The Chief Minister has personally written to the WIN Network to condemn its decision to move its Canberra news broadcast to the Wollongong studios, amid an outpouring of support for the local news team.
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The television network confirmed on Wednesday Danielle Post would be replaced by a Wollongong-based presenter after she finishes up at the end of the week. Despite the downsizing of the local operation, WIN said it remained committed to a live half-hour Canberra bulletin.
Chief Minister Katy Gallgher took to Twitter on Wednesday night to express her disappointment, and wrote to the networks general manager Paul Vautier, urging him to reconsider the decision.
I just cant believe that in taking the decision to broadcast from Wollongong that the WIN news team in Canberra will be able to deliver the standard of news bulletins that have been bradcast from the Kingston studio, the Chief Minister wrote.
The relationship between WIN staff and Canberrans runs deeper than just the delivery of news. The anchors, in particular, get very involved in local community life and have been warmly embraced by local community organisations and the community in general.
I am sure that there will be a strong reaction from the local WIN audience to this decision (as there is when WIN broadcasts from Wollongong during the quiet Christmas period). I would urge WIN network management to reconsider this decision.
Ms Gallagher said in her letter she would be available to discuss the issue should the network wish.
She was joined by other local politicians and national media personalities who denounced the decision on social media.
A WIN Canberra account was quickly set up on both Facebook and Twitter to rally against the changes to the local bulletin.
