The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
joins partners and affiliates in India in expressing concern at the recent
decision by the Outlook group to shut down three magazines it was publishing as
part of a franchise arrangement with global media concerns.
In a statement released on Friday, Outlook Publishing
(India) Ltd (OPIL), announced that it would be terminating its franchise
agreements in India with People, Geo and Marie Claire, all of which would cease publication after issues in
press were printed and delivered.
The IFJ learns that the editorial staff at these
publications had no prior warning of the management decision.
The Outlook decision comes just days after India's
biggest media group, Bennett, Coleman and Co Ltd., publishers of The Times of India, announced that it
would shut down its weekend magazine Crest,
after less than four years of trying to meet the demand for long-form
journalism.
Outlook also publishes magazines in the news and
current affairs, business, money and travel segments, all of which have been
reportedly facing financial issues on account of a contraction in advertising
support.
Employees of People magazine have subsequently approached the labour court in Mumbai city and
obtained a stay on the closure decision, pending a full settlement of dues for
all those at risk of retrenchment. It is assumed that the stay will be
applicable to all three magazines, whose employees number over sixty.
The aggrieved employees have argued that companies
often fail to settle dues that are owed, once they shut down operations and lay
off workers.
The IFJ supports all the staff of the three magazines
in their effort to get a fair settlement of all dues owed.
"We extend our solidarity to all partners and
affiliates in India as they seek to cope with a media scenario that is rapidly
turning adverse, on account of a contraction of advertising spending in the
Indian economy", said Jacqueline Park, IFJ Asia-Pacific Director.
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950
The
IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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