Farmers' Newspaper - Tradition meets digital transformation

The solution

Modern website relaunch and E-Paper integration

We migrated the existing WordPress platform to Storyblok and technically rebuilt the website using Nuxt 3. The design was developed in close coordination with the editorial team and tailored to the needs of the readers. The e-paper was also modernized and fully integrated into the digital platform, making content flexible and available on all devices. This resulted in a contemporary digital hub that presents editorial content in a new quality.
One particularly important aspect was the usability: users can find articles faster, loading times were drastically reduced and the navigation became clearer and more intuitive. The editorial team also gained the ability to build content modularly and combine it flexibly. This way, the BauernZeitung can react even faster to current topics in the future and present them in an appealing way.

Cloud-based editorial system in Storyblok

In parallel, we developed a customized editorial tool. It covers all backend processes of the editorial team. This includes advertising placement, issue planning, page layout, surveys, events and classified ads including payment function. With this solution, the editorial team was able to centrally control, coordinate and track all processes for the first time.
The extension was designed to seamlessly integrate into the existing Storyblok environment. For the editors, this means that they do not have to switch between different programs. Instead, they work in a single system where content and organizational tasks are interconnected. Future features can also be flexibly added, making the solution sustainable in the long term. Additionally, for the management, it is important that advertising revenues can be more easily controlled and evaluated through direct processing in the system.

Integration of print production

Particularly innovative was the integration with print production. The export for printing is now done directly from the digital platform. This allows content to be prepared for print and digital in parallel, saving time and minimizing sources of error. As a result, the editorial team works in a seamless system that avoids media disruptions.
This approach was an important step, as print still plays a central role in the BauernZeitung. The solution allows content to be created only once and then used across different channels. The graphic planning of pages and issues now runs in a structured and transparent manner. Especially in intense production phases, this significantly facilitates collaboration between the editorial team and the printing press. The digitalization of print processes was therefore a key factor in increasing efficiency and quality in both worlds.

Training and onboarding of the editorial team

Through workshops and the direct involvement of the editorial team in test runs, the new systems could be learned in a practical way and integrated into the editorial routine. The early involvement of users ensured that the digital workflows were optimally tailored to real requirements. This resulted in a system that not only impresses technically but is also supported by the people behind it.
The iterative approach during onboarding was particularly valuable. Feedback from the editorial team was continuously incorporated into the development process, allowing problems to be identified and resolved early on. This helped build trust and significantly reduced resistance to new processes. Today, it is evident that the editorial team is proficient in using the tools and benefits from the streamlining of many workflows. This acceptance was a crucial success factor for the sustainable implementation of the project.

Challenges

The biggest challenge was understanding the complex editorial processes. An editorial team has its own routines, coordination processes and priorities that have often evolved over the years. These structures had to be thoroughly captured and documented in order to be translated into digital workflows. It became apparent that many processes not only needed to be technically mapped out, but also rethought at the same time.
An example was the advertising planning, which was previously done in Excel spreadsheets. This way of working could not be easily transferred to a software. Only through close coordination with those responsible, a model could be developed that is transparent, collaborative and future-proof. Similarly, the expenditure planning, which is now centrally organized in the Storyblok system, followed a similar process.
The solution to this challenge lay in collaborative cooperation. Through open communication, iterative development steps and continuous feedback, a system was created that not only modernized the technology but also sustainably changed the editorial culture.