Fairfax slashes 1,900 jobs, closes presses

[Mechanic]

Fairfax slashes 1,900 jobs, closes presses

There are several videos on the ABC TV web page below. They should be there for a day or so.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-18/fairfax-blog-follow-developments-live/4076870

I am glad to be retired from Fairfax!

[Dave Hughes]

Big news in Australia, Fairfax seem to be handling the whole situation quite badly.

The press barons may not like it, but their current inability to find a way of funding quality journalism strengthens the case for publicly-funded news organisations, like the BBC here in the UK.

Murdoch, in particular, has a strong dislike of the BBC. His objections, almost certainly based on financial concerns for his businesses, are dressed up as "ethical" arguments.