JournalismPakistan.com | Published January 13, 2013 | JP Staff Reporter
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ISLAMABAD: Express News Television has recently cut down staff at its bureau offices in Sargodha and Rahimyar Khan, reportedly due to financial issues.
According to insiders, the staff reductions have left these offices severely understaffed, with no bureau chiefs and only a reporter and a cameraman remaining at each center. Previously, each bureau had a team of four to five reporters and three cameramen, indicating a significant downsizing.
In a related move, Express News laid off about 20 employees from its Lahore office in July. Most of those affected by the layoffs had previously been accommodated from the Express Group’s English language channel, Express 24/7, which was abruptly shut down in late 2011.
This trend of downsizing points to broader financial challenges faced by the media group, impacting not only the operational efficiency of its bureaus but also raising concerns about job security within the organization. The reduction in staff could potentially affect the quality and breadth of news coverage from these regions.
June 19, 2020: Urdu newspaper Jehan Pakistan has laid off four reporters and seven newsroom staff in Islamabad, shifting to an online-only format. The management has promised to settle all dues, including three months' wages, for the terminated employees.
May 03, 2020: ARY Digital Network announces a three-month salary cut to cope with the financial crisis due to COVID-19, exempting staff earning up to Rs100,000. DawnNews Television also reduces salaries by 10 percent.
May 01, 2020: DawnNews Television cuts staff salaries by 10 percent and halves fuel allowances amid ongoing financial challenges. This marks the third pay cut in a year, highlighting the severe impact on Pakistani journalists facing layoffs and delayed salaries since 2018.
March 05, 2020: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemns the sudden closure of the Daily Asian newspaper, which left 60 journalists jobless. PFUJ urges the government to regulate media licenses to prevent misuse.
October 02, 2019: ARY News and Aaj News Television have terminated 150 employees as part of a downsizing strategy, drawing condemnation from the IFJ and PFUJ. This follows previous layoffs at Dunya News, highlighting growing concerns over job security and unpaid wages for journalists in Pakistan.
October 01, 2019: Dunya Media Group has terminated over 80 employees from its Multan station, following similar layoffs in Lahore. The company plans to centralize operations with fewer staff. The move, which includes paying three months' salaries to laid-off employees, has faced condemnation from journalist unions and the IFJ.
September 26, 2019: Aaj News Television has laid off about a dozen employees from its Lahore and Islamabad offices, including assignment editors, reporters, and camerapersons. The terminations were reportedly abrupt, with no prior notice and no payment for three months' salaries as required by contract.
September 25, 2019: 24 News has terminated Sajid Mughal, their Malikwal correspondent, reportedly due to pressure from a political figure. Mughal had recently reported on an audio involving Muhammad Khan Bhatti, which led to his house being occupied and false FIRs filed against him. He claims his dismissal was without a show-cause notice or reason.
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