Australia: Fairfax reporters to air on radio

Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on November 12, 2007 at 11:48 AM

Following Fairfax’s acquisition of the Southern Cross radio network, newspaper journalists will be used extensively as cross-platform reporters, said David Kirk, Fairfax’s chief executive, in line with a culture of full integration.

Asked whether paper journalists would be appearing on the radio, Kirk replied:

"So what we do is we get our best talent -- and we get a large number of people that the whole organisation's got, able to support every different medium -- and we make everyone better."

Kirk also mentioned the push towards ‘localism’, as national programs on the radio are facing increased competition and disappearing – a trend also found in newspapers.

"And I think it has put us at a disadvantage in being too national and not enough state-based," said Fairfax radio boss Graham Mott.

"I mean, the heritage and history of Fairfax is predominantly in newspapers, and that's all about connection with local people -- from The Sydney Morning Herald to local papers in the group," concurred Kirk.

Source: The Australian News through IFRA Executive News Service