Via Romenesko, news that the chain that owns the Chicago Tribune will send jobs overseas:
This afternoon I want to share with all of you a change in the way we will handle circulation customer service calls beginning in November.
Today we announced that after careful study, the Orlando Sentinel has decided to outsource our circulation customer service calls to APAC Customer Service, a U.S.-based company with operations in the Philippines. The Los Angeles Times has successfully outsourced its circulation call center through this company for several years. Other Tribune newspapers also have decided to take this step.
The average age of newspaper readers continues to climb, and now the Trib wants nearly deaf old ladies to call overseas to and talk to a Tagalog speaker to get their newspaper delivered.
I give the Journal Star ten years before it follows suit. Of course, by then then they might not have much circulation left.
Think I’m kidding? You don’t think there aren’t suits at Copley who are wetting their lips in anticipation of lowering payroll?
Tags: call centers, outsourcing, phillipines, tagalog
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
