The San Francisco Bay Guardian reports this week on the effects of "contracting out" what had been government services.  The big loss is that journalists -- and, hence, the public -- have lost access to its data and the power of oversight.  

See S.F. spends billions on nonprofit contracts without adequate oversight. It's a recipe for disaster.
By Matthew Hirsch
Most public officials don't know how to efficiently manage a government that does most of its work through third parties.
http://www.sfbg.com/39/23/cover_foi_nonprofits.html