MediaNews Group is ramping up outsourcing its ad production, adding its Alameda Newspaper Group properties to Contra Costa Newspapers group papers now sending files to India for processing.
The move means some 40 northern California papers, ranging from the Oakland Tribune and Fremont Argus to the Contra Costa Times, are sending their ad production files to Express KCS, a U.S. firm with offices in Gurgaon, India, according to Robert Berkeley, Express KCS’ chief executive officer.
The Times was the first MNG paper to outsource its ad production, beginning in November. By early this month, all the papers in the two groups will have made the transition, costing approximately 40 jobs. Other neighboring MediaNews Group properties, including the San Jose Mercury News, are also said to be evaluating outsourcing, but no final decision has been made.
MNG, Express KCS’ first newspaper client, signed a “multi-year” contract with the firm, Berkeley said. Financial details weren’t disclosed.
MNG began discussing the project with Express KCS last summer, Berkeley said. “They were looking for alternatives to help them reduce production costs.”
http://www.newsandtech.com/issues/2007/01-07/nt/01-07_medianews.htm