The 'D'-word has made a welcome return to top-level comments about Fairfax Media's print publishing future: That's right daily newspapers.

After a much-publicised period in which chief executive Greg Hywood acknowledged the inevitable - that there would come a time when weekday print editions of the Australian publisher's metro titles were no longer viable (which no doubt, there will) - he has told staff the current models involve daily print "for some years yet", while admitting to have considered other options.

Speculation, especially among writers in the rival press, has been that this would be the year for Fairfax's daily print editions to cease, and Hywood in any case, has had the problem of talking up the more-sexy digital publishing side to investors who want to hear about that.

He was doing it again after Monday's announcement of a new top editorial structure for The Age in Melbourne and the Sydney Morning Herald following the departure of SMH editor-in chief Darren Goodsir, who has apparently retired from journalism.

In a message to staff, he says changes to the company's publishing model involve "even greater primacy of our digital publishing focus". And to make staff feel even less comfortable in their seats, there's the appointment of metro publishing managing director Allen Williams to a similar position in "transition publishing", whatever that is.

You'd wonder who is advising what has clearly been a public relations disaster, lapped up by The Australian and others.

On Monday, editorial director Sean Aylmer announced that James Chessell has been appointed national editor for the two metro dailies, responsible for federal politics, business and world coverage, with Lisa Davies and Alex Lavelle as editors of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age respectively.

The two editor-in-chief positions have been abolished, Mark Forbes having left the post at The Age in December amid harassment allegations.

Chessell, who is European correspondent of the group's Australian Financial Review, won a Walkley Award for business journalism in 2014. All three will report to Aylmer.

Chris Janz, who has been overseeing new publishing initiatives including the Allure business unit as director of publishing innovation, has been appointed managing director of metro publishing.

Now will everyone get back to their desks - especially those at The Oz - and try to promote the idea that there is a future for news media and we're not all hellbent on self-destruction please?

Peter Coleman

Pictured: James Chessell moves to a new role across Fairfax's flagship metro dailies