The price of outsourcing: A content analysis of the effects of early deadlines on the sports section in The Oklahoman

Abstract

Newspapers have begun outsourcing their printing to cut costs, and this study employs a content analysis to examine its effects on the award-winning sports section of The Oklahoman. Before outsourcing, it was a typical metropolitan daily covering all important games with few missing late scores. Afterward, problems associated with earlier deadlines and printing in another city included late delivery, incomplete or missing game coverage, and numerous missing scores. These problems led to complaints that the publisher acknowledged. The results indicate outsourcing has costs that management should consider before employing it. Although the newspaper followed economic principles, these problems could damage its reputation.