Australian journalists refuse to cover Paris Olympics amidst strike action "No way to do more for less"

Journalists from Nine Entertainment’s publishing division have overwhelmingly voted to strike for five days starting this Friday, potentially disrupting the company's coverage of the Paris Olympic Games.

Nine, which has invested $100 million for the 2024 Olympic broadcast rights, is facing industrial action from its newspaper staff, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The strike, beginning at 11 am on July 26, will affect all newspaper staff in Paris but not television coverage. Nine has sent around 200 personnel to cover the Games across various platforms.

Editorial staff from the Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times, and WAtoday voted against a pay offer after contentious meetings with Nine’s publishing managing director, Tory Maguire. The revised offer of 3.5% in the first year, 4% in the second year, and 3% in the third year was deemed insufficient due to rising living costs.

The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) has planned rallies at Nine offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth in conjunction with the strike. MEAA’s Michelle Rae criticized Nine for asking staff to do more for less and stressed the strike is about fair wages and ethical practices.

The strike follows Nine CEO Mike Sneesby’s announcement of 200 job cuts, including 90 positions from legacy mastheads, due to economic pressures and reduced advertising revenue. Staff dissatisfaction also stemmed from Sneesby’s decision to carry the Olympic torch in Paris amid job cuts and ongoing negotiations.

Nine stated that the strike will not impact the newspapers' operations or Olympic coverage, assuring readers of continued access to comprehensive reporting. The company emphasized its commitment to resuming negotiations and described the offer as fair and reasonable.

Nine Entertainment has secured exclusive rights to the next five Olympic Games, from Paris 2024 to Brisbane 2032, for $305 million.