In support of the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader

The article "Modern plan for local news in community" (Leader, July 14) and full page "A Message to Our Community" from Fairfax Media (Leader, July 16) do not spell out what staff cuts and production changes could mean for the Leader as we know it.

Do a bit of investigating and you will find that cuts of close to 50 per cent are foreshadowed, including the abolition of subeditors, all full-time photographic staff and some full-time reporters. This award-winning, quality community newspaper cannot possibly retain its close ties to Sutherland Shire and St George under such a drastic cost-cutting regime. Nor could it sustain the depth of knowledge and experience evident in the journalism and photography.

If the justification is to keep the business model healthy, disabling the ability to connect with the community will surely adversely affect relevance and profits into the future.

Advertising in a publication that has lost connection is less appealing.

Change is not to be avoided, but needs to be considered.

Helen Mabbutt, Gymea Bay