The latest round of redundancies at The West Australian newspaper is said to have a detrimental impact on its ability to cover state issues and hold power to account, according to a veteran editor.
Government ministers and media academics have joined the managing editor and owner of Post Newspapers Bret Christian in expressing worry at the loss of around 30 journalists from WA’s major newspaper.
Last month, the paper's editor Anthony De Ceglie called for voluntary redundancies to deal with "excess capability" ahead of the integration of newsrooms at the West Australian newspaper, the Sunday Times and the Perth Now website.
Among those to accept voluntary redundancies are high-profile state political editor Gary Adshead, who was named the West Australian journalist of the year at the 2018 WA Media Awards, and health editor Cathy O'Leary, who was recognised at the awards for her outstanding contribution to journalism over the course of more than 30 years.