Fairfax journalists from The Age, The Brisbane Times and The Sydney Morning Herald have returned to work after a seven-day strike.
The strike began on 3 May to protest Fairfax Media’s decision to cut 125 editorial jobs as part of a $30 million restructure.
In response to the strike, Senators Sam Dastyari, Scott Ludlam, Nick Xenophon and Jacqui Lambie have called a press conference to announce that they intend t0 establish a Senate committee to inquire into the future of journalism.
The press conference will take place at Parliament House on 10 May at 1:20pm.
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The Age’s Education Editor, Henrietta Cook said on Twitter that they had gone on strike to stand up for quality journalism.
“Back to work after a 7 day strike. We didn’t do this for our jobs, we did this to protect quality, independent journalism,” she said.
Fairfax journalists have set up Fair Go, Fairfax campaign. Social media users have been using the hashtag #FairGoFairfax to voice their opposition. Journalists from the ABC, NewsCorp and The Guardian have shown support for the campaign.
Sydney Morning Herald political reporter Sean Nicholls told the ABC that, “the future of Fairfax newspapers is existentially at risk.”
.@KnottMatthew was tremendous last week on uni and school funding, you won't see his analysis today because we're on strike. #FairGoFairfax pic.twitter.com/61SFUbhKwV
— Eryk Bagshaw (@ErykBagshaw) May 9, 2017
In a press release, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) CEO Paul Murphy said that the company cuts will impact the quality of content.
“The editorial staff are really angry. They think the company has made a terrible decision that is not in the best interests of the company, its audience or its staff,” he said.
Editorial staff have rejected the cuts and refused to accept forced redundancies. They are asking Fairfax to allow three weeks for voluntary redundancies to be taken. Staff were originally given a deadline of Tuesday 9 May.
Additionally, senior management are being asked to take a 25 per cent pay cut.
In a show of support for journalists, more than 10,000 signatures have been gathered and sent to Fairfax CEO Greg Hywood.
At times like this the solidarity between journalists is greater than the rivalry between news outlets. #FairGoFairfax pic.twitter.com/KX5t7To4kH
— MEAA (@withMEAA) May 5, 2017
MEAA said in a press release that Fairfax journalists have been receiving support from all around the world.
“Condemnation of the cuts has come from all sectors – from both sides of politics to the arts, prominent sporting personalities to the not-for-profit sector, with journalists here and around the world applauding the action taken by their Fairfax colleagues to defend quality, independent journalism and those who produce the stories that matter.”