When Finland’s national broadcaster Yle set out to overhaul its editorial planning, the mission was clear. They needed to have a planning solution which could be integrated to other solutions used in the newsroom. With thousands of professionals working across TV, radio, digital, and regional desks, the challenge was not just about finding the right technology. It was about aligning people, processes, and platforms. 

At Editorial Days 2025, Executive Producer Anu Vilkman and Product Owner Hanna Siren shared how they navigated the change. What emerged was a story about clarity, coordination, and building a smarter newsroom. 

A common planning tool for a National Newsroom 

Yle’s previous planning setup couldn’t keep up with the scope of their editorial work. With 31 locations and dozens of editorial units, stories often got lost in fragmented documents and disconnected tools. Teams were duplicating efforts without realizing it. “We wanted all content creators to put their work in one system and see what others were doing,” said Vilkman. “It was about getting the full picture.” And Kordiam gave them one unified map. Every story, platform, and contributor could now be tracked in one place.  

Build or Buy? 

Yle debated whether to build their own tool or adopt a solution already available in the market. After careful evaluation, they decided to buy. The key deciding factor was their need for flexibility and speed. They wanted a platform that could evolve with them and reflect the best practices being shaped across other leading newsrooms.  

Kordiam made it possible to adapt without delays. Editors could customize what their teams saw, using filters and fields tailored to their needs. Journalists could plan and update stories in real time. Content moved smoothly between systems without manual copying or reformatting.  

“We realized that we wanted to hop on the train and start using a solution already out there,” said Siren. “Kordiam gives us the ability to respond to business needs quickly.” 

A Fast, Structured Rollout Across the Newsroom 

The Kordiam implementation started with deep preparation. A team of 20 from across Yle came together to plan every detail. They set up Story Card structures, rundowns, symbols, and colors. The process was slow but deliberate. 

From there, they introduced a wider group across the organization of early adopters called lighthouses. These users helped identify training gaps and shaped how Kordiam was introduced to the broader newsroom. “We learned how not to have the trainings,” said Vilkman. “Two hours was enough to get started. People figured out the rest.” They then introduced brief training videos to help reinforce key steps. 

Editorial Workflows That Actually Work 

Over the last year, Kordiam has transformed how Yle plans and publishes. All planned stories begin in Kordiam. Contributor’s work is visible to each other making planning easier. Editors can prioritize top stories. And platform-wide views facilitate planning across platforms. 

“Everyone working on a story is visible. That’s really important,” said Vilkman. 

The change went beyond planning. Kordiam’s “top story” label doesn’t just organize newsroom priorities. Yle also uses it to inform their recommendation algorithm, giving editorial judgment a role in how stories are surfaced to audiences. 

Integrating with Intention 

Integrations have also been a key factor in Yle’s success using Kordiam. However, to avoid overload, Yle started with only the most essential integrations. They linked Kordiam to their CMS using a ready-made Drupal module. Security reviews, single sign-on, and mobile verification were all part of the initial rollout. 

Once the system was stable, they expanded beyond the initial integrations. Their MVP setup included their Drupal-based CMS and Ceiton, used for shift planning and resource notes. Later, they added links to image and video asset management solutions. 

What’s Working and Where It Can Improve 

“After six months, we felt confident enough to shut down the old system,” said Siren. “Now Kordiam is the only place we plan.” 

One year in, more people are using Kordiam than the old planning tool before, giving everyone from journalists to technical staff better access to planning and collaboration. Camera operators, editors, and technical teams which did not use the previous planning tool now have the same visibility as journalists and producers. 

Challenges remain. Some users log in only once a week, so they have difficulty navigating their way in Kordiam. Complex views with lots of stories or filters can be slow to load, which adds friction when teams need to act fast. Simultaneous saving sometimes leads to overwritten content. “Even though we have challenges, we’re sticking with Kordiam,” said Siren.  

Empowering Everyone to Contribute 

Teams across platforms now plan in one place. Everyone involved in a story can see what others are doing, which makes it easier to coordinate and prioritize what matters most. 

“We had to explain why we were changing. We need to see what everyone’s working on. Now we finally can. That has changed how we work together,” said Vilkman. 

Want to see how Yle made it happen? Watch Yle’s full Editorial Days 2025 presentation recording.