Although no one yet knows what the “long-term side effects” to outsourcing are, media companies around the world are increasingly outsourcing to make ends meet and strengthen financials in difficult economic times, Reuters reported Tuesday.

MediaNews Group, a U.S.-based newspaper publisher, is that latest to look into outsourcing as a solution.

Thanks to the latest technologies and increasingly easy ways to communicate around the world, “whether your desk is down the hall or around the world, from a computer standpoint, it doesn't matter,” said Dean Singleton, publisher of MediaNews Group, according to the Associated Press. “One thing we're exploring is having one news desk for all of our newspapers in MediaNews ... maybe even offshore.”

Reuters predicts that as “the financial crisis continues to depress media stocks and debt, and ratchets up the pressure to trim more costs, don't be surprised to read more about outsourcing.”