The Sun-Times Media Group, which last month laid-off an estimated 30 advertising personnel, has agreed to outsource its advertising production to Affinity Express of Elgin, the newspaper company announced yesterday. The agreement, which will result in $3 million in annual staff reductions, is part of the Company's plan to reduce operating expenses by $50 million.

The Company's stock briefly spiked upwards on the news, before ending the day at $1.18 a share, down $0.15 or 11.28%.