Thanks to Jeff Gore for this Food for Thought forum news nugget he uncovered for us Tuesday about Redding’s only daily newspaper, and my former employer.
Jeff shared a trade-journal excerpt that reported the Record Searchlight’s ad production work will be handled by Express KCS – a company based in San Jose, described in part on its Web site as, “World class offshore advertising for newspapers.”
(Dear Express KFC – I mean KCS: In this case, “World class” is a compound modifier, so your sentence should read “World-class offshore . . .” You’re welcome. No problem.)
Sorry about that. I’m back now.
Although Express KCS is California-based, this snippet from its Web site clears things up regarding work-site locations:
“Express KCS uses our thirty-year heritage in high-end prepress and location in India to bring offshore graphic arts within reach of businesses worldwide. Our quality of service is the reason our clients include newspaper, magazines, prepress companies and agencies. Contact us to find out how you can benefit from local service at offshore rates.”
(Dear Express KCS – May I just call you EK? Me again. I realize you deal with newspapers, so surely you’re familiar with the Associated Press Stylebook, “The Journalist’s Bible.” It suggests figures for numbers 10 and above. For example, your thirty-year heritage” should read “30-year heritage” since 30 is higher than 10.
These are the kinds of errors that drive newspaper journalism folks crazy. Same thing with using “its” when you mean “it’s” and vice versa. Also, when you listed your client categories, your singular reference to “newspaper” should be plural. Might want to change that. )
Sorry for the interruption, everyone. Now where was I? Oh yes, RS newspaper ad production going to EK, which sends work to India.
What troubles me most about this Eky deal is many Record Searchlight human beings lost their jobs when their ad production projects went overseas. This is a lousy way to treat loyal employees, many of whom worked at the paper for decades as editors and publishers came and went.
I realize outsourcing means more money for corporate offices. I realize outsourcing means more money for companies like EK.
But tell me, how does outsourcing help our north state community? Who wins – besides the corporate bean-counters – when local, loyal employees are dumped because their jobs can be done more cheaply by workers on the other side of the world?
Here’s another EK quote, this time, about ads:
“Newspapers depend upon a smooth production operation for their livelihood. Advertisements are not a necessary evil, rather the life blood of both daily and weekly titles. However, the cost is high, when servicing ultra-local clients with individual demands, while turning round artwork on a dime. The risk of getting this wrong is higher, however, possibly meaning life or death to a publication.
Fortunately, Express KCS understand this, and have newspaper production knowledge in bucketloads. As India’s leading independent prepress company, we have the skills to carry out ad production, 24/7, from ad order to delivery of completed PDF. With logistics managed from your local office in the US or UK, we’ll work with you to make the process seamless.
We’ll also give you a business model that works for you, where you’re able to budget costs and see the savings going forward.”
EEEKK! Doni here. No offense, but you seriously need a copy editor. Quickly now, this is just my opinion, but your line – “… newspaper production knowledge in bucketloads” – is a total dog. Bucketloads of newspaper knowledge? It just doesn’t work.
And when you wrote, “Express KCS understand this,” it should say, “Express KCS understands this,” since your organization’s name is singular, demonstrated by your next sentence that begins, “As India’s leading independent prepress company …”
Plus, when you wrote,”… while turning round artwork on a dime,” did you truly mean round artwork? Change “round” to “around” – unless round artwork on a dime is what you actually meant.
My God. Don’t tell me you’ve got the United States Treasury contract, too!
Finally, my thoughts turn to north state advertisers (aka life blood, and ultra-local clients with individual demands), our friends and neighbors. Does anyone at the RS tell these “ultra-local clients with individual demands” when/if their local ads are outsourced ultra-elsewhere?
And what about the money the RS gains from its offshore savings?
Are those savings passed onto our local advertisers in the form of lower ad prices?
Just curious.
Hey, I don’t have the market cornered on questions. Check out the part of EK’s Web site that deals with newspaper for yourself.
Bring along a red pen. You’ll need it.
