Editor-in-chief of The Age Andrew Holden is packing up his desk and heading for the door, with Fairfax Media undergoing a “new metro editorial structure for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age”.
According to The Australian, Holden’s departure was confirmed in a statement from Fairfax editorial director Sean Aylmer, following a staff meeting yesterday where senior staff were told that the editorial pyramid would endure some major shake-ups.
Aylmer told The Oz that the restructure would allow the paper to “better deliver its 24/7 digital news and newspapers”, and that the changes would resemble those at Wall Street Journal and Daily Telegraph, both News Corp companies, and would “strengthen our audience-first approach”.
He added there will be 10 days of consultations before finalising the model.
Per reports from The Oz, Sydney-based Darren Goodsir, currently the editor-in-chief of SMH and Sun Herald, will oversee the Metro publications.
Aylmer also said “a number of new roles will be created and some roles altered” in the restructure, announcing Mark Forbes as the acting editor-in-chief of The Age following Holden’s ‘decision’ to leave the company after 13 years.
Holden said in the statement: “It’s an enormous privilege to be Editor-in-Chief of The Age and I have thoroughly enjoyed that experience. It is an outstanding newsroom and perfectly placed to thrive in the new media environment. After eight years of leading newsrooms through many challenges, I’m looking forward to new opportunities.”
Feature Image: ABC
