The restructure of business reporting at Fairfax has been announced. I’ve written a story about it for the Crikey e-mail today. In the meantime, below are the memos that were sent to staff announcing the change, and new roles for former Age Business editor Michael Short and Deputy Editor Steve Foley.
Subject: Melbourne announcements
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 18:16:27 +1100
From: PRAMADGE@theage.com.au
APPOINTMENTS
I am very pleased to announce two senior appointments.
Michael Short has been appointed Editor, New Media, reporting to me and effective immediately. In the past four years as Business Editor, Michael has done an excellent job, repositioning the section, developing staff and improving content. In his new role, Michael will create opportunities across the paper for smarter multi-media journalism. He will also oversee production and pictorial. Michael’s responsibilities will allow Deputy Editor Steve Foley to lead our work on major news specials.
Kirsty Simpson becomes Business Editor, which is timely recognition of her strong skills as an editor and manager. She comes to the position with well-rounded experience as deputy editor of the business section, and with a portfolio of work as a business reporter, political reporter, columnist and news editor.
Paul Ramadge
Subject: BusinessDay announcement
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 18:16:48 +1100
From: PRAMADGE@theage.com.au
BusinessDay
BusinessDay will undergo a number of important changes to strengthen our business coverage in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and our online sites.
Business reporters and columnists in Sydney and Melbourne with national rounds or national expertise will work under a national structure to enable us to better leverage our resources and improve our coverage, both in print and online.
To lead this change, new business editors have been appointed to the mastheads - Kirsty Simpson is the Business Editor of The Age and Michael West is Business Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.
Peter Hannam remains Business Editor of BusinessDay.com.au.
Working with the three editors in the new structure is a national chief-of-staff. This appointment will be made as soon as possible.
Business reporters and columnists will be briefed in more detail about the changes in coming days.
We believe this new structure will enhance our business reporting both at a national and local level, and we look forward to working with the new team.
Paul Ramadge, Editor-in-Chief, The AgePeter Fray, Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
Mike van Niekerk, Editor-in-Chief, Fairfax Digital
