Tea off at Express News

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 30 August 2012

Express News TV has begun an austerity campaign following recent layoffs. The management has stopped providing free tea and has cut down on facility usage, including air conditioning.

Summary

LAHORE: After sacking several employees recently, Express News TV has started an austerity drive at their Lahore office.

Reports say the management has banned tea for the last three days which was served to staff free ever since the channel became operational in 2009.

Insiders tell JournalismPakistan.com the decision is also likely to be officially notified soon.

“Some of us are now making our own arrangements because it is hard to work without having a cup or two of tea,” said one Express News journalist.

This is not all. The office administration has also shut down most of the air conditioners much to the surprise of the staff.

However, a reader associated with Express News reported it was a supply chain issue which had now been resolved. He denied the air conditioners were switched off.

The Express Media Group also runs The Express Tribune newspaper and Urdu language Daily Express.

The group abruptly closed down their English Channel Express 24/7 late last year reportedly because of poor revenues and low viewership. However, the managers instead started an infotainment channel named Hero besides also launching a Sindhi language newspaper this year.

KEY POINTS:

• Express News has banned free tea for staff after 14 years.
• Air conditioners have been turned off, causing complaints among employees.
• The austerity measures follow recent layoffs at the channel.
• Express Media Group also operates The Express Tribune and Daily Express.
• The closure of the English channel last year was due to poor revenues.