Media bloodbath continues with mass job cuts at Nine – impacting dozens of journalists

The Pedestrian Group, owned by Nine, is cutting dozens of jobs as part of a major restructuring that will see the company split in two.

Pedestrian Group CEO Matt Rowley broke the news to staff on Monday morning, announcing that he would also be leaving the group as part of the restructuring.

As part of the changes, the group will soon end its licensing agreements for third-party publishing brands including Vice, Refinery29, Gizmodo, Lifehacker and Kotaku, potentially cutting up to 40 jobs.

Nine would therefore focus exclusively on its own brands, Pedestrian and Pedestrian TV.

Kate McGregor, Managing Editor at Refinery29, was among those who lost their jobs.

“Today I, along with the team at Refinery29 Australia and dozens of colleagues from the Pedestrian Group, were made redundant. I am heartbroken,” she wrote on social media.

‘It goes without saying that the departure of Refinery29 Australia and Pedestrian Group is personally very sad for me, but after more than a decade in the media I have learned that you have to play with the cards you are dealt.’

Athina Mallis, the editor-in-chief of Gizmodo Australia, said she had been in the role for less than six months before it was eliminated.

Nine’s news website director Kerri Elstub told staff that more jobs would be cut as the company continues to adjust its budget

‘I won’t lie, I’m upset, angry and sad that the digital media industry is shrinking. Good, hardworking journalists are losing their jobs.

“We work tirelessly to make sure the site looks good, the text is clean, and the stories are factual and original. Let’s hope our work isn’t in vain,” she said.

Nine bought 60 percent of Pedestrian in 2015 for $10 million and acquired the remainder of the company in 2018 for $39 million.

It is another setback for Nine’s staff after the CEO announced hundreds of jobs would be cut as part of a $30 million cost-cutting plan for the company.

“Of our national team of almost 5,000 people, approximately 200 jobs in Nine are expected to be affected, including a number of vacant and temporary roles that will not be filled,” Mr Sneesby said.

‘To continue investing in digital growth opportunities within Negen, we need to manage costs responsibly throughout the cycle.’

The layoffs affect 38 positions at the leading news and current affairs program, which also includes 9News and 60 Minutes.

It is another setback for Nine’s staff after the CEO announced hundreds of jobs would be cut as part of a $30 million cost-cutting plan for the company.

“Of our national team of almost 5,000 people, approximately 200 jobs in Nine are expected to be affected, including a number of vacant and temporary roles that will not be filled,” Mr Sneesby said.

‘To continue investing in digital growth opportunities within Negen, we need to manage costs responsibly throughout the cycle.’

Today Show host Karl Stefanovic is pictured. Nine has revealed that 38 jobs will be cut from its news and current affairs team. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Stefanovic’s role will be reduced

The layoffs affect 38 positions at the leading news and current affairs program, which also includes 9News and 60 Minutes.

In addition, 90 jobs will be cut at Nine’s publishing division. These include jobs at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review.

Mr Sneesby blamed the layoffs on the likely termination of a commercial deal with Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, to pay for news articles the company publishes, and on a weakened advertising market.

“These are difficult decisions and I recognise that this will be an uncertain time for some of you. It is important to reiterate that Nine remains in a strong position,” Mr Sneesby explained.

‘All of our business units are fully digital or have fast-growing digital revenues, and they all maintain leading positions in their respective markets.’

The announcements follow the departure of news chief Darren Wick in March after a female employee filed a complaint of inappropriate behaviour.

His replacement Fiona Dear told staff on Friday that the layoffs will result in “a loss of 38 roles across the division, 12 of which are already vacant.”

“We also want to identify potential savings through temporary and freelance roles and through new technology,” Ms. Dear said.

The announcement of restructuring at Nine came in the same week that Seven West Media laid off around 150 staff in a major round of job cuts, with three senior managers leaving the company.

CEO Jeff Howard told employees in an email Tuesday that costs needed to be cut, especially after Meta’s withdrawal.

“A number of roles within the company will change and unfortunately some people will leave us,” Mr Howard said.

“We will do everything we can to minimise the impact on people as much as possible and we will ensure that our people are fully supported.”