Outsourced Editing?

I don't know how serious an issue this is but two web sites are reporting on an outsourcing outfit that is looking to India to take on editing tasks.

India to take on journos

India to take on journos
Simon Hayes
AUGUST 01, 2006

CALL centre and technology jobs have been the main target of offshoring to low-cost operations in places such as India and the Philippines, but journalism is in the sights of one of India's largest offshorers.

Satyam Computer Services, the $US1.39 billion ($1.81 billion) software development firm that counts among its clients Coles Myer, Woolworths, AMP and Mayne Logistics, is planning to build up its media and entertainment unit.

In the short term that means hiring a group of high-level publishing executives to increase its content management and repurposing operations.

In the long term, expect to see employees of the Indian outsourcer subediting and maybe even writing.

"If you look at traditional media companies there's an enormous amount of autonomy at property level and a pride of authorship that drives the entire business," said media and entertainment senior vice-president Kevin English.

"People will be reluctant to let that go easily.
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Satyam Begins Journey To Content Creation Offshoring; Satisfied With Mechanical Work For Now

August 1, 2006

By Nikhil on Tue 01 Aug 2006 02:48 AM IST

Satyam Computer Services, having divested its stake in Sify.com last year, plans to enter the media services offshoring space. It intends to work towards getting a share of the content creation market, but is not underestimating the difficulties it is likely to face from traditional media houses who might see this as loosening of the editorial grip on content. The company’s focus right now, it said, is on developing relationships by doing copy editing and layout, and advising publishers on reworking of archived content:

“We’re beginning conversations right now, however, and that’s an indication of the future, especially for news aggregators such as Google and Yahoo. Pulling the information together is a mechanical process that may be outsourced," says media and entertainment senior vp Kevin English.
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