There has been talk in recent days that the media has overcooked the swine flu story.

There is no doubt that fear sells newspapers. Editors have a vested interest in talking up bad news.

But do we have the opposite problem in regards to the financial challenges confronting the Diocese?

Late last week, Allan Dowthwaite CEO of Anglican Media, told our staff that we should plan for a 50 percent cut to our Synod grant. I imagine most Sydney Anglican organisations will be planning for similar size cuts.

This prospect seems highly likely after Standing Committee decided not to draw on further capital to cushion the impact of the Diocese's investment losses.

Impact on Southern Cross

The recession means Southern Cross is getting squeezed from all sides.

Our classified and position vacant advertising is down 75 percent on last year. As managing editor, I am being forced to cut production to cover these losses. Indeed I will need to cut another eight pages of editorial content from the paper from the June edition. That will give you an indication of the scale of the problem.

Although advertising revenue covers the production and distribution of Southern Cross, the publication will not be able to continue in its current format, size and scope.

We need your feedback

Over the next two months, Anglican Media will be conducting a roll-out of surveys and other 'market' research to better understand the real communications needs of ministers, parishioners and our other key stakeholders.

To kickstart this process it would be of immense benefit to me, as SC managing editor, if you could fill out the attached poll.

Obviously any feedback here will be weighed up against feedback from other stakeholders.

The Anglican Media Council will make a final decision on the future of Southern Cross later in the year.