Survey of Newspaper Production Flow for E-paper - Kungliga ...

Johan Danckwardt
Survey of newspaper production flow for e-paper 3 Theory
3.1.1 Editorial content production flow
The editorial content production system at a newspaper usually consists of one main system
and several subsystems. The task of the main system is to collect and put together all the
different content and the subsystems have different tasks like storage of images, storage of
advertisement and delivery of sport results [Jonsson, 2005]. It is not common for a Swedish
newspaper to use only one manufacturer for all the different systems [Rehn et Al., 2004].
Text editor
In the case of Sundsvalls Tidning, the text editor divides the headline, preamble and text and
the content is written directly into the system by the reporters [Eklund, 2005]. Some systems
use plug-ins as text editors such as Microsoft Word [Jonsson, 2005]. If the texts is brought by
an external source as a news bureau it could be delivered e.g. as XML or open Quark Xpress
or InDesign documents. The television chart and stock quotations are always delivered by
external sources to Sundsvalls Tidning [Kjellin, 2005].
Image flow
Usually the images published in the newspaper and on the web are imported to the main
content system via an image system. Today Sundsvalls Tidning uses two different systems,
Pickup as a archive for older images and Newspilot for new images [Eklund, 2005]. As in the
case with editorial texts the image system can import images from external image bureaus.
Advertising systems
Today there are three manufacturers of advertising systems used in Sweden, Teito Enator’s
MPress, Mactive’s Adbase and ATex [Rehn, 2004]. The advertising systems consist of a
database containing information about the advertisements, a folder structure with the actual
advertisements, a planning tool and a booking mechanism. Placing the advertisements is the
first step in creating the layout of a newspaper. The advertisements are placed on the planned
pages of the newspaper and then sent of to the editorial department who place the editorial
content, such as the images and texts [Jonsson, 2005, Kjellin, 2005].
3.1.2 Subscription system
Compared to the suppliers of advertising systems, there are several suppliers of subscription
systems at the Swedish market today. According to Nordiska tidningsregistret [Rehn, 2004]
the three main suppliers are KANAL-DATA, Leissner Data and Tieto Enator. These are just
the main suppliers among several others. Worth considering is that the data in Nordiska
tidningsregistret [Rehn, 2004] is insufficient because of that several newspapers did not report
of what system they are using. A number of newspapers stated that they have developed their
own subscription system.
Sundsvalls Tidning uses the supplier PRESSsystem’s subscription system PASSAD [Teir,
2005]. PASSAD handles subscribers, single copies, distribution and sales of newspapers in
the same system [PRESSsystem, 2005]. The PASSAD system will be an important part of a
future e-paper production flow at Sundsvalls Tidning. If Sundsvalls Tidning decides on the
possibility for subscribers to subscribe on personalized e-paper editions the PASSAD system
will be the system to handle customer information.
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