Westedeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ) - Germany’s third largest
newspaper and magazine is one of the media groups which are separately
but successfully running print and online editions.
WAZ has regional bureaus in various towns and cities which keep in
touch with the headquarters in Essen on daily basis.
Katrin Scheib the Managing Editor of Der Westen (The West) – WAZ’s
portal explained that her organization is able to run both print and
online editions without problems.
As much as people want to move with technology in disseminating news
through various social media networks and multimedia, there are some
people who will always want the printed version.
According to Ms.Scheib, WAZ’s effective use of both print and online
editions has remained the organization’s cutting edge over its
competitors.
“We have print and online editions which run separately. We however,
have one editorial policy and at times the online editors would use
some stories or pictures from print but often each entity is
independent of the other,” she explained.
Their Online edition has its own staff which has a totally different
work schedule from the print journalists. For WAZ online journalists,
the day begins at 0600 hours but has no fixed knocking-off time. If
there are major events of breaking news, online journalists often find
themselves in the office publishing stories. By 0945 hours every day,
they engage in their daily meeting for latest updates and often
bureaus from various regions or cities are involved in these meetings
through video conferences. Topics of Der Westen range from
international news to local information from 140 towns in Europe. In
addition to that, Der Westen offers videos and weblogs as the
important feature to enhance its brand.
The regional bureaus have a task to extensively report about different
areas better than anyone else to make sure that they outpace bloggers
and other publications in delivering news to people.
“Though bloggers are out there to compete with us, our secret to our
success is on our effective way of reporting. Our strength also lies
on our capability to manage synergies,” she added.
Despite the organization’s determination in utilizing print media,
Ms.Scheib explained that they use social media such as facebook,
twitter and even build a community section for Der Westen readership
to make sure that as many people as possible are reached. People can
create their profiles, blogs and find relevant local news using a map
tool.
She also said that the organization holds a number of trainings in
order to equip its staff members with current journalistic skills,
thereby remaining the dominating force in the media industry in both
West German and Europe at large.
While many regional publisher are publishing away from regional
portals, WAZ turns to the other way and they prove us they’re right.
WAZ’s story concerning printed and online newspaper assures readership
and journalists that both kinds of journalism can live together in
peace.
Our visit to WAZ head office demystified the concept that the days for
the existence of print media are numbered.
