-- News Ltd. names Damon Johnston new editor of Herald Sun
newspaper
-- Former editor Simon Pristel resigns to pursue other
interests
-- Changes come as Australian media sector faces shake up
(Recasts First Paragraph, adds News Ltd. CEO comment in
fourth)
By Gavin Lower
MELBOURNE--News Corp.'s Australian unit, News Ltd. (NWS.AU) said
Friday that Damon Johnston would replace Simon Pristel as editor of
the Herald Sun newspaper, its biggest selling weekday newspaper in
Australia.
Mr. Johnston, who was editor of the Sunday Herald Sun, replaces
Mr. Pristel who, News Ltd. said in a statement, had resigned to
"pursue other interests."
The changes come as News Ltd. implements a restructuring that is
expected to result in an unknown number of job cuts. They also
follow the departure of three senior editors last month from
newspapers owned by News Ltd.'s rival Fairfax Media Ltd. (FXJ.AU),
which is undergoing its own restructure.
"Damon's new role will see him bring his considerable
journalistic strengths, experience and energy to Australia's
biggest-selling daily masthead as it continues to develop and build
its digital future," News Ltd. Chief Executive Kim Williams
said.
Audit Bureau of Circulation figures for the three months to
March 31 show the Herald Sun sold an average 469,377 newspapers
each weekday and 472,047 on Saturdays.
Australia's media sector is undergoing a major shift as it
adapts to readers increasingly switching to digital formats.
Revenue from advertisements is also weak, as companies wind back
spending and shift to often less expensive advertising on the
internet.
Fairfax has announced a restructure aimed at improving
profitability by focusing on its digital output, closing two
printing presses and cutting 1,900 jobs over three years.
News Ltd. last month announced plans to streamline its business
and cut duplication, which chief executive Kim Williams said at the
time would result in retrenchments and roles retired through
natural attrition.
News Corp. is the owner of Dow Jones Newswires.
Write to Gavin Lower at gavin.lower@wsj.com