From the Crikey grapevine, the latest tips and rumours …

More cuts at Fairfax? This from an anonymous source:

“Fairfax just announced moving all pre-press functions to company 2adpro in India, many made redundant.”

For non-publishing types, pre-press refers to the people who work the publication up before it is printed (typesetting, page layout, etc). Fairfax does indeed work with 2adpro. Fairfax released a statement yesterday proposing to merge its pre-press facilities, which would take 12 months to carry out and mean 75 redundos.

It’s understood the company is talking to staff and unions about this proposal.

‘Curation’ newsroom starts up. Much secrecy around a new online start-up based on the Gold Coast. Brisbane-based firm i-recruit has been sniffing around newsrooms looking for staff for the project, which is described as a “news curation” site. Potential staffers have had to sign confidentiality documents just to be interviewed and see job descriptions.

Criteria for a $50,000-plus position as “online news curator” we’ve seen says they’re building an “online community news network — with special emphasis on regional and rural markets”. The site will be staffed 24/7 with three rotating shifts. Responsibilities include reviewing “online content from external sources including AP, ABC, Reuters, local content” and determining “order in which articles will appear and in what category or categories where appropriate”:

“In this role you will be collating information from a variety of online community news sites. Your responsibilities will include management of content contributions from initially receiving the articles, though to picture matching, editing, classification and posting.”

It’s all very hush-hush; our source was worried about the legal implications of breaking the confidentiality agreement. No word on when we might see the results, or who’s behind it, but some staff were starting work this week. Do you know more? Let us know, won’t you …

University gossip … Tips has been hanging around the dreaming spires of our unis lately — turns out there’s plenty going on. We do love the sound of this uni:

“University finances are under strain. How much do they spend on ‘planning retreats’ at luxurious hotels for up to 100 staff, employment of contractors to do their work, and for membership at Melbourne’s exclusive clubs for all of management? I even know of an office where a masseuse was paid to massage the necks of staff.”

Tips asked Crikey’s editor for a neck massage, but we were cruelly rebuffed. Meanwhile Swinburne’s massage fund must be a bit short, the uni is looking for more dosh — is it true that the uni is hoping to make $80 million in flogging off its Prahan and Lilydale campuses — “a bit rich bearing in mind that the Pratts gave a lot of money specifically to Lilydale campus”, as someone told us?

Then we heard this:

“La Trobe University is currently modelling and developing proposals to merge with the University of Melbourne. The university is staffing up its top positions with University of Melbourne ex-staffers and the proposal is being modelled and discussed by its senior leadership group.”

We put that to a La Trobe spokesman, who declared: “It is completely and utterly incorrect!” Tips know that when a media spokesperson busts out the exclamation mark, it’s time to step away from the keyboard.

… and is this academic Craven or not? A tipster took umbrage at this comment about Julia Gillard by Greg Craven, VC of the Australian Catholic University, in the university’s insight journal last year.

 Our miffed reader objected:

“As a so-called constitutional lawyer, doesn’t he realise that we don’t elect the leader. Next ‘the right ranga rollicking’ is disgustingly misogynist and s-xist. On her knees suggests to many people the activity often known as ‘rogering’. Obviously Australian Catholic University knows where the money is, once Tony Abbott is safely installed and the fantasies of the VC  however tacky are also obvious.”

Goodness. For our part, it seems Craven is making a good point in this piece about the appalling way we treat our politicians — he seems to be mocking people who would kick the “ranga” Gillard when she’s down. You can make up your own mind.

Pollies and their pets. Yesterday, inspired by NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell’s experiences with his new puppy, Tips brought you some of our most animal-loving pollies (no Cory Bernardi references, thanks). A reader pointed us to this pic of WA Labor Senator Louise Pratt and her dog, Flynn, which hangs in Parliament House:

And for a very cute gallery of America’s First Dog Bo Obama (he takes the back stairs when getting on board Air Force One), check out this effort from Politico.

*Heard anything that might interest Crikey? Send your tips to boss@crikey.com.au or use our guaranteed anonymous form