Newspaper publisher Neue Westfälische successfully switches to block editor and integrated planning

Neue Westfälische in Bielefeld has standardised and modernised its production and planning processes by introducing the Blockeditor and the integrated planning of the EditorialOrganiser. The project was realised in close cooperation between ‘NW’, the partner publishers Mindener Tagblatt and Lippische Landes-Zeitung as well as alfamedia and marks an important milestone on the way to fully integrated and digital editorial work. The project was successfully completed in summer 2024.

Our goal at alfamedia is to provide customised solutions that create real added value. This project is an excellent example of how we can promote the success of our customers through close cooperation and customised approaches.
– Michael Marcks, CEO alfamedia

The path to changeover

The changeover began in spring 2023 with the decision by the publishing houses to further optimise their planning processes towards online first by updating to the EditorialOrganiser with block editor and content planning. The publishers have been pursuing the digital-first strategy for several years. A key challenge was to integrate planning for online and print in the editorial system across the board. Following extensive user feedback, the block editor was revised and given a redesign that won the acceptance of users.

In November 2023, the time had come: the block editor was introduced on schedule in all four companies. The production-critical system was seamlessly integrated into the existing workflows. Even before the changeover, the publishers had pursued the ‘EO first’ concept, says Stefan Weber, Editor in Charge of Editorial Technology at Neue Westfälische. With the update, the editorial teams now had access to the new tools for integrated planning in addition to the modernised editor.

The first day of the changeover went without any major complications, a result of the careful preparation and excellent cooperation between the teams. Media-IT-Partner, the IT service provider of the participating publishers, managed the changeover of the ‘heavy technology’.

Training and internal communication

The successful introduction of the new system was accompanied by extensive training. Key users from all publishing houses played a central role in this: they drew up training plans and instructed their own teams in the new ‘EO’. The internal training courses prepared all employees comprehensively and practically for the new tools.

The training sessions were carried out intensively over a period of several weeks to ensure that all editors in the various companies were familiar with the block editor and the planning tools. This structured approach played a key role in increasing acceptance of and confidence in the new systems.

Label: An ingenious move

In addition to numerous detailed improvements, the introduction of labels in the EditorialOrganiser was a key element in the success of the project. They increase transparency and efficiency in planning in a simple way. Labels are assigned different colours and specific icons that allow teams to keep track of content and its workflow stages. Functions such as ‘SEO’, ‘Republish’ and ‘Social Media Push’ are labelled accordingly. This enables authors to ensure that every work step is transparent and traceable. ‘Employees with different functions assign their labels, and in the end it becomes an overall picture,’ says Weber. What’s more, they can be easily managed directly in the EditorialOrganiser administration.

The introduction of the labels has significantly improved our production. The transparency we now have in the work processes is a great advantage. Everyone knows exactly what content has what status and what still needs to be done. This creates clarity and efficiency.
– Stefan Weber, Neue Westfälische

The idea of introducing labels originated in the project team. The positive feedback from the editorial teams shows that this extension has been a complete success. This improvement has enabled publishers to fine-tune their production processes and ensure that no important steps are overlooked.

Introduction of integrated planning

Following the successful implementation of the block editor in November 2023, the publishers focussed on the introduction of the integrated planning tool. The aim was to further standardise and optimise the production and planning processes. This new integrated planning enabled publishers to manage both digital and print content better and more transparently.

The implementation of integrated planning was a crucial step in enabling our customers to manage both digital and print content more efficiently. Thanks to intensive collaboration, we were able to create a solution that is perfectly tailored to their needs.
– Oliver Andrich, CTO alfamedia

It was ensured that the specific needs of each house were taken into account, so that the seamless integration of the new planning tools into the existing workflows took centre stage. Particular attention was paid to improving transparency and optimisation in daily planning. This enabled the publishers to harmonise workflows while retaining the flexibility to react quickly to individual requirements.

Challenges and future-oriented solutions

Despite the successful changeover, there are still challenges that the publishing house will tackle together with alfamedia. These include further improving the print planning views in the EditorialOrganiser in order to organise production even more efficiently. Topics such as the differentiation between A and B goods from incoming mail and the integration of AI into the editorial workflow are also future requirements that need to be addressed.

A glimpse into the future

The switch to the block editor and integrated planning in EditorialOrganiser was a significant step for the publishing house and its publications. The close co-operation between the publishers involved and the support provided by alfamedia contributed significantly to the success of the project. The new processes provide a transparent and well-structured basis for editorial work and enable the publishing house to continue to position itself for the future. Together with alfamedia, Neue Westfälische wants to continue to meet the increasing demands of digital channels as well as the print market and continue to produce high-quality content.

Switching to the block editor and the integrated planning in EditorialOrganiser was absolutely the right decision. In view of the positive results and the improved workflows, we would take this step again at any time.
– Stefan Weber, Neue Westfälische

The publishing house is on the right track and looks towards the future with confidence, ready to realise further potential and continuously improve its work processes. The successful introduction of the EditorialOrganiser with the block editor and integrated planning shows that technological innovation and organisational adaptation can go hand in hand to ensure sustainable success.