Wolfgang Krach, editor-in-chief of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, had a clear vision: “What we needed was one brand with quality as the priority. Paid content with online first. Cross-media with print, digital editions, and online.” Above all, he needed to end the separation between print and web news – to create a unified newsroom while reassuring his staff that what made them all different wouldn't be lost. The challenge was significant, but the right content planning tool could make it manageable.
Unifying the Newsroom with Kordiam
At the World Publishing Expo (#WPE15) in Hamburg, where Wolfgang was speaking, there were many nods of recognition from the audience. Combining news hubs is the way the publishing business is going. But where once there was a feeling that the combined newsroom required a staff of multi-skilled one-man-bands – able to film video, write, or tweet – that approach seems to have largely been abandoned.
“Cross-media means collaboration,” elaborated Krach, “and quality requires many experts, so we don't force people to go out with a video camera... though we do ask them to try.”
A little later that day came the announcements of the World Digital Media Awards, very much the pin-ups of what is possible in digital media. One of the outstanding winners was The Straits Times with a series of videos called “It Changed My Life.”
Videographer Shawn Lee Miller had shot a series of cinematic-quality three-minute interviews with people whose experiences, struggles, and setbacks had transformed their lives and required superhuman efforts to overcome. They really are extraordinarily moving.
Quality and Collaboration in Cross-Media Publishing
Just as interesting from a professional point of view was that Shawn didn't come from a newspaper background at all. He'd been working for RazorTV, the video arm of the newspaper's holding company, and found himself folded into the paper's newsroom. He was candid that at first the nature of video for a news site meant that he found himself missing the opportunity for cinematography.
'It Changed My Life' also changed his because the stories started with a series of interviews done by a text-only journalist, but one who had the idea of reaching out to the video specialist in another department.
Quality and collaboration – exactly what Wolfgang Krach was looking for. Nobody asked the journalist to pick up an iPhone to realize the idea, and nobody forced the filmmaker to write the stories.
Aside from the breathtaking videos themselves, what the Straits Times really earned the award for was the skill with which it combined and coordinated individual efforts across different skill sets and departments. Life-changing stuff.
The Role of Kordiam in Achieving Cross-Media Excellence
By using Kordiam, Süddeutsche Zeitung can streamline their editorial content planning and enhance cross-team coordination. Kordiam facilitates the seamless integration of different media formats, ensuring that all content is planned, managed, and executed efficiently across various platforms. This approach not only improves multi-platform content planning but also helps maintain high standards of quality and collaboration.
In an age where integrated communications are vital, Kordiam's content planning tool proves indispensable for newsrooms striving for excellence in cross-media publishing. The Süddeutsche Zeitung's journey highlights the importance of combining expertise and technology to create a unified, efficient, and high-quality newsroom.
