Jenkins 1

Sam Jenkins
Professor Bills
ELang 410
October 19, 2014
Outsourcing: Yea or Nay?
What do Cains Pickles, John Deere, Johnson & Johnson, and Time Magazine have in

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common? Though these businesses sell diverse products and services, all of these companies
outsource jobs. In some fields, outsourcing is completely feasible. For example, mMaking

Comment [KH1]: Interesting opening!

pickles or tractors or shampoo in India is surely similar to making those things in America. On

Comment [KH2]: Perhaps we could

mention that some people do not believe this
statement. Some people are proud of madein-America products and try not to buy
outsourced material.

the other hand, some companies push to outsource editing jobs. Eediting, while still a job,
requires individuals that to have a deep understanding of the language of the publication, the
culture behind the language, and the finesse to incorporate both the language and the culture two.
ThusBecause, Time Magazines has pushed for outsourced ing editing jobs, Time Magazine may

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save will end in money, saved and but the quality of edits could possibly be lowered.
This decision to outsource editing jobs affects me as a freelance editor. Most likely, , as I
will most likely end up living in Canada with my Canadian husband, and, therefore, could be
seen as an outsourced position. Many editing professionals see outsourcing as a negative for
publications, and it their complaints are reasonableis easy to understand why. In a discussion on

Comment [KH3]: Something like this

phrase? More specific than it?

the LinkedIn group called Publishing and Editing Pprofessionals, individuals writer and editors

Comment [KH4]: Good personal

application.

discuss this controversial topic of outsourcing editing positionsin great detail.

Comment [KH5]: Possible topic sentence.

made it clear that his origins were not American, and that professionals shouldnt judge a

Comment [KH6]: We could try using

names to be more personable. Or we could try
just saying a commenter answered . . . or
another person said . . . rather than
assigning numbers to people.

persons editing abilities on whether they are native or non-native. While tThis claim sounds

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Times New Roman, 10 pt

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Companies should consider hiring non-American editors as an option. Commenter 11

Commenters opinions are not necessarily in the order they appear in the discussion online.

Jenkins 2
reasonable at firstbecause , and surely examples surely exist of excellent American English
editors that are non-not native to the United States of America., there are far tToo many negative

Comment [KH7]: Something like this

sentence? Clearer now for the reader?

examples exist of non-native editors; however, and difficulties that arise when outsourcing
editing to make it worth the money saved in doing so. Other commenters agreed with this

Comment [KH8]: Unclear. Who receives

the difficulties? What does it refer to?

statement and made this idea clear in their own comments.

In contrast to supporting non-American editors, others would claim that outsourcing
editors is never a good idea. Specifically, Commenter 2 stated that an outsourced editor, being

Comment [KH9]: Possible topic sentence.

different culturally, would have a hard time noticing mistakes in American English writing. For
example, Commenter 2 gave the example ofexplained how she worked on a textbook which she
worked withand , where the date of Columbus arrival in the Caribbean was printed incorrectly.
She argues that outsourced editors didnt would have greater difficulty noticinge incorrect facts
because of their cultural differences. Many other commenters agreed with Commenter 2s views,
but these individuals stated that outsourced editors have poor English was poorskills, as well.
Some individuals consider outsourced editors to be a waste of money and time. Three
different commenters gave examples of companies they worked with forwho outsourced editing
that outsourced editors. Because these companies outsourced editing jobs,, and these commenters
ended up having to correct the editing that was supposedly completed by the non-American
editorsdone.
While one commenter mentioned her example was just one companys experience, the
overarching conclusion of many commenters was that the following: although companies try to
save money by outsourcing editing, but companies end up wasting it money by hiring local
editors to fix the fixedcompleted manuscripts. At the same timeNonetheless, other commenters
also lamented that some its companies have a difficult time to finding enough qualified editors

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sentence.
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Jenkins 3
to do the work here in the United Statesat home. Consequently, , leaving the gap between
feasibility and ideals is left wide open.
Some people may wonder whether universal English is actually true. Perhaps The most

Comment [KH11]: Possible topic

sentence.

convincing argument was presented by Commenter 3Commenter 3 presented the most

convincing argument. He stated that the Time Magazine is a U.S. publication. This magazines

Comment [KH12]: Correct?

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content , and would be different if people not from U.S.non-American editors edited itthe work.

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He is an editor from the U.K., and while although he saysid that he would be delighted to work
on Time Magazine, his editing would dilute and change the magazine. He further argues that

Comment [KH13]: Great line, Sam.

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universal English is a myth, and that to outsourcinge editing is to do a disservice to Time.

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While uUsing local editors may seems unfeasible for some companies., However, I agree
with Commenter 3 that outsourcing editing changes for a publication such as Time Magazine

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would change the content and intent of the magazine.. I realize that as an American freelance

Comment [KH14]: Clearer now for the

reader?

editor living in Canada, it will be difficult to get finding editing work from certain companies
will be difficult for me. I know that I will that want to keep their editing local and consistent, as

Comment [KH15]: Maybe finding work

wont be difficult.

their publicationy should. However, oOutsourcing editing sometimes threatens quality, which is
one of the most important aspects of the written word. Although outsourcing editing jobs may
sometime be unfeasible and unbeneficial for some companies, I believe that I will have more
opportunities to edit. As an American, I will help companies from my background and
understanding of American culture and American usage. Additionally, by living in Canada, I will
have more editing positions open to me by local companies. I may have to do more work
initially, such as learning about Canadian culture, history, and usage. But I would valuably
contribute as an editor. As a result, I will have greater opportunities for editing jobs.

Comment [KH16]: Possible ending. Try

ending on a positive note?
Additionally, you would be an exception to the
no-outsourcing rule because you are
originally American! You have the best of both
worlds.