The system covers all areas of the Group’s publishing activity from editorial to advertising sales and newspaper distribution. It includes the alfa OpenMedia Newsroom Management product suite which provides products for multi-channel authoring, on-the-road editing for reporters and formatting for print, web, mobile and tablet publishing.
To complement the editorial suite, CN Group will roll out the entire range of alfa advertising modules comprising a browser-based, fit-for-the-future sales service which includes CRM, integrated document management and much more. Tools for online and mobile ad booking and management, as well as a browser-based self-service centre for classified and display ads, are also included.
Stuart Cooke, the Group’s Digital Development Director, said, "As a suite of fully integrated products covering all areas of our publishing and commercial operations, the alfa OpenMedia system will facilitate the publishing and acquisition of content via a wide variety of different channels including print, web, tablet and mobile. The alfaMedia system will be at the core of ongoing business transformation to a media neutral workflow delivering content to our audience wherever and however they want - be that breaking news on a mobile device or a printed newspaper or magazine"
The integrated end-to-end concept from alfaMedia allows for maximum flexibility covering all existing and future publishing activity, says IPA Systems.
CN Group is a multimedia business focused on serving local communities, delivering news, information and entertainment through newspapers, radio stations, internet, mobiles, magazines and other related products. The trading operations comprise three divisions, publishing, radio and printing. Its history goes back to the first issue of the Carlisle Patriot on 3 June 1815. It is a well-established family owned group operating at the heart of its communities in Cumbria, Dumfries & Galloway, Tynedale, Lancashire and Northern Ireland. CN Group’s newspapers and websites have a weekly readership of more than 325,000 - 86% of the 16+ population in its region.
About alfaMedia
alfaMedia says: “alfaMedia with its headquarters near Frankfurt is one of the leading companies providing software for the news publishing and media industry with 30 years of publishing experience under their roof. Whilst being market leaders in German speaking Europe, alfaMedia also serves many international customers all over the world.
The alfa OpenMedia integrated end-to-end concept bundles software modules for the newspaper and media industry. The concept offers a broad spectrum of products that cover all relevant publishing processes: Ad order-taking and processing, CRM, Customer Self Service, web publishing, editing, sales, product planning and production as well as mobile applications for smartphones and tablets.”
About IPA Systems
IPA Systems says: “IPA Systems work in partnership with alfaMedia to deliver software solutions for media organisations from front end news gathering, content management, multi-media advertising booking systems, advert production workflow and pre-press workflow - everything for the multi-media publishing and printing industry of today.”
