(a found prose-poem)
Headline: Fairfax journalists face axe!
Journalists at Fairfax Media are bracing themselves
for big job losses at the publisher’s newspapers
in a fresh attack on costs.
for big job losses at the publisher’s newspapers
in a fresh attack on costs.
Journalists have said the drastic industrial action
is them saying "enough" to the cutting of jobs and instead
finding a way to invest in journalism.
is them saying "enough" to the cutting of jobs and instead
finding a way to invest in journalism.
Headline: Fairfax journalists miss budget!
It means staff will not cover the federal budget,
which will be handed down on Tuesday.
It means staff will not cover the federal budget,
which will be handed down on Tuesday.
Headline: Fairfax to publish as usual!
Fairfax Media says it is "disappointed"
journalists from three of its mastheads have voted
to strike for a week in response to job cuts, but
will continue to publish its newspapers as usual.
Fairfax Media says it is "disappointed"
journalists from three of its mastheads have voted
to strike for a week in response to job cuts, but
will continue to publish its newspapers as usual.
The protests come …in response to the company’s decision to cut
125 staff in a bid to save $30 million. That figure is reported to be
approximately the same amount that Fairfax executives –
including [the] chief … could claim in recent bonuses.
125 staff in a bid to save $30 million. That figure is reported to be
approximately the same amount that Fairfax executives –
including [the] chief … could claim in recent bonuses.
Irony, un-headlined:
Fairfax journalists announced via Twitter
that they will be on strike
for seven days from Wednesday.
that they will be on strike
for seven days from Wednesday.
Personal cop-out:
I’m not taking sides here;
I’m just reporting.
Created in response to Poets United's Midweek Motif ~ News Media.
Notes:
This unprecedented situation is going on in Australia right now. Fairfax is Australia's leading media company.
The first headline is an example of irony in itself. I haven't put a link there because, in the short time of writing the poem, I can no longer get access to this article; the rival media chain which published it now urges me to subscribe online to keep seeing the content.
Another irony is that the job cuts were announced on World Press Freedom Day.
I’m just reporting.
Created in response to Poets United's Midweek Motif ~ News Media.
Notes:
This unprecedented situation is going on in Australia right now. Fairfax is Australia's leading media company.
The first headline is an example of irony in itself. I haven't put a link there because, in the short time of writing the poem, I can no longer get access to this article; the rival media chain which published it now urges me to subscribe online to keep seeing the content.
Another irony is that the job cuts were announced on World Press Freedom Day.
Brilliant. I wish it was fiction, but you can't really make this stuff up. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHa!The medium and the consumer both are changing so rapidly, many things will be sacrificed along the way! Like the irony here.
ReplyDeleteSadly, many small town papers are being cut and replaced with wire service reports, to fill them, in Canada. All, in the pursuit of the all mighty bottom line. Wish the Fairfax reporters luck, in their fight.
ReplyDeleteEven more alarming here, in that Fairfax is our leading media company!
Delete(So for those national newspapers not to be reporting on the national Budget is a very big deal.)
Deleteah..today I read about the plight of some journalist of a local newspaper here...the changing scenarios and all...so stories repeat across the globe...nice take on the prompt!
ReplyDeleteWow, classic to cut jobs as the execs pad their wallets. As an old newspaper reporter, this is all very sad. Capitalism is choking to death on its own excess - something I remember reading Russia was predicting back in the 70's.
ReplyDeleteOh this is such a brilliant response to the prompt, Rosemary!
ReplyDeleteAh...a sad scenario indeed! Journalism faces crisis world-wide!Thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteRosemary.
I had some internet issues this time, hence got delayed this time...sorry!
Ouch, job cuts are a nightmare haunting almost all sectors. A cut of 125 staff is a big number for a newspaper, one wonders what'll be left of the newspaper.
ReplyDelete