An internal document leaked to Media Insider today reveals 19 existing journalist-type roles will now be reduced to 12, after Stuff agreed to add one further role back into that newsroom team.
“This is in response to feedback about workload, sustainability and leave coverage (we proposed nine journalist roles for the Today team, and are now confirming 10),” the leaked document says.
Other proposed changes were all confirmed, including the reduction of six existing “editor” type roles into three new “Today editor” roles.
Overall, the number of roles out now appears to be nine, rather than 10. This includes two vacancies.
As well as the net job losses, some other roles are being rescoped/retitled.
The document leaked to Media Insider notes one other change from the original proposal – “new organisational change and parental leave guideline”.
It says: “This has been developed in response to queries raised regarding the approach to engaging with and supporting staff who are on parental leave during an organisational change process.”
Stuff has been approached for comment.
Last month, Stuff’s owner and chief executive Sinead Boucher took aim, in a leaked email, at competitors’ earlier media reports about the possible job losses – reports that were based on leaked Stuff emails.
The NZ Herald and RNZ had been leaked details of emails inviting journalists to meetings in July.
The invitations were heavy on HR language and sent a day in advance, with the promise that support would be available and acknowledging change proposals “can be unsettling”.
Stuff journalists who were in contact with the Herald at the time were concerned the company was about to announce job losses and cutbacks – those fears were later confirmed.
In an email to Stuff staff, Boucher confirmed consultation had started on “a simplified structure”.
She said the proposal also included plans to invest in production, the company’s Indepth journalism team and in specialist content areas.
“We did not comment on the rumours earlier today as – out of respect for those involved – we always want to speak to our people first.
“I know that the reporting from our competitors may, however, have unsettled a wider group of people unnecessarily.
“Businesses must always evolve to meet the needs of their customers and for the future. As we have always done, Stuff Group will continue to reshape the business, invest in new roles and new products where that makes sense and this requires change proposals such as today’s.
“That doesn’t make it any easier for the people and managers involved. We ask that you please be sensitive to your colleagues if they are part of this proposal and give them space if needed.”
The job losses are the latest in a series of cutbacks at major New Zealand media firms. Over the past five years, Stuff, NZME, TVNZ and others have all reduced newsroom numbers, as they reshape their business models and in response to challenging economic conditions.
E tū has been approached for comment.
Last month, E tū director Mat Danaher said in a statement: “Having a properly resourced team of journalists and editors is the best guarantee of accurate, distinctive and high-quality news. Technological change can support that work, but it should not be used to create a false sense of efficiency through staff cuts.
“Fewer journalists and editors inevitably means less capacity to cover stories, scrutinise those in power and produce the journalism New Zealanders rely on.”
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.