact on CSU's journalism graduates. "I know that our grads will be impacted and the communities they serve will be impacted," he said. READ ALSO: Sign up now to hear about the Voice of Real Australia Dr Holland said the media landscape had undergone significant changes in recent years and CSU was equipping its journalism students with the best skills to still find work. WIN management have told staff they will "attempt to redeploy them" into other roles in the network. Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) director Katelin McInerney said the steady ongoing decline of journalism in regional Australia means there is a decline in the public information needed by regional communities. "Homogenised news sourced from the big cities is not a replacement," she said. READ ALSO: 'Your boobies are big', Dubbo delivery driver tells woman Ms McInerney urged MPs and community leaders to take a stand against the decline in local news. "MEAA calls on the Morrison Government to work with media stakeholders and local communities to urgently develop an action plan to arrest the loss of public interest journalism and to encourage and promote the development and growth of local news media," she said. "Reporting of local news is essential to regional communities. It goes to the heart of the role the fourth estate must play in informing and promoting a healthy functioning democracy." A former bureau chief at WIN News says he is "saddened" to see the end of news bulletins which have covered the region for nearly 30 years, and slammed executives up the chain for contributing to declining ratings. Former WIN News chief of staff Allan Reeder, who was in the Orange newsroom from 2005 to 2012, said while some of the dipping news viewership was due to a long-term industry decline however management decisions also played a role in the bulletins' demise. Mr Reeder said "serious questions" need to be asked about the decision that led WIN to swap from Nine, which currently owns Australian Community Media, to Ten. "Local news, produced well, still rates well. Burying the local news bulletin after TEN's The Project, and expecting locals to go hunting for it has not been a good business decision," he said. NSW Nationals state director Ross Cadell said he was concerned the WIN would close down newsrooms in the bush. "We believe in the important role journalism plays not only in our democracy, but in our communities, bringing people together and keeping them informed," he said. Because of this, Mr Cadell said the NSW Nationals would "immediately cease" advertising with WIN "In the first six months of this year we spent close to $3 million advertising on regional television in NSW, but as of this moment I have instructed our party to immediately cease all advertising with WIN TV until they reverse the decision," he said.
JOB cuts in regional journalism at WIN News are a blow to Central West communities, Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Dr Travis Holland says.
Journalists, camera operators and editors in Orange's WIN newsroom were told on Wednesday afternoon that their bureaus would be close for good on Friday, June 28.
Three other newsrooms will close, they include: Albury, Wagga Wagga and Queensland's Wide Bay (which covers Hervey Bay and Bundaberg).
In a letter to its staff WIN said the decision to cease production of the bulletins was based on the "commercial viability of funding news in these areas".
"Changing content consumption habits and increased competition from digital content providers, that don't face the same regulatory conditions that challenge traditional media, has led to a reduction in demand for local news bulletins in these regions," the letter read.
#BREAKING: Tonight, the camera operators, editors, and journalists from 4 WIN newsrooms were told that they wouldnt have a job to return to from next Friday 28th. Its a sad day for regional news, but we WILL push on and go out with a bang.
— Annabelle Amos (@annabelleamos) June 19, 2019
CSU Communication and Creative Industries course director Dr Holland said it would be easy for regional communities to think that they don't matter following this decision.
"There's actually 288,000 people in the Central West/Orana regions which is bigger than the Illawarra," he said.
"I think the commercial opportunities really need to be taken into account of as far as investment goes.
"It's really disappointing that a company like WIN sees that some of the most vibrant cities are not viable."
Mr Holland said the closure of the office will have an impact on CSU's journalism graduates.
"I know that our grads will be impacted and the communities they serve will be impacted," he said.
Dr Holland said the media landscape had undergone significant changes in recent years and CSU was equipping its journalism students with the best skills to still find work.
WIN management have told staff they will "attempt to redeploy them" into other roles in the network.
A devastating blow for Regional Australia, WIN News closing 4 regional newsrooms. Still working out my next steps but wherever they take me, itll be supporting our rural people #WINNews6pmpic.twitter.com/vSYNWFoHct
— Alison Dance (@alisonjdance) June 19, 2019
Government must act on loss of regional media: Union
Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) director Katelin McInerney said the steady ongoing decline of journalism in regional Australia means there is a decline in the public information needed by regional communities.Read More – Source
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