Herald Outsources to Calcutta

The bomb has dropped in the Herald newsroom. According to a story posted on the newspaper's website, the newsroom will "lose about 60 positions, including some now vacant." Overlooked in the bloodletting is that the International Edition, which has lots to do with the newspaper's reputation, "will be outsourced to...

By Chuck Strouse

June 16, 2008

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The bomb has dropped in the Herald newsroom. According to a story posted on the newspaper's website, the newsroom will "lose about 60 positions, including some now vacant."

Overlooked in the bloodletting is that the International Edition, which has lots to do with the newspaper's reputation, "will be outsourced to workers in India."

So over there at One Herald Plaza, they're wondering whether Indians will decide what gets front page play....and "whether some guy in Calcutta will be asking: 'Whereinhell is Belize?'

Oh yeah, and the story points out that the "Herald's performance has been worse than most, if not all, of [McClatchy's] newspapers." Of course, the cuts come at the end of the second quarter, and are obviously meant to keep nervous stockholders happy.

Chuck Strouse

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Chuck Strouse is the former editor in chief of Miami New Times. He has shared two Pulitzer Prizes and won dozens of other awards. He is an honors graduate of Brown University and has worked at newspapers including the Miami Herald and Los Angeles Times.

Contact: Chuck Strouse

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