Two of my colleagues in the industry retired these last couple of weeks. Whilst both farewells honoured their achievements and commitment to an organisation, and that between them, they gave over 60 years, both occasions failed to recognise the breach left behind.

And why would they. It was a farewell, a time to toast and celebrate at ones accomplishments. Not a time to reflect on the gloomy and sorry state the Newsroom now finds itself, quickly filling its ranks with younger crews and reporters.

At a time when editors are being made redundant and reporters are asked to do the work, sound recordists are almost gone, and senior experienced cameramen are being replaced by those with lesser experience, we now find ourselves exposed and weakened by the loss of senior staff.

No contempt to those who are now starting to fill the void, in fact, they have proven to be very high-quality staff. I myself was once a budding young cameraman, full of verve and spunk, but deficient in proficiency and serenity. The difference was that as a junior, I was assigned to a senior operator, who over time, nurtured and guided and mentored me till I was able to work unaccompanied and with some ability.

In time, the ranks will be filled, the gaps plugged up, the ship made seaworthy again but mostly by people with less significant experience and perhaps lesser of a willingness to give one organisation 30 years of commitment.