SmartNews staff shift

ONLINE public relations and Internet content provider SmartNews has shed staff from its WA office in an attempt to consolidate its costs and make it more attractive to an eastern states investor.

The sacked staff’s role has been taken by Sydney-based content provider Editforce as part of a move to shift the site’s focus to the east coast.

SmartNews director and Turnbull Porter Novelli senior partner Caroline de Mori said the business was being restructured to take advantage of alliances it had on the east coast.

Two listed Melbourne-based Internet businesses are believed interested in the WA-based website.

One potential SmartNews suitor is Sofcom, chaired by former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett.

Sofcom managing director Kerry Stynes did not rule out that his company would be making a bid for the finance website.

One of major SmartNews investor ECAT Pooled Development Fund’s partners Phil Rees said SmartNews’ main revenue streams came from providing public relations services to listed entities and providing content to websites.