Memo writer waxes lyrical as media company plays musical chairs
Fairfax has revamped its Auckland editorial team, reviving speculation that it will push ahead with a website focused on the city of about 1.4 million.
The company announced this week that as part of its plan Auckland journalists would end up writing for papers in the group.
In a memo, staff were given directions to "a profound fork in the road".
This week Fairfax appointed Suburban Newspapers editor-in-chief David Kemeys editor of the Sunday Star-Times.
Deputy editor Miriyana Alexander will move to the editorial team base at Fairfax's flash headquarters at the Viaduct.
Fairfax said she would "work on a major group-wide project designed to strengthen Fairfax Media's editorial operations throughout New Zealand".
All news reporters would work as a team to generate top-quality Auckland coverage for Fairfax daily newspapers and websites as required.
"We are harnessing an incredible power. We will be the best," Fairfax said.
The memo said the SST and Sunday News would retain their independence.
"We are at a profound fork in the road," said the memo signed by Fairfax executive editor Paul Thompson and SST managing editor Mitchell Murphy.
Staff told the Herald the memo signalled a shift online.
But Thompson said Alexander's new role was not part of a move to create an Auckland website - an idea that has been raised since Murphy was appointed Sundays editor in October 2008.
Fairfax needs to improve its profile in the country's biggest city, dominated by the Herald.
That applies to editorial coverage but also to advertisers looking for nationwide coverage.
Murphy's last job was as managing editor of the Brisbane Times - in another region where Fairfax was under-represented.
DUCKS IN A ROW
Fairfax was once seen at the forefront of the move online but like all media companies it has struggled to find a balance between developing its internet presence and maintaining print publications that deliver the vast share of revenue.
Staff say that part of the problem appears to have been a disconnection between the digital arm and the rest of the business, exacerbated by the lesser profile of the New Zealand operation since David Kirk stepped down as chief executive.
Fairfax New Zealand head of digital Stephen Smith recently left the company.
There have been questions about the relationship between Stuff and websites associated with individual titles. It may be that the latest developments signal that Fairfax has resolved those issues.
OFF TARGET
No doubt the new-look Fair Go will deliver the audience required for ad revenue. But the show also sees itself as a service to viewers.
I don't always agree with Brian Edwards - the show's founder 33 years ago - but I agreed with his blog.
He said of the new series, which started this week: "Fair Go was transformed into little more than a glossier version of [TV3's] Target - trivial, insubstantial, more interested in effect than in doing its job on behalf of those not given a fair go."
Alison Mau has responded to last week's column in which I said I worried about the changes to Fair Go and pointed to the lapse of judgment where she used her spot on Breakfast to attack a company she said hired paparazzi to film her.
The show led to a complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
Alison wrote in this week and was very kind.
"Hi John, love your column each week," she said. (Hooray).
"Just FYI ... (Uh oh)
"The BSA complaint you referred to in last Friday's column was apparently withdrawn voluntarily by the complainant a few days before you published last week."
Fair go.
MADCHESTER MAYHEM
Speaking of cornerstone TV shows, I hear that the audience in Coronation Street's core demographic - people aged 25-54 - is down.
TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said that since April last year the total audience had remained relatively stable with an average audience of just over 500,000.
The channel demographic of 25-54 has dropped a little. Interestingly there has been growth of 71 per cent in the 18-24 age group, and 42 per cent in the 45-49 group.
I am not that surprised. The Coro Street storylines turn around like a rotary clothesline nowadays as the makers try to overcome the turn-off factor by introducing more ne'er-do-well youngsters.
I'm a regular viewer. But I still can't understand how there have been so many murders in this little piece of Manchester.
How come Steve McDonald seems to have forgotten that the mother of his child is in prison for murder?
Why does Sean never mention the child whose loss led him to the verge of a breakdown last year?
And why do these people in a city of more than two million all insist on drinking in the Rovers Return pub alongside people they loathe?
THIS TIME...
Fairfax Media has been negotiating to sell its racing publications Best Bets and Turf Digest.
It is understood that the potential buyer for the racing mags involves some of the same people who bought Truth from Fairfax a few years back.
That company went into liquidation, and a new company started called Truth Weekender.
Best Bets editor Alan Caddy referred queries to Fairfax management, who could not be reached for comment.
One suggestion is that the Totalisator Agency Board was backing the purchase.
On paper, the sale would seem to make some sense. The racing papers and the tabloid have ties going back to the days when they were owned by Independent Newspapers.
Like Truth - whose sex content sullied Fairfax's image of itself - the racing mags service a small and declining niche and have been an odd fit.
It is understood Fairfax intended to pass over the racing titles at the same time as it sold Truth, but the offer was too low.
The TAB ruled out a deal with Truth and said it had no plans for one in the future. The TAB has been in media joint ventures before - notably with RadioWorks and its B Sport.
STAR-STRUCK
Star Public Relations says its portfolio of clients will not be affected by the departure of veteran spin-meister and founding partner Cedric Allan.
Allan stepped down as a director of the firm this week but at print time remained a significant shareholder.
Star had been made up of four consultant partners who brought clients to the business and maintained a relationship with them.
Public relations is - obviously enough - built on relationships, and Allan has built a loyal clientele.
But Alan McDonald - who remains a partner with Malcolm Boyle and Jill Dryden - said that clients were contracted to Star and not to individual partners.
Asked if there was a restraint of trade limiting Allan from approaching his former client list, he said the departure was on the standard terms.
Public relations consultant Michelle Boag - an old chum - pointed out that Allan is used to starting again.
In her blog she notes that Allan has previously founded Allan Baxter Fenwick, turned it into Allan Fenwick McCully (with Rob Fenwick and Murray McCully), sold to Hill and Knowlton, started Phoenix, sold to PPR, started Allan Boyle and sold to Porter Novelli before founding Star PR, initially with Malcolm Boyle.
In another move, TelstraClear media relations manager Chris Mirams has been appointed public relations manager at Westpac bank. He is joining Sue Foley, who was recently appointed Westpac director of corporate affairs.
