[Greens-Media] Reinstate Carlton, scrap Fairfax job cuts

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
29 August 2008


Reinstate Carlton, scrap Fairfax job cuts


Greens MP and industrial relations spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Fairfax Media to reinstate Mike Carlton, scrap job cut plans and open up negotiations with their journalists on maintaining quality communications in the digital age. 

"Cutting 550 jobs is extreme. This will seriously impact on the quality of Fairfax papers," Ms Rhiannon said. 

"Sacking journalists, like Mr Carlton, because they refuse to write is an ugly response from a failed management team. Mr Carlton should be immediately reinstated. 

"Fairfax management have made a severe dent in freedom of the press with their current industrial relations tactics. 

"Fairfax journalists have been left no option but to go on strike. 

"They have taken a stand not only for job security but also for the readers of the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age.

"The SMH and the Age cannot afford to lose 550 journalists and meet the challenge of web based news outlets without a dramatic reduction in the quality of their journalism. 

"There is no easy answer to managing newspapers in the electronic age, but it is obvious that a top quality product cannot be delivered without journalists to provide the material. 

"Fairfax's job cut plans is not a business improvement program, but a major downgrading of their own newspapers. 

"Fairfax Media should put their so-called business improvement program on hold and reinstate all sacked workers before any more damage is done to their flagship papers. 

"These type of disputes do enormous damage and inevitably result in the loss of top journalists. 

"Fairfax management should be wary of all the predictions about the death of newspapers. Look what happened to the promise that computers would bring a paperless office," Ms Rhiannon said. 
 

For more information: Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568