Nine Network to cut 20 news jobs as part of 'Future News' overhaul

Key facts

• Nine Network's TV news division employs about 800 people nationwide.
• Up to 20 jobs in TV news and current affairs will be cut in the first phase.
• The redundancies affect Sydney and Canberra newsrooms, foreign bureaus, and the Today show.
• Fiona Dear, Nine's executive director of news and current affairs, announced the cuts in an email to staff on Thursday.
• The restructure is part of a project called 'Future News', which has been in development for over a year.
• Dear stated the cuts are not about saving money but adapting to industry changes.
• The network has invested in new technology, training, and equipment for the Future News project.

First wave of redundancies hits Nine's news division

Up to 20 positions in television news and current affairs are to be eliminated at the Nine Network, marking the initial phase of job cuts that executives warn will continue. The redundancies target the network's Sydney and Canberra newsrooms, its foreign bureaus, and the production team behind the Today show, according to an internal email obtained by The Daily Telegraph. The cuts represent the first tangible outcome of 'Future News', a sweeping overhaul of the network's news production that senior leaders have been developing for more than a year. The project was unveiled to staff at a town hall meeting on Thursday, where the scale of the transformation became clear.

Fiona Dear's memo signals more cuts to come

Fiona Dear, Nine's executive director of news and current affairs, sent a memo to staff on Thursday afternoon warning that the initial 20 redundancies were only the beginning. 'We've said from the beginning that this will touch all roles in some way, shape or form,' Dear wrote in the email, which was seen by Crikey. Dear emphasized that the restructuring was not a cost-cutting exercise. 'I want to be very clear that cost is not driving our decision-making,' she stated. 'This isn't about doing the same work with fewer people to save money; it's about acknowledging that the work itself is changing across our industry and we must adapt to survive and thrive.'

Future News: a radical overhaul of production

The Future News project represents what Nine describes as the largest investment in its news and current affairs division in decades. The initiative involves new technology, systems, and workflows designed to revolutionize how the network produces and delivers news. Staff were told that all roles across the division would become more streamlined and multiskilled as a result. The overhaul comes as Nine grapples with steep declines in television earnings, a trend that has accelerated with the rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix and YouTube, as well as social media giants like TikTok. The network is seeking to reinvent its broadcast news model to remain competitive in a rapidly changing media landscape.

800 staff face uncertainty as restructure unfolds

The Nine Network's television news division employs approximately 800 people across Australia. The initial job cuts will affect a fraction of that workforce, but the memo's language suggests that further redundancies are inevitable as the Future News project rolls out. Dear's email stressed that the changes would touch every role in the division, though she did not specify a timeline or total number of positions that may eventually be eliminated. The network has not commented on whether voluntary redundancies will be offered or if compulsory layoffs are planned.

Industry-wide pressures drive transformation

Nine's restructuring reflects broader challenges facing traditional broadcasters worldwide. The network's television earnings have been in decline for years, squeezed by shifting viewer habits and advertising revenue moving to digital platforms. The Future News project is an attempt to streamline operations and invest in technology that can reduce the cost and complexity of producing broadcast news. While Dear insisted the cuts are not about saving money, the timing coincides with a difficult period for Australian media. The ABC, the national broadcaster, is currently grappling with a pay dispute that has led to staff walkouts and a 24-hour strike, disrupting regular programming. Nine's move signals that even the largest commercial players are not immune to the pressures reshaping the industry.

Unanswered questions about the scale of job losses

The announcement leaves several key questions unresolved. Nine has not disclosed how many jobs will ultimately be cut across the news division, nor has it provided a detailed timeline for the Future News project. Staff have not been told whether the redundancies will be voluntary or compulsory, or what severance terms might apply. The network has also not specified which roles or departments will be most affected beyond the initial 20 positions. As the restructure proceeds, the newsroom faces a period of uncertainty, with employees waiting to learn how their jobs will change — or whether they will exist at all.

A test of Nine's commitment to journalism

The Future News project is a bet that Nine can adapt its news operations to a digital-first world without sacrificing journalistic quality. The network has invested heavily in new technology, but the job cuts raise questions about its ability to maintain the depth and breadth of its coverage. Dear's message to staff sought to frame the changes as an evolution rather than a retreat. 'We must adapt to survive and thrive,' she wrote. For the 800 employees of Nine's news division, the coming months will reveal whether that adaptation comes at a human cost that outweighs the benefits of modernization.

The bottom line

• Nine Network is cutting up to 20 news jobs initially, with more redundancies expected as part of the Future News project.
• The redundancies target Sydney and Canberra newsrooms, foreign bureaus, and the Today show.
• Fiona Dear, executive director of news and current affairs, stated the cuts are driven by industry change, not cost savings.
• The Future News project has been in development for over a year and involves new technology and workflows.
• Nine's television news division employs about 800 people nationally.
• The restructuring reflects broader pressures on traditional broadcasters from streaming services and social media.