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Ten to present Adelaide’s news out of Melbourne in cost-cutting move

UPDATED | Network Ten will cut jobs and centralise the presentation of news bulletins, with Adelaide’s 5pm Monday to Friday news to be broadcast from Melbourne and newsreader Rebecca Morse among those to be made redundant.

Aug 11, 2020, updated Aug 12, 2020
Ten's Adelaide studios in Hutt Street. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

Ten's Adelaide studios in Hutt Street. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

The move is part of national cuts announced to staff across the country this afternoon.

Network 10’s news division will axe jobs and centralise the presentation of its 5pm bulletins in Sydney and Melbourne, while also making cuts to morning program Studio 10.

Adelaide’s news bulletin will be presented from Melbourne, with an unkown number of local jobs expected to be cut.

The Adelaide bulletin is currently presented by newsreader Rebecca Morse, weather presenter Kate Freebairn and sports anchor Will Goodings, all of whom will leave the network.

Journalists, camera operators and other staff are also expected to be made redundant.

However, the network says it will continue to employ some reporters, camera operators and production staff in Adelaide to cover local news.

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.
Thank you for your messages of support.

— Rebecca Morse (@RebeccaMorse10) August 11, 2020

High profile national presenters Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Natarsha Belling are expected to lose their jobs, along with weathermen Tim Bailey and Mike Larkin.

In a statement, the network did not confirm names of those on-air staff expected to lose their jobs, but said: “As a result of the restructuring, some on-air presenters, journalists and operations staff will leave Network 10. The network would like to thank those people for their dedication and hard work.”

The changes will be effective from September 14.

Ten’s network director of news content, Ross Dagan, said the decision to make the cuts was “a very difficult one”.

“It is in no way a reflection of their talent, contribution or passion. 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.

“While our viewers in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth will see some on-air changes, we will continue to produce local news and employ local reporters, camera operators and production staff in those cities.”

The union representing journalists, the MEAA, said the move showed “enormous disrespect” to viewers.

“The end result of these cuts is that viewers will simply seek their news and information somewhere else,” said MEAA Media acting director Adam Portelli.

“When the network was taken over by ViacomCBS three years ago this month, it was hoped that Network 10 would finally enjoy stability and an injection of new ideas. Despite the best efforts of staff who have constantly struggled to do more with less, we are now seeing deep cuts that have cruelled the hard work done by so many loyal employees.

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“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.”

Ten’s weekend news bulletin has been presented from interstate for many years.

In May, Ten axed its online news site – 10 Daily.

Perth and Brisbane bulletins will be presented out of Sydney, under the changes announced today.

The latest cuts to local media come after Seven axed its 4pm Adelaide bulletin and four jobs in June, including newsreader Jessica Adamson and weather presenter Tim Noonan.

According to interstate reports, from Monday, September 14, Sandra Sully will present a 90-minute bulletin at 5pm to viewers in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth while Jennifer Keyte will anchor a combined Melbourne and Adelaide bulletin.

Beverley McGarvey, Chief Content Officer and EVP, ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand, said: “These decisions are not being made lightly, however, they are essential to future-proofing our business.”

more to come

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