Eight editorial jobs proposed to go from news website Stuff

<p>Stuff Digital has announced up to eight staff may go as it says it is investing with in-depth journalism and "specialist content areas" in its editorial team.</p> <p><b></b><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/766229/eight-editorial-jobs-on-the-line-at-news-website-stuff" target="_blank"><b></b></a>In a statement, the media company said it had begun consultation with some of its editorial team across its national newsrooms.</p> <p>Stuff said there were 300 employees across the group, and the proposal would directly affect a team of about 30.</p> <p>"Today Stuff Digital has begun consultation with some of its editorial team on a simplified structure across our national newsrooms which, if it proceeds, may result in a maximum net reduction of eight staff, from a total Stuff Group editorial headcount of more than 300.</p> <p>"The proposal is to invest in new roles in our In-Depth journalism team and in our specialist content areas," the company said.</p> <p>"As it has always done, Stuff will continue to reshape the business, invest in new roles and in new products across the Group as we look to evolve for the future and for the benefit of our audiences and advertisers."</p> <h2>Union says proposed cuts go deeper</h2> <p>However, E tū said the proposal would reduce Stuff Digital's editorial workforce by 10 roles, from 75 to 65. The union said it would also consolidate 19 journalist and reporter roles into 11 positions, reduce six editor roles to three, and remove four platform editor roles, a multimedia content producer role, and the chief daily editor role. </p> <p>Employees with Stuff Digital's live news and commissioning teams were called into meetings today regarding the proposed changes.</p> <p>In a statement, E tū director Mat Danaher said the union was supporting members at Stuff Digital throughout the consultation process. </p> <p>"Having a properly resourced team of journalists and editors is the best guarantee of accurate, distinctive and high-quality news. </p> <p>"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," Danaher said.</p> <p>The union added its members understood the media landscape was changing but the country also needed "strong and sustainable news organisations, with enough professional journalists to produce the quality reporting our communities rely on".</p> <p>"That requires media workers’ skills, experience, and contribution to be properly recognised. Any proposed changes must be carefully considered, with genuine consultation and clear information provided to workers.</p> <p>"E tū will continue engaging with Stuff on behalf of members as the proposal develops."</p> <p>The staff involved were reportedly emailed on Tuesday advising them of a meeting on Wednesday with HR, Stuff Digital editor in chief Keith Lynch and an E tū union representative.</p>