Sun-Times Media Group to Outsource Ad Production

Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2008 12:00 am

By: E&P Staff The Sun-Times Media Group (STMG) announced it will outsource its advertising production work to Affinity Express and expects to save $3 million annually by making the move.

Affinity Express, based in Elgin, Ill., has offices in Pune, India and Manila, Philippines.

"Partnering with Affinity will enable us to significantly upgrade our service to our advertisers while reducing our costs," Cyrus Freidheim Jr., president and CEO of STMG, said in a statement. "This is one in a series of actions to make our company more nimble and efficient."

STMG anticipates it will save $3 million by outsourcing print and online advertising production by staff reductions. The change will be phased in over a period of seven months.

The outsourcing agreement is part of the company's previously announced plan to lower it costs by $50 million annually.

Executives with STMG said in early February that is was evaluating strategic alternatives including an outright sale of its flagship the Chicago Sun-Times and other newspapers. The company retained the investment firm Lazard after restive shareholders pushed for a sale.

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Sun-Times Media Group to Outsource Ad Production

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