WordblogJournalism in a changing world

It probably takes a non-journalist to even think of the possibility of covering city hall from 8,000 miles away. Yet that is what James McPherson, founder, editor and publisher of Pasadena Now has done.

The very idea of outsourcing local reporting to India sent a shudder through me. But what is the real objection? Council meetings are on the internet and the telephone works pretty well these days. A good reporter in India (and there are plenty of them) will probably do a better job than a second-rate local.

McPherson, who apparently has no experience as a journalist, told Forbes: “I think it could be a significant way to increase the quality of journalism on the local level without the expense that is a major problem for local publications. Whether you’re at a desk in Pasadena or a desk in Mumbai, you’re still just a phone call or e-mail away from the interview.”

With two Indian journalists costing a bit over £5,000 a year each in wages the attraction to an employer is evident.

Mark Potts, who is on the board of Backfence.com, sees it differently:

This is ridiculous, and not just because every locally televised city council meeting I’ve ever seen is a hard-to-follow broadcasting travesty. As any journalist knows, there’s just no substitute for firsthand experience, actually being in the room, sensing the tenor of the audience and, most importantly, being able to buttonhole players in the story for interviews. It makes no sense. Would anybody even think of covering India from Pasadena? I think not. It won’t work in the other direction, either.

And you know what? Citizen journalism would be even cheaper. Maybe McPherson should find somebody in the community who’s passionate about what goes on in the city council, and let them file reports. You don’t have to go halfway around the world to find somebody to cover a local story.

I agree with Potts. The people who report on a community should be part of that community, sharing its culture and values.But another side of me says I have come across many good Indian journalists who could just pull this off. Shudder!