A "devastating blow" for regional journalism has been announced with the WIN Corporation shutting four of its newsrooms.
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Staff at multiple WIN television newsrooms were pulled into meetings late on Wednesday and told their offices would be shut down on June 28, sources close to the broadcaster said.
The affected offices include NSW newsrooms in Orange, Dubbo, Albury, Wagga Wagga and Queensland's Wide Bay (which covers Hervey Bay and Bundaberg) that produce weekday bulletins.
The closures will affect 35 to 40 staff, including casuals, across the local television news services.
WIN Central West journalist Alison Dance was among those who took to social media following the announcement.
"A devastating blow for regional Australia, WIN News closing four regional newsrooms," she posted to Twitter.
While her colleague in the Central West, Annabelle Amos said it a sad day for regional news.
"The camera operators, editors, and journalists from four WIN newsrooms were told that they wouldn't have a job to return to from next Friday 28th," she posted to Twitter.
"It's a sad day for regional news, but we WILL push on and go out with a bang."
WIN TV moved its Tasmanian news bulletin to its Wollongong offices last year, cutting its staff from 18 to nine.