Publishing During a Pandemic

Publishing during a pandemic Gearing up for a hybrid future as we move into a post-Covid world AUGUST 2020 UPDATE Contents 01 Clocking in: a hybrid workplace / p04 02 Innovation: the only way out / p10 03 Content: words with purpose / p17 04 Networking: a virtual reality / p22 05 Revenue: evolution to revolution / p27 Writers: Piet van Niekerk; Pierre de Villiers Editor: Sylkia J. Cartagena Designer: Ian Crawford © FIPP. All rights reserved 02 Introduction Looking beyond Covid-19 IPP’s first two ‘Publishing during a - publishers are starting to understand what informed predictions - including what pandemic’ Covid-19 reports mapped the long-term impact of Covid-19 on their the new workplace may look like and Fpublishers’ initial response to the industry might be. While this third report - how we will now approach networking. coronavirus pandemic. The first analysed the ‘Publishing during a pandemic: Gearing up immediate impact of realities such as the for a hybrid future’ - continues to shed light By keeping track of the impact, response and, loss of newsstands, a slump in ad spending on early lessons learnt, it’s main focus is on ultimately, our industry’s survival strategies, and limitations on content creation. The how publishing might look in the future. FIPP is not only recording the process of second report then looked at how the industry dealing with this crisis but also mapping a way was standing up to the early challenges. Some chapters continue to make for grim to overcome future challenges. FIPP’s belief reading (we cannot ignore the dismal remains that by sharing thoughts, experiences With the benefit of hindsight - and with many facts), but there are also pleasant surprises and learnings during such a time enables the knee-jerk responses having now played out and many examples of innovation and entire industry to learn, and survive, together. 03 Covid-19 Snapshot 01 Clocking in: a hybrid workplace As lockdowns start to ease in many countries and publishers allow employees to slowly head back to the office, how much of the new work practices adopted during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic should be retained? Harry Cunningham Harry hen the Covid-19 pandemic forced newspapers and Wmagazine workers to head for home offices, publishers hoped things would get back to normal as soon as possible. However, with companies increasingly finding effective ways for their staff to work remotely, many in the industry believe it would be foolish not to hang on to some of the new coronavirus work practices as lockdowns start to ease. “The question people are asking is - are we now all going to be on a beach 04 Covid-19 Snapshot in Tahiti or are we going back to the brought out the best in the company’s the product and news team were offices?” said Jonathan Wright, Global workforce. “Our ability to get our working on some really good tools Managing Director for Dow Jones, products to our customers has gone for the upcoming US election and we speaking during a FIPP Insider Webinar without a blip and there have been repurposed some of them and have hosted by FIPP President and CEO, enhancement and developments along brought them forward – like Q&A tools, James Hewes. “From my perspective it the way,” he explained. “The first offices which are now running on the site.” would be a shame if things went back to we had to close down were mainland normal. We’ve got some great learnings China and Hong Kong and we saw it as At travel media content creators Ink, the (during the lockdown) – in some this experiment of working from home Covid-19 outbreak has prompted a new instances some of our processes and and how it would work.” way of producing in-flight magazines approaches have actually improved. and online content for its large stable of “It’s not just the bare basics of getting airline clients including American Airlines, “I think we are going to take some very things working, but thinking smartly United Airlines and easyJet. interesting things from this and apply and putting customers at the centre of it to our future way of working. There what we are doing. You have to garner a “We are undergoing a restructure to will be a hybrid approach where there huge base of expertise to make this run change the way we work – to be more is an office somewhere where you go smoothly and that’s a testament to the collaborative and flexible,” said Kerstin to collaborate rather than sit at the contingency planning we did.” Zumstein, the company’s Editorial computer every day and I’m very excited Director. “We are streamlining our to see how that works.” Part of the Dow Jones approach processes by encouraging each during lockdown has been to reassign content creator to work across Learning on the job resources. “We’ve looked at our coverage accounts and channels rather than just According to Wright, operating during and how our newsroom operates,” focus on one title or medium. The key lockdown has presented a “steep explained Wright. “We have repurposed here is tightening our communication learning curve” - but one that has tools as well as resources. For instance, loops to ensure we stay nimble and 05 Covid-19 Snapshot HIGH ANXIETY Not everyone agrees that getting back to the office adaptable to meet our clients’ to be productive or because they have will be as easy as anticipated. Industry players say changing content needs.” a purpose for it or they simply need to getting out of the office was the easy bit. Going back have physical presence in the office,” is the problem, with social distancing a speed limiter. Embracing remote working he told FIPP. AdNews.com reported working in high rise buildings Most publishers have found will present its own set of challenges because fewer during the past few months that In this hybrid office space, there people will be allowed in lifts at any one time because remote work and flexible working will be an increased demand for of coronavirus regulations. By the time everyone is arrangements can work, with privacy and a greater demand for video at their desks, after waiting their turn to ascend, it’s some even attesting to the fact conferencing space. time to leave the building. that staff have become more productive. “We think that the need for the kind Some media companies and agencies have staged of modular private spaces... will only a part return, a day or two a week at the office, a According to Brian Chen, Co- increase in demand,” Chen added. voluntary process to limit the number of people in a founder and CEO of workplace building at any one time, ensuring everyone can stay design company ROOM, there For many, achieving a balance between the recommended distance apart. will eventually be a migration working from home and working from to a hybrid workplace, where a an office will be the best outcome – for significant portion of the employee productivity and creativity. According workforce is going to resume to a recent report in The Economist, working from home because it’s several studies suggest the benefits proven to be effective. of working from home only materialise if employees can frequently check in “There will be certain parts of the at an office in order to solve problems. workforce that will go into the office “Vibrant public spheres foster because that’s the best place for them creativity,” the publication suggested. 06 Covid-19 Snapshot “Clear communication is vital to our success and nothing beats being face-to-face. When brainstorming ideas, we riff off each other in a way video conferencing simply cannot facilitate” Favouring face-to-face we riff off each other in a way company is open to a flexible work Even though Ink embraced video conferencing simply environment in the future. remote working while cannot facilitate. weathering the Covid-19 “The extent to which Covid-19 storm, having staff back on “But I’m keen for the team to will accelerate the development site will play a big part in the have at least one day a week towards more flexible work at Axel company’s future success. to work from home: To focus on Springer is an ongoing process,” Jan more singular tasks and have a Bauer, Junior PR Manager at Axel “Clear communication is vital to break from commuting.” Springer, told FIPP. “Certainly, on-site our success and nothing beats presence will become less important being face-to-face,” said Kerstin A safe work environment for many of our employees. Zumstein. “Being flexible and quick to In Germany, where the virus has been in Kerstin Zumstein, respond is one of Ink’s strengths so Editorial Director retreat, Axel Springer started returning “With the opening of the new Axel we are introducing weekly stand-ups at Ink 50 per cent of its workforce to the office Springer building we will introduce new to ensure we know who needs support from 1 June - with extensive protective working methods, which aim to achieve with what.” measures put in place. more mobility and flexibility for the individual employees: Flexibility with “For this form of ‘live’ collaboration, it will While the publisher of newspapers regards to increased options to choose be necessary to come together in the like Die Welt and Bild has invested your workplace within the new building; office. Especially when brainstorming in new premises in Berlin that can and increased mobility by means of a ideas, there’s a collective buzz and accommodate 3,500 employees, the more focused implementation of mobile 07 Covid-19 Snapshot be essential for us to strike a balance then being able to move as quickly as between the physical presence in our possible in an agile and adaptive manner, buildings and the individual organisation is required.” of working hours through mobile working.” When it comes to employees, hybrid A mental adjustment working seems to be an increasingly In a recent report released by the World popular option.

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