Successful go-live of the new editorial system at Mittelrhein-Verlag

On 5 November, Mittelrhein-Verlag celebrated the launch of its new editorial system – a pioneering step made possible by its long-standing partnership with alfamedia. After extensive planning and implementation phases, both companies were proud to reorganise the editorial work system under the heading ‘Digital First’.

As part of an open tender, Mittelrhein-Verlag 2023 decided in favour of a fresh start and the comprehensive renewal of the editorial system. Despite the long shared history of Mittelrhein-Verlag and alfamedia, it was crucial to take an objective view in order to identify the best solutions for the future. The decision was ultimately made in favour of alfamedia again – proof of the innovative strength and quality of our services.

“The challenge was not only to fulfil the technical requirements, but also to develop a system that really supports and enriches the work of the editorial team. With our flexible approach, we were able to create real added value for Mittelrhein-Verlag that goes far beyond traditional solutions.” – Oliver Andrich, CTO alfamedia

The path to the new solution was marked by intensive collaboration: from the end of March to the beginning of June 2024, teams from both sides worked in several workshops to raise the existing workflows to a new level.

“We first had to develop a precise idea of our editorial processes. Only then could the technology follow. This approach ultimately led us to a solution that is not only state of the art, but also suits us.” – Lars Hennemann, Editor-in-Chief Rhein-Zeitung

Particular highlights of the project were the introduction of a media-neutral workflow with the newly established EditorialOrganiser and innovative planning boards that enable stringent and clear process control. Metadata transfer was optimised and the use of lists in the traditional sense is a thing of the past.

Another highlight is the integration of freelancers into the editorial process. They now have a user-friendly, separate editor screen, which eliminates the need for time-consuming training.

The kick-off in March was followed by an intensive specification phase. Implementation began in June and lasted until the beginning of September. Thanks to the strict feature freeze in September, the system was smoothly prepared for the go-live. The training sessions, which ran until the end of October, received excellent feedback from the editorial team. Supplemented by in-house explanatory videos and newsletters, it was ensured that all employees were optimally prepared for the new way of working.

“The openness in our collaboration with alfamedia was an absolute success factor. We communicated transparently where we stand and what our goals are. This clarity helped us to create an innovative solution that improves our work in the long term.” – Lars Hennemann, Editor-in-Chief Rhein-Zeitung

With the successful go-live, the exciting practical phase now begins. ‘Content is everything,’ emphasises Lars Hennemann. ‘The new system is not an end in itself, but a tool that takes editorial work to a new level.’ The system achieves this level above all thanks to the expertise of alfamedia, which contributes not only technical skills but also an in-depth understanding of the daily processes of newspaper publishers. The development was led by experts whose experience ensures that the system is practical and user-friendly, making everyday editorial work much easier.

alfamedia is looking forward to continuing the successful co-operation and is proud to accompany Mittelrhein-Verlag on this innovative path. Despite some challenges, both partners have moved even closer together, and we are convinced that the new workflows and the EditorialOrganiser, which has been set up from scratch, will provide the Mittelrhein-Verlag editorial team with the best possible support in making full use of their creative and journalistic skills.

‘Together with Mittelrhein-Verlag, we have ventured a new beginning that shows that the key to successful innovation lies not only in technology, but in close cooperation and mutual trust.’ – Michael Marcks, CEO alfamedia

We look towards the future with excitement and are ready to master future challenges together.