Fears of job losses as WIN confirms overhaul of 50-year-old news bulletins

Ray Dinneen and Murray Finlay present a nightly one-hour news bulletin from Newcastle that started in 1972. (Supplied: Channel Nine)

Media academics fear for the future of regional journalism after WIN Corporation announced cuts to one of Australia's oldest nightly news bulletins.

The current one-hour 6pm weeknight news bulletin on NBN in northern NSW will be cut to 30 minutes and shifted to 5:30pm, while local weekend bulletins have been axed.

NBN News staff were told this week that WIN management will look at the news structure over the next three weeks as they assess resources.

Media academics say they fear for the future of regional journalism after the drastic downsizing of one of Australia's oldest nightly news bulletins.

NBN News at 6pm has been a mainstay for audiences across the Hunter Valley for more than 50 years and the wider Northern NSW for more than 30.

On Tuesday, NBN staff were notified that the current one-hour weeknight news bulletin, anchored from Newcastle, would be cut to 30 minutes and shifted to 5:30pm.

NBN's weekend bulletins have been axed, including its highest-rating Sunday night news.

It is unclear at this stage how the changes will impact staff.

However, University of Sydney Professor of Media, Catharine Lumby feared this could be the death knell for local journalism.

The ABC understands the local news bulletins will move to a pre-recorded formation under the changes made by WIN. (Supplied: NBN News)

WIN Corporation purchased NBN News from Nine in May for almost $15 million.

NBN News has broadcast an hour-long bulletin from Newcastle since the early 1970s.

It also broadcasts news bulletins on the Central Coast, Tamworth, the Mid North Coast, and Northern Rivers.

NBN News staff were also told on Tuesday that WIN management would look at the news structure over the next three weeks as they assess resources.

In a statement, WIN Network CEO Andrew Lancaster said the changes would take effect from June 27.

"The changes to our weeknight bulletins are designed to deliver more local content, more local stories and a stronger connection to the communities we serve across Northern New South Wales," he said.

"You cannot take away those weekend bulletins and reduce the amount of production you're doing," he said.

"You're going from an hour bulletin to half an hour, and you can't do that without job losses.

The ABC understands the local bulletins will no longer be broadcast live, with the half-hour segment to be pre-recorded in Newcastle.Ray Dinneen was the anchor of NBN News for 35 years and retired in 2010.

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