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Just in from the ABC:

The ABC is set to reduce staff numbers with a major shake-up of production resources.

Managing director Mark Scott today announced the creation of ABC Resources, a new division aimed at providing the ABC with a more flexible, multi-skilled production workforce.

Under the changes, the ABC will use a mix of internal and external production, will replace TV news studio technology with an emphasis on studio automation, and graphics for ABC TV news bulletins will be centralised in Sydney and Melbourne.

TV news journalists will trial desktop editing systems.

“This new technology gives us the opportunity to reduce capital and production costs,” Mr Scott said.

“We plan to introduce automated studio systems in our television news studios around the country. It will involve greater multiskilling and fewer studio staff.

“There will be full consultation with news staff, studio crews and unions. We will be seeking to minimise redundancies through redeployment and retraining where possible.”

Mr Scott says the ABC has a responsibility to taxpayers to be as efficient as it can.

“One of the great challenges for the ABC is to keep faith with our traditional audiences on radio and TV, while keeping pace with audience trends in the rapidly emerging digital media space, notably the delivery of content via broadband,” he said.

“To meet this challenge we need to harness the potential of new technology and have a more flexible workforce.

“We know that workplace change is tough everywhere,” he told The World Today.

“These changes strengthen the ABC for the future…even though it’s a little tough to go through.”

Graeme Thompson, the secretary of the ABC section of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), says the union is ready to talk to management about the changes.

Mr Thompson says although he does not oppose the introduction of new technologies, he does have some reservations.

“Automation of TV studio will limit production,” he said.

“It will drive further production outsourcing to the private sector.There will be a lot of anxious people in the ABC workforce.”

He says the union wants to talk to management about how its members can be reskilled and retrained.

The changes come into effect from July 1.