NEWS LTD has announced a dramatic restructure and a series of investments that the company says will give it "renewed growth and direction" in the new media landscape.

Chief executive Kim Williams announced the company would have five operating divisions instead of the current 19 on the east coast, as part of a plan designed to “redirect our company so that it really works in today’s challenging environment”.

Earlier yesterday the company said it was bidding almost $2 billion for Consolidated Media Holdings, a deal which would give it total ownership of Fox Sports and 50 per cent control of pay-TV broadcaster Foxtel.

News Ltd, the publisher of The Cairns Post, announced further changes yesterday, with Mr Williams outlining to staff changes to the sales and editorial operations, the rapidly accelerated rollout of shared publishing technology, and a new product innovation team.

“By putting customers and innovation at the heart of what we do and by investing in our future we will continue the transformation of News into a truly multi-platform powerhouse,” Mr Williams said in an accompanying statement.

He did not say how many jobs would be affected by the changes.

“At this stage we cannot say how many roles will be made redundant as full details will be resolved with the implementation,” Mr Williams said. “Although there will be retrenchments, many roles will be retired through natural attrition.”

In a video message to staff, Mr Williams announced journalists who worked in community newspapers, and daily and Sunday titles, would now operate under a “one city, one newsroom” model, aimed at having hundreds of journalists in each state capital involved in delivering news coverage for each city.

News Ltd has already announced plans to introduce seven-day rosters across its daily and Sunday papers in each state.

The company’s digital arm, News Digital Media, will be absorbed into the rest of the company.

The changes at News come after publisher Fairfax announced plans to cut 1900 jobs over three years.

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