The 10 network has announced mass redundancies in its TV news department, laying off news and weather presenters, journalists and camera crews in what has been described as the biggest shake-up in news at the network.
High-profile casualties of the cuts include Studio 10 presenters Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Natarsha Belling and veteran weatherman Tim Bailey, who has presented the weather at the network for 24 years.
Kennerley has been a controversial addition to the Studio 10 team and was accused of racism by fellow panellist Yumi Stynes last year after she talked about sexual violence in Indigenous communities during a discussion about Invasion Day protests.
The future of Joe Hildebrand, a News Corp columnist and co-host of Studio 10, remains unclear.
We’re not sure what this means for the rest of us yet but for now, I’m thinking of all my colleagues in other states, especially in my home city at @10NewsFirstAdl. I got my first TV reporting gig there and loved every second. They’re a friendly, hard-working and talented team.
— Lia Harris (@LiaJHarris) August 11, 2020
Network 10’s chief content officer, Beverley McGarvey, told staff in a video hookup the network was making changes so it was more efficient and that the changes “reflect the state of the media industry”.
The 90-minute weekday 5pm 10 News First bulletins will be centralised in Sydney and Melbourne, with Brisbane and Perth news bulletins read out of Sydney and the Adelaide bulletin read out of Melbourne.
There will still be news reporters and producers in each state, but the news will be read out of the Sydney and Melbourne.
Almost all the presenting staff in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide will lose their jobs.
All the weather presenters will be made redundant and replaced with one national weather presenter.
Sports journalists will be required to film their own stories because the camera crews are being made redundant.
“There will also be some changes to the presentation of Studio 10, the details of which will be communicated to the relevant staff,” McGarvey said.
“We remain committed to our news organisation, and deeply value this team’s work.”
Network 10 has been rapidly withdrawing from news since CBS – Network 10 Australia’s US parent company – merged with media giant Viacom in December.
In May the network closed its digital news site 10 Daily, laying off 30 editorial staff. Sources say a similar number of staff will go in this round.
Sad to confirm the news that I am among those leaving Network Ten. Proud of our team at @10NewsFirstAdl currently working to bring you your local bulletin tonight.
— Rebecca Morse (@RebeccaMorse10) August 11, 2020
Thank you for your messages of support.
10’s news director Ross Dagan said the decision to cut staff was difficult.
“It is in no way a reflection of their talent, contribution or passion,” Dagan said. “They are exceptionally gifted people. We are incredibly proud of them and their work. There is no doubt they will be missed.
“These painful changes reflect the state of the media industry in recent years and the need for all media companies to achieve new efficiencies.”
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance’s acting director of media, Adam Portelli, said since the network was taken over by ViacomCBS three years ago staff had “constantly struggled to do more with less”.
“Concerningly, under the restructuring being introduced by management, we now have the prospect of sports journalists having to film their own news stories. That’s a slippery slope that presents a real danger for news presentation in Australia,” Portelli said.
