ABC archivists and librarians are in a state of shock after management unveiled plans to abolish 58 sites and get journalists to investigate and file their own stories.
Journalists and producers working on breaking news, news programs and daily programs such as 7.30am will have to search for archive material themselves and are expected to record metadata for any new material in the system.
Sources told Guardian Australia that there are 17 more contract sites in the archives that will be abolished and that much of the affected archival staff is based in regional areas.
Research library staff will continue to assist with research programs such as Four Corners and Background Briefing, but will not be available to assist with ABC daily news or co-productions.
Sound libraries will no longer add new commercial music releases to the music bank, and producers will have access to music from programs.
“After thoroughly evaluating and considering all aspects of this organizational change, we’ve determined that the work done by some of our ABC file team members is no longer necessary, has evolved, or can be combined with other functions that fit our plans for the future state of the ABC files, “staff were told.
The ABC section of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which held meetings for affected staff on Wednesday, said the measure was “devastating news for many ABC employees and has been a shock to teams across the country “.
Four more positions will be laid off in television post-production, as the roles are being replaced by automatic services.
The post-production proposal says it will now automate manual checking of program quality by ABC specialists “to make sure it meets ABC broadcast standards.”
“The proposal suggests that the [automated] The system will also improve workflows across broadcast channels, ABC iview and ABC Archives and between teams, including ABC Audiences and the classification team, “says the change proposal.
The ABC said the layoffs came as part of the station’s transition to digital and on-demand services, and to improve workflow and efficiency.
“These proposed changes are the result of the extensive digitization of the ABC Archive collection and the introduction of new tools and systems that allow for different and more efficient work practices,” a spokesman said.
“In 2021, approximately 90% of our audio and 35% of our video tape collection became digital files. More than two million content assets are now available to manufacturers. content on your desktops using the ABC Digital Content Archive (CoDA).
The ABC proposes to introduce 30 new roles, including “content browsers” that will work in newsrooms to help journalists use ABC’s digitized files.
The destruction of the archive’s staff follows the dismantling of the ABC’s landmark historical and sound libraries in 2018.
Librarians knew the collection intimately and suggested music for documentaries and other programs.