News Corp lets more staff photographers go

News Corp has let go more of its staff photographers, with the media company's in-house photographer workforce now a mere shadow of what it once was.

According to sources speaking to the Guardian, about eight photographers who work for the Geelong Advertiser, the NT News, the Hobart Mercury and a number of regional Queensland mastheads including the Townsville Bulletin, the Gold Coast Bulletin and the Cairns Post were told their positions would be made redundant during meetings last week.

Over the last two years News Corp has been steadily converting its in-house photographic teams to a freelance model. In November, News Corp made 25 job cuts, with 16 of these photography positions, and in June 2020 the company let go veteran photographer Gary Ramage, a Walkley Award winner who was also the company's Chief Photographer at the time. 

Through making Ramage redundant last year, Australia's largest media company now has no in-house staff photographers covering Canberra, instead relying on agency photographers and freelancers to fill the role.

News Corp's in-house photographers once numbered more than 100. 

Despite the redundancies, the moves come following suprisingly positive first quarter earnings briefings for News Corp, with Australasia chief executive Michael Miller telling staff recent results meant the company could create another 100 new editorial roles this year, on the back of agreements struck with Google and Facebook and an increase in paid subscribers.