Digital Publishing Explained
Michael Jones works closely with FAITH Catholic editors and designers to implement the company’s new digital publishing system. CE asked him about this new technology and how it will change the way editors and designers create magazines for their Catholic dioceses and organizations.
CE: Tell us about the advances in technology for magazine publishing? What are the overarching goals that a publishing platform is meant to achieve?
MJ: Solutions have existed for many years to manage the editorial process of a publication from content creation to print. Now, there are many more publication channels available for digital content. A good publishing platform should not only manage the editorial process, but also seamlessly integrate with a number of digital publication channels.
Up to now, what most publications call “digital publishing” is really digital duplicating – meaning, they’ve made their print content available online. But true digital publishing means creating or repurposing unique content and targeting it to a specific audience. Building audiences is essential to digital publishing because digital readers choose what they read or follow. This is why digital publishers need to “unbundle” their content from a masthead and make it available to readers who essentially create their own “personal” publications by virtue of choosing what they’re interested in.
CE: Faith Catholic recently implemented a digital publishing solution for its clients. What is it and how does it work?
MJ: FAITH choose the Enterprise multi-channel publishing system from WoodWing and we’re making it available to all FAITH Catholic clients. WoodWing Enterprise will be a single place to manage content throughout the publishing process for both print and digital distribution.
CE: How does a platform like WoodWing Enterprise help editors to repurpose content across all publishing platforms?
MJ: Editors are able to publish content out to different channels quickly without having to switch applications or login to multiple systems. The content plugs directly into publication channels such as a website, social media and mobile apps. So editors will be able to create an article for publication in a magazine and, at the same time, create a different, digital version of the content that’s suitable for the various platforms that people use to access the things that interest them.
CE: What kind of efficiencies can be realized by implementing a publishing platform? How does Woodwing change the way editors and designers work together?
MJ: Editors can quickly make changes to the content at any time throughout the process. Content is easily refreshed in the print layout and/or wherever it is published when changes are made. There’s no need for others to be involved when making edits to content.
CE: What trends do you see in the future for publishing technology?
MJ: As technology evolves, there will be more and better ways to distribute digital content. Apps and services will come and go, but there will always be an audience for digital content.