Story behind the sudden exit of The Age’s ex-editor Alex Lavelle

Former editor of The Age Alex Lavelle has revealed what transpired when he suddenly exited the Melbourne newspaper last year.

Former editor of The Age, Alex Lavelle, at his home in Melbourne this week: ‘There was emotional attachment, especially when you had been somewhere so long.’ Picture: Aaron Francis

Former editor of The Age Alex Lavelle says his abrupt departure from the Melbourne masthead last year was “sudden” and “emotional” and could have been avoided.

The 49-year-old has spoken publicly for the first time since he left the business after 20 years.

His exit came just weeks after Victorian newsroom staff voiced their concerns over the paper’s editorial direction being increasingly controlled by Sydney.

In June last year about 70 journalists at The Age sent a letter to the company’s Sydney-based management expressing concerns over the newspaper running a front page about the Black Lives Matter protest claiming protesters were planning violence, diversity in the newsroom and claims editorial leadership was too Sydney-centric.

“There’s always been that tension between Melbourne and Sydney,” Lavelle told The Australian.

“You’re always looking for spot fires when you’re in the role as editor and often it comes from over the back of your left shoulder.

“You can often see in a newsroom when things are going to crack and creak and you can go in and work things out, but during lockdown you are almost working in a vacuum.”

When the letter was sent nearly all of The Age’s staff were working from home, which Lavelle said made it difficult to speak directly with them about their concerns.

Fairfax Media — previous owner of The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Financial Review — merged with Nine at the end of 2018.

It’s understood many newspaper journalists were concerned about the mastheads’ editorial independence.

Executive editor of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, James Chessell, said at the time the letter did not reflect the views of many of employees at the Melbourne-based publication.

“I have no problem discussing editorial decision-making. The Age has always been a broad and lively church and should remain that way,” he said.

“On the matter of the letter I would once again say I take strong exception to the way it was handled. It was — in my opinion — not the right way to ventilate concerns about the newsroom.”

The Age staff raised concerns about ‘control’ from Sydney. Picture: David Geraghty

It was also reported that Chessell said in a staff address it was incorrect to draw a link between Lavelle’s departure and the letter.

But Lavelle confirmed the letter ultimately accelerated his departure, which was tough.

“If it hadn’t been for COVID what happened probably wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

“There was emotional attachment, especially when you had been somewhere so long and held a senior role.”

Lavelle said he went from working every moment he wasn’t asleep to leaving the paper and suddenly home-schooling four children during Melbourne’s long-running lockdown.

However, he said he received incredible support from staff and rival media outlets when his exit was announced.

Lavelle received more than 300 text messages congratulating him on his career.

“With a job like editor of The Age you know that every day is closer to the end of that role and four years have generally been the turnover of editors,” he said.

“I don’t have any regrets. I had a great career at The Age and so many great opportunities.”

Lavelle’s tenure as editor began in 2016. He achieved growth, increasing readership by 60 per cent, subscriber numbers by 30 per cent and revenue by 56 per cent in 2019.

Gay Alcorn took over as editor in September. She was previously the Guardian Australia’s Melbourne editor.

Lavelle has since started his own media consultancy business, Flex Communications, which will concentrate on spreading positive news stories about small to medium-sized businesses.

He hasn’t ruled out going back into the field he loves most — sport — which he covered for a large part of his journalism career, but is not ruling out a role in sports administration.