Two weeks ago, News Corp executives and HR staff commenced more job cuts at the company’s Holt St offices. It was the second round of redundancies to sweep through the Australian arm of the business since late last year. To say thank you, some axed staff were offered a one-year’s subscription to The Australian.

Among those shown the door was David Meagher, the editor of The Australian’s WISH magazine, one of the most lucrative, advertising-filled titles at the company. He had been axed by Edwina McCann, the editorial director of News Prestige – the umbrella term for the ever-expanding portfolio of glossy magazines that News Corp publishes.