WIN News Tasmania staff are unsure about their future after discovering bulletins will be produced interstate from next week.
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The Examiner understands staff have been told local weekday bulletins will end as of next Friday.
While some staff were told by management, it is understood others found out via social media on Tuesday evening.
WIN on Wednesday morning released a statement about the relocation and restructure.
It confirmed its weeknightly news bulletins would be presented from its head office in Wollongong.
It further confirmed that its weekend news would change to Ten Eyewitness News First at 5. This change will occur from Saturday, August 18.
WIN Network chief executive office Andrew Lancaster said the station’s Tasmanian newsrooms would “continue to provides the stories of interest to Tasmanian viewers”.
“Technology allows us to present the news from a central location which creates a more efficient way to deliver that news. In this case it means utilising existing facilities,” Mr Lancaster said.
“ Nearly all networks in this digital age have a central presentation location for their news and we are adopting what is becoming an industry standard.”
He said Tasmanian staff would be constructed during a restructuring process.
Job losses are expected.
The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance Tasmanian president Mark Thomas said he was “deeply saddened” by the announcement.
“Sadly, from an MEAA perspective, it means a loss of jobs that will never come back,” Mr Thomas said. “It’s the loss of a local bulletin, and it will lose its feel of local news, even if it is being read by someone very competent in Wollongong.”
Mr Thomas said a lot of journalists had got their start with the broadcaster.
“The amount of people who cut their teeth in Tasmanian television and went on to great things interstate and overseas … Tom O'Byrne, Cassy O’Connor, Georgia Love,” he said.
“We have just lost another breeding ground.
“Any loss of a media job is a loss to the Tasmanian public.”
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