Comments on: Sweetheart, get me rewrite… in Bangalore http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/ by Jeff Jarvis Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:29:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mike http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346052 Mike Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:58:03 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346052 Wait until the rest of the US media corporations get ahold of that idea. Is there room and sufficient security for all the chaos with a sudden influx of canned journalists at the soup kitchens and flop houses? Wait until the rest of the US media corporations get ahold of that idea. Is there room and sufficient security for all the chaos with a sudden influx of canned journalists at the soup kitchens and flop houses?

]]> By: Wordblog » Blog Archive » Remote control subbing http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346039 Wordblog » Blog Archive » Remote control subbing Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:56:38 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346039 [...] the United States, Jeff Jarvis has picked up on Greenslade’s report and is wholly approving. He writes: “I’ve been wondering for years why Gannett, say, isn’t doing this: at least [...] [...] the United States, Jeff Jarvis has picked up on Greenslade’s report and is wholly approving. He writes: “I’ve been wondering for years why Gannett, say, isn’t doing this: at least [...]

]]> By: Adam Hodgkin http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346038 Adam Hodgkin Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:42:10 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346038 Why not try Amazon's Mechanical Turk for subbing? www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome That is joke (!). I dont think the MT is yet up to subbing, but there are 'human' elements in the design process for digital newspapers and magazines that are very hard to automate. We have considered subcontracting a set of tasks to the Mechanical Turk. Exact Editions has a very largely automated way of enhancing and converting PDFs to a database. For example, we have a need to decide for arbitrary PDF files (and they can be very arbitrary) *which* page is their table of contents. This might be especially difficult for languages that we dont speak. So what better system to use than the Mechanical Turk. When we are grappling with too many editions and too many languages we will be sorely tempted to do this.... Why not try Amazon’s Mechanical Turk for subbing?

http://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome

That is joke (!). I dont think the MT is yet up to subbing, but there are ‘human’ elements in the design process for digital newspapers and magazines that are very hard to automate. We have considered subcontracting a set of tasks to the Mechanical Turk. Exact Editions has a very largely automated way of enhancing and converting PDFs to a database. For example, we have a need to decide for arbitrary PDF files (and they can be very arbitrary) *which* page is their table of contents. This might be especially difficult for languages that we dont speak. So what better system to use than the Mechanical Turk. When we are grappling with too many editions and too many languages we will be sorely tempted to do this….

]]> By: Mark M. Hancock http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346030 Mark M. Hancock Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:36:38 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346030 "For that matter, why not outsource editing to the Associated Press?" You trust AP over your own staff? Wow, your staff must have ... "I <b>treid</b> hard to get Tribune Media... " Oh. I see. “For that matter, why not outsource editing to the Associated Press?”
You trust AP over your own staff? Wow, your staff must have …
“I treid hard to get Tribune Media… ”
Oh. I see.

]]> By: links for 2007-03-26 « David Black http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346024 links for 2007-03-26 « David Black Mon, 26 Mar 2007 02:22:11 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346024 [...] BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Sweetheart, get me rewrite… in Bangalore “New Zealand newspaper company, APN News & Media, is outsourcing 70 sub-editing and design jobs” (tags: internet newspapers journalism outsourcing) [...] [...] BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Sweetheart, get me rewrite… in Bangalore “New Zealand newspaper company, APN News & Media, is outsourcing 70 sub-editing and design jobs” (tags: internet newspapers journalism outsourcing) [...]

]]> By: Tom http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346019 Tom Sun, 25 Mar 2007 21:49:47 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346019 Tangentially related perhaps. I work for very large British law firm in London that routinely emails proofreading work to an Indian firm ("Office Tiger") in Chennai. It's reached the stage where a New York lawyer might send her draft to us in London when going home, and if we're too busy to process it then we can forward it to India instead. When the US lawyer gets back to her desk the next morning the document is waiting for her, and she doesn't care where it was amended. A good example of globalisation. (One problem that we did have was that it was their company policy for them to adopt Western names when talking to us for some reason: "Steve" instead of Firoze, "Kathy" instead of Ranitha - but we kept sniggering at them and they've stopped doing that.) One previous experience I had was when the Microsoft Encarta was adapted for the European markets. The British wanted to put Bullfighting into the Sports section, the Spanish insisted it went into the Performing Arts section. Tangentially related perhaps. I work for very large British law firm in London that routinely emails proofreading work to an Indian firm (”Office Tiger”) in Chennai. It’s reached the stage where a New York lawyer might send her draft to us in London when going home, and if we’re too busy to process it then we can forward it to India instead. When the US lawyer gets back to her desk the next morning the document is waiting for her, and she doesn’t care where it was amended. A good example of globalisation.

(One problem that we did have was that it was their company policy for them to adopt Western names when talking to us for some reason: “Steve” instead of Firoze, “Kathy” instead of Ranitha - but we kept sniggering at them and they’ve stopped doing that.)

One previous experience I had was when the Microsoft Encarta was adapted for the European markets. The British wanted to put Bullfighting into the Sports section, the Spanish insisted it went into the Performing Arts section.

]]> By: SpaceyG http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346017 SpaceyG Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:21:16 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-346017 A MSM reporter/editor copyedited a blog entry of mine the other day. I was grateful for his charity work/(unexpected) input as I often need a good stiff edit. Bloggers could outsource their copy editing requirements to MSM old timers. A lot of 'em will need work soon. Beats flipping burgers I suppose. A MSM reporter/editor copyedited a blog entry of mine the other day. I was grateful for his charity work/(unexpected) input as I often need a good stiff edit. Bloggers could outsource their copy editing requirements to MSM old timers. A lot of ‘em will need work soon. Beats flipping burgers I suppose.

]]> By: Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Saturday squibs (updated) http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345972 Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Saturday squibs (updated) Sun, 25 Mar 2007 05:27:22 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345972 [...] newspapers, but this, in New Zealand, seems to be a magnitude or two greater than that. UPDATE: Jeff Jarvis likes the [...] [...] newspapers, but this, in New Zealand, seems to be a magnitude or two greater than that. UPDATE: Jeff Jarvis likes the [...]

]]> By: Rex Hammock http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345960 Rex Hammock Sun, 25 Mar 2007 03:12:04 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345960 Or, here's an idea: Outsource it to a custom publishing company. (Disclosure: I've been an outsource provider of all that publishing stuff for two decades. We let companies/associations and, yes, other publishers, focus on what they do best -- and we handle the rest.) Or, here’s an idea: Outsource it to a custom publishing company. (Disclosure: I’ve been an outsource provider of all that publishing stuff for two decades. We let companies/associations and, yes, other publishers, focus on what they do best — and we handle the rest.)

]]> By: Juha http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345959 Juha Sun, 25 Mar 2007 03:10:53 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345959 The whole idea smacks of one of those management brainwaves that may end up doing irreversible damage to the publications. First, APN in New Zealand already uses the company in question to produce TV listings, an error-prone process according to NZ Herald journalists. Said company is owned by Australian Associated Press, which has as its biggest share holders APN's two largest competitors. If that doesn't make the notion bizarre enough for you, it should be noted that the company to be in charge of sub-editing and layout has no experience of doing so for the news and features sections of dailies, weeklies and monthly magazines. In fact, the company hasn't even set up the operation yet. It'd be one thing if there was a proven track record that showed the outsourcing works, but presently there's nothing at all. Seems like a risky move then. The whole idea smacks of one of those management brainwaves that may end up doing irreversible damage to the publications. First, APN in New Zealand already uses the company in question to produce TV listings, an error-prone process according to NZ Herald journalists.

Said company is owned by Australian Associated Press, which has as its biggest share holders APN’s two largest competitors. If that doesn’t make the notion bizarre enough for you, it should be noted that the company to be in charge of sub-editing and layout has no experience of doing so for the news and features sections of dailies, weeklies and monthly magazines. In fact, the company hasn’t even set up the operation yet.

It’d be one thing if there was a proven track record that showed the outsourcing works, but presently there’s nothing at all. Seems like a risky move then.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345944 Aaron Sat, 24 Mar 2007 21:49:56 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345944 Err, no Jeff. Quality is a newspaper's true essence and most reporters can't write for shit. Outsourcing subediting to a different city is one thing, a different city in a different country with a different time zone is a different matter entirely. I'm sure you don't need me to explain why. I'm not speaking as a defender of 'old' media - I left the industry a few years ago - but as someone who at least has a basic understanding of what makes a good newspaper. It's a newsroom working in harmony. With the emphasis on room. Err, no Jeff. Quality is a newspaper’s true essence and most reporters can’t write for shit. Outsourcing subediting to a different city is one thing, a different city in a different country with a different time zone is a different matter entirely. I’m sure you don’t need me to explain why.

I’m not speaking as a defender of ‘old’ media - I left the industry a few years ago - but as someone who at least has a basic understanding of what makes a good newspaper. It’s a newsroom working in harmony. With the emphasis on room.

]]> By: Mark http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345942 Mark Sat, 24 Mar 2007 20:09:59 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345942 that should be bengaluru that should be bengaluru

]]> By: Mark http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345941 Mark Sat, 24 Mar 2007 20:08:25 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/03/24/sweetheart-get-me-rewrite-in-bangalore/#comment-345941 FYI: Bangalore is now Benglauru FYI: Bangalore is now Benglauru

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