That is probably the next step. The signs are in the air:
The job posting was a head-scratcher: "We seek a newspaper journalist based in India to report on the city government and political scene of Pasadena, California, USA."
A reporter half a world away covering local street-light contracts and sewer repairs? A reporter who has never gotten closer to Pasadena than the telecast of the Rose Bowl parade?
Outsourcing first claimed manufacturing jobs, then hit services such as technical support, airline reservations and tax preparation. Now comes the next frontier: local journalism.
It is all about money. Journalists in India come cheaper than journalists in Pasadena, California. But the savings would be even bigger if the city government could be run from Mumbay, too. Come to think of it, a newspaper owned and run by Indians for the benefit of the citizens of Pasadena would save a lot of money, too. The funny thing about outsourcing is that it doesn't usually work in that direction.
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Cross-posted on TAPPED in a slightly modified form.