US media outlet outsourcing IT jobs to India

The Dollar Business Bureau

US-based Tribune Publishing Company would outsource a part of its information technology jobs to Indian firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), according to a report released by Computer World.

Though the publisher has informed its IT workforce in April that it is outsourcing work to TCS, it did not reveal the number of employees that could be affected by this plan. The dismissals may take place in summer or autumn season. TCS is likely to offer jobs to some of the employees, the report said.

Tribune Publishing Company’s IT employees have received the warning of outsourcing in the previous year-end itself. The employees were informed that the publishing unit will be going to outsource its IT jobs during the next one-and-a-half-year period, employees of Tribune said when contacted.

A spokesman from Tribune Publishing said that the company has come to this conclusion to outsource its IT division to have a responsive operating environment in its overall transformation of business. This strategic move will help the company in serving its customers, improving the systems and capabilities. This would also ensure a chance for innovation, he said.

On Monday, Tribune Publishing announced that it has received an offer from Gannett to acquire this American publication in an all-cash deal. The USA Today and other major publishing companies have also bid for buying the publication. Tribune Publishing is the owner of US daily newspapers namely - The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and The Baltimore Sun.

Another American publishing company called McClatchy also outsourced its jobs to Indian IT firm Wipro just as Tribune Publishing has to TCS. McClatchy is the owner of the dailies - The Miami Herald and The Sacramento Bee.

Earlier, a few of these newspapers have criticised the outsourcing of jobs to India. This outsourcing decision would affect the jobs of around 120-150 IT employees. It might also affect the coverage of H-1B visa issues by these media outlets, it added.