The Coronavirus pandemic impact continues to haunt the media houses across the country and even big publications are no exception.
On Wednesday, there were reports that the Times of India has laid off several journalists across the country as part of second-round of pandemic triggered downsizing exercise.
In Kerala, as many as 20 journalists were shown the exit door in Times. While 15 journalists from the editorial and five journalists from the Kochi Times supplement have been laid off. This includes senior journalists who have worked with the group for many years.
Apparently, all these journalists were terminated without any notice. They were given a notice period of two months to find other opportunities. They just got the messages in their WhatsApp and were asked to send in their resignations.
Not just in Kerala, the legacy paper has downsized across departments and states, with an attempt to cut down costs. In Tamil Nadu, the paper has sacked five journalists.
The Hyderabad bureau has laid off 10 journalists. From the Bengaluru office, three staff members including an employee involved in Sunday Times, have been laid off.
The paper has also reportedly laid off eight scribes from Nagpur, three from Goa, and 5-7 staff from Delhi. The layoffs have been done across departments including finance, editorial, HR, marketing, circulation etc.
The reason cited was the pandemic triggered losses incurred by Bennett Coleman and Company Limited or BCCL, Times of India’s parent group in 2020.