WIN Network will proceed with a restructure of NBN News operations set to take effect this month.
The decision was communicated to staff by WIN TV’s General Manager Stevan Djokic via an internal memo, ending a consultation period that had been underway since the plan was first reported by Mediaweek.
The company had previously said a final decision was expected by 17 June 2026. The restructure will take effect from Monday, June 29th.
When the restructure was proposed last week, NBN proposed a raft of cuts that would, in some cases, slash newsrooms by half their staff.
In Newcastle alone, the number of journalists would fall from 10 to 4 – a reduction of 6 full-time roles – while camera operators in the city would drop from 7 to 3.
Across the broader network, the plan flagged the removal of around 10 journalist positions and nine camera operator roles spanning newsrooms in New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
WIN Network had cited shifting viewing habits, rising cost pressures, and technological change as the drivers behind the overhaul, saying the proposed model would allow NBN News to continue delivering a dedicated local news, sport, and weather bulletin each weeknight.
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The mood inside NBN News following the confirmation is one of distress, according to a source within the organisation who spoke to Mediaweek on condition of anonymity.
“Sadness, disappointment, loss, despair, anxiety – just a few words to describe how we are feeling. But we are all supporting each other as best possible,” the source said.
The source also raised concerns about the handling of internal communications, alleging some staff had learned of their redundancies informally before receiving any official notification.
“There’s also been people who ‘accidentally’ found out their job has been made redundant yet still haven’t received any official comms,” they said.
“The communications coming out of WIN are pretty woeful.”
Staff had also voiced concerns during the earlier consultation process.
One employee told Mediaweek last week: “If they offer me a position that’s not close to my home and I say I can’t do it, they won’t have to pay out a redundancy.”
Newcastle, the heart of NBN News operations, faced the sharpest reductions under the proposal.
The sports presenter team – previously comprising two full-time roles – would be eliminated entirely and replaced with a single Journalist/Sport position.
The full-time Hair & Makeup role would move to part-time, while the MEX Operator roles, the part-time Archivist, and the Executive Assistant to the news director were slated for removal.
The proposed structure also outlined significant title changes at the leadership level.
The Director of Regional News would become a State News Director, reporting to a newly created National News Director position.
The Chief Producer title would be replaced by a State Editor/Executive Producer. That role has now fallen vacant.
The company confirmed in its memo that Colin Baldwin resigned during the consultation period, and the State Editor/Executive Producer position has since been added to the list of available internal vacancies.
Employees are encouraged to express interest as part of the redeployment and selection process.
The restructure proposal had also pointed to a tighter content-sharing arrangement with Network 10.
Two new “Journalist TEN” roles appeared in the proposed structure – one sitting under the State Editor/Executive Producer, another under the Chief of Staff – reflecting the relationship between NBN News and Network 10 under the Birketu-controlled WIN Network.
New positions flagged in the proposal include a State Producer/Lineup role and a full-time Social Media Journalist, while two NXT Operator/Studio roles would replace the outgoing MEX operators as part of a technology platform upgrade.
Beyond Newcastle, the proposal outlined cuts across multiple bureaus. Coffs Harbour, Lismore, and the Central Coast were each set to lose one journalist, while Tamworth would drop from three journalists to two.
Camera operators in Coffs Harbour would shrink from three to one. Port Macquarie and Taree were the only bureaus to emerge from the proposal with their numbers intact.
With the restructure now confirmed, the company said it remains committed to exploring redeployment opportunities for affected staff.
The company had previously told staff it would conduct the process “transparently and collaboratively,” prioritising redeployment opportunities across WIN Network.
Interviews for available positions are scheduled to begin on 18 June 2026, and the redeployment process will remain open until Friday, 26 June 2026.
From Mediaweek