Bauer's motoring titles on move

Bauer Media is continuing to trim costs at Australia's No 1 magazine publisher with a plan to relocate almost all its car magazines from Sydney to Melbourne, including leading titles Wheels, Motor and Street Machine.

Only Top Gear Australia, which Bauer publishes in a joint venture with the BBC Worldwide, would stay in Sydney. Bauer chief executive Matthew Stanton told staff yesterday that under the proposal the magazines would shift from their office in Goulburn Street in the Sydney CBD to the company's Trader Group division in Melbourne's Oakleigh.

If the plan goes ahead, the other publications involved would be Auto Action, Australian Motorcycle News, Australasian Dirt Bike and 4x4 Australia, and Bauer's two New Zealand Trader titles, Motorcycle Trader and Trade-A-Boat. Bauer said in a statement that staff “have been invited to provide feedback on the proposal”. It is believed more than 35 employees may be affected by the move.

A company spokesperson denied one report that claimed staff on the magazines had been given one week to decide whether to move to Melbourne or take a severance package. “As the publishing business continues to change rapidly, we need to explore all ways of ensuring a sustainable operating model for the coming years,” Mr Stanton said.

“This proposed change would create a more holistic print and digital strategy around our motoring assets and maximise synergies and opportunities across these strong, complementary brands.”

Also this week the company appointed former Zoo Weekly editor Paul Merrill as editor-in-chief of its “real life” content division. Mr Merrill will take charge of Australian title Take 5 and New Zealand magazine Lucky Break as well as a series of upcoming one-shot titles, puzzle books and brand extensions.