Bloodbath In Media During #Lockdown: Times Of India Fires Entire Team, Outlook Stops Operations?

Being a part of the media industry, this story is hard to write for us, but we need to take the hard pill.

In the last 24 hours, there has been a bloodbath in the media sector, as some of the biggest news publications have fired their entire teams.

And this happened during the ongoing lockdown, which has now been extended to May 3rd.

Political parties are trying to convince media firms not to terminate their employees.

This is indeed unprecedented times.

Times of India Fires Entire Team, Outlook Stops Operations

As per a Facebook post shared by Times of India journalist, they have fired the entire team of Sunday Magazine.

Journalist Nona Walia wrote: “The entire team of Sunday magazine of Times of India asked to leave. Got a call from my boss Poonam Singh. Sacked after 24 years from a company I served with love for more than two decades. Wow.”

Times of India is world’s biggest English newspaper, and them firing their old timers so ruthlessly, during the lockdown is shocking.

Even ET Panache and Bombay Times teams will be merged, and approximately 50% of the staff will be fired.

Even today, during the speech, PM Modi asked all employers not to terminate their employees during the lockdown period.

Besides, as per incoming reports, Outlook magazine has stopped their print publication for an unspecified period.

News Nation too has fired their entire digital content team.

Salary Cuts, Forces Leaves For Media Employees

Besides firing employees, some major media companies are resorting to salary cuts and forced unpaid leaves.

Both Indian Express and Business Standard have asked their employees to take salary cuts.

And 50% of Quint employees have been asked to go on unpaid leave after April 15th.

Meanwhile India Today will most probably fire 46 reporters, 6 cameramen and 17 producers.

Congress leader Manish Tewari has asked Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar to intervene, and ask all media companies not to terminate employees during this crucial period.

We will keep you updated, as more details come in.