New day for News Limited papers as Barry Johnson retires

Newspaper printing legend, Barry Johnson, retires from News Limited, while Wayne Bailey moves on to the role of deputy national production director.

After 47 years with the company, Barry Johnson, group technical manager, has decided to retire as of 31 December. “I’m turning 69 at the end of the year so it’s time to pull the plug,” he told Print21.

Johnson (pictured) started out at as a compositor at News Limited in 1964 in Canberra, where he worked on the production of the first edition of The Australian, something that he considers a career highlight. “Apart from Mr Murdoch, I genuinely believe I’m the last remaining person to have done that,” he said.

He also listed being involved in a billion dollar upgrade of News Limited print centres around the country in 1987 and working at the New York Post facility for two years as major standouts of his working life.

Johnson also served as a director and president of PANPA in the late 90s.

Asked what he plans to do in retirement, Johnson said: “I’m putting my feet up”, adding that he would still continue to read newspapers, a product he believes is far from dying.

“You’d have to be stupid not to realise that circulations are diminishing, but not at a great rate that should be worrying people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wayne Bailey, production manager at the News Limited print centre at The Mercury, Hobart, relocates to Sydney next month to take up at the role as deputy national production director.

In his new role, he will work to improve the production processes at News Limited’s 12 print sites nationally and in Papua New Guinea, increasing efficiency and implementing new systems.

Bailey said he was looking forward to the challenges of his new role. “Our print sites around the country have some of the best equipment and technology, so the next phase of development – refining our processes – is an exciting and important one,” he said.