The Coronavirus effect has had its impact on the economy of the country seriously and many industries are facing severe financial crunch.
As reported in these columns, even media industry is no exception. Several media houses have started cost-cutting exercises – newspapers have reduced the number of pages and their circulations, pruning the overhead expenses in the form of salary cuts and in some exceptional cases, sacking of staff.
Some newspapers have closed their print editions and are continuing only online editions, which is also for paid readership. Electronic media, too, has been resorting to staff reduction and salary cuts.
On Monday, the largest circulated English daily Times of India announced sacking of all its employees on the Sunday Magazine edition across the country.
It is not exactly clear whether it has decided to wind up the Sunday features section, which is the most widely read part of the paper till recently.
This has led to the talk that other newspapers might also follow the suit and it will result in large scale removal of journalists gradually. The insecurity feeling is haunting the journalists in a big way.
Coming back to Telugu media industry, Andhra Jyothy reportedly sacked 50 senior journalists on the desk till now and hundreds of stringers, contributors and correspondents in the district level. Eenadu also sent several journalists on long leave.
Latest information is that Eenadu has started winding up its not-so-profitable edition centres like Kadapa, Kurnool etc. It remains to be seen how long this trend will continue.
