Macpherson, the publisher of Pasadena Now that covers news and current affairs in the southern California town near Los Angeles, is now dealing with both bouquets and brickbats for his decision to hire two reporters in Mumbai and Bangalore to write about city council meetings.
Yeah, absolutely it's his right to hire whatever "authorized journalists" he wants--and a Southern California readership is probably dumb enough to fall for it.
But just so we're clear: a prime purpose of a free press is to be a watchdog over government. If anyone believes foreign mercenaries have a compelling interest to act as members of The Fourth Estate, I've got a bridge for sale--and yet government oversight is exactly where this creature MacPherson wants to assign his contractors. It's also interesting that--under Ohio law, for instance--these hired foreigners would have access to concealed carry permit names, but a "non-professional" citizen gun rights blogger would not.
And it's not exactly like India enjoys unfettered freedom of expression.