WIN Network is expected to shed eight jobs in its Tasmanian newsrooms, which the journalists’ union says is “full confirmation of the reduction and degradation of an historically great network”.
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The job cuts come in the wake of last week’s announcement that state bulletins would now be presented out of Woolongong, with WIN journalists still filing stories from Tasmania.
The last Tasmanian-presented broadcast will air on Friday night.
Fairfax Media understands that three of the seven journalists at WIN Tasmania will be laid off, as well as two of six camera operators.
One journalist and one camera operator are believed to have already resigned.
It is understood three production staff have already been made redundant.
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance state president Mark Thomas, himself a former WIN journalist, lamented the news.
“This is a sad day for Tasmanian journalism, when good young journalists and camera operators have their lives shattered overnight,” he said.
Tasmanian Labor Senator Helen Polley described the move as “deeply sad”.
“Tasmanians deserve local news content delivered to them by locals that understand what it means to live and work in Tasmania,” she said in a statement.
“The loss of career opportunities for budding journalists may lead to Tasmanians travelling interstate to study due to the lack of opportunities the WIN decision will mean.”
Tasmanian Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam said he was “deeply disappointed” with the announcement.
“The reported loss of three journalists, one camera operator and three production staff is a real blow to local content,” Senator Duniam said.
“With due respect to those staff who will remain, it is hard to see how half the staff can produce the same amount of local news content.”
Opposition Leader Rebecca White took to Facebook to express her dismay at the decision.
“This is terrible news,” she wrote.
“WIN TV need to reverse this bad decision.”
