Case studies

The Christian Science Monitor

Editorial Production Strategy and Implementation Support

Background: The Christian Science Publishing Society (CSPS), publishes an international daily print newspaper (The Christian Science Monitor), a multimedia website, e-mail edition, and personal digital assistant (PDA) edition. CSPS embarked on a project to identify an Adobe-based editorial production system that provides efficient workflow and allows centralization of content that can be repurposed for web, print, and other outputs. A high-level project plan had been developed, as part of the initial phase of the project. CSPS requested support from Really Strategies to assist in the early stages of requirements development and project scoping based on our experience in similar engagements with publishing clients.

Solution: A Really Strategies senior analyst worked in conjunction with a CSPS project manager to complete the requirements phase by:

Providing input to the vendor landscape for possible editorial production system implementation
Facilitating meetings with key stakeholders
Documenting existing newsroom and magazine workflows
Developing input and materials for RFP draft
Preparing future web/print workflows based on industry case studies

Result: Really Strategies conducted a thorough review of the Monitor's QPS editorial production process and provided detailed workflow documentation for the Monitor newsroom and two magazines. Really Strategies drafted an RFP for InCopy/InDesign system selection that CSPS is currently using during its vendor selection process. Really Strategies also held an internal seminar that discussed future web/print workflow possibilities based on industry case studies.