These are the most bizarre of times. Who is not ready to abandon isolation, wear dress shoes again and to visit an airline lounge and even get on a flight somewhere? I know I say yes to all of the above.
I also say YES in capital letters to the idea of being present when one of my projects is ready to launch.
Now that I have been part of two launches via ZOOM conferences, What’s App calls, an occasional Skype conversation, I can certify that. while the task at hand was accomplished, there is no substitute to the in person experience.
Both, Germany’s Handelsblatt, and India’s Hindustan Times, have launched in July and August respectively. Both launches went smoothly.
The audiences of both newspapers approved of the changes. Things went well, I can add. The pride the teams involved has felt, and my own big pride and honor for being a part of these fantastic projects are intact.
Missing are the following important items:
–in-person training for every journalist in the team, connecting personally with each individual, offering additional help after hours when needed, holding nervous hands or soothing nerves over a glass of bubbly or a steaming cup of tea.
–the hour-by-hour excitement of a team clustered together in the newsroom after another 16-hour day, adrenalin flowing, the discovery of last minute glitches that need fixing.
–then the hugs and excitement in the midst of the exhaustion when that first edition is ready to see the light.
–then the morning after gathering to see what the readers are saying about our effort.
–….and, let’s not forget that there is no toasting the event with a glass of champagne. How can that be?
I have done this following the above formula hundreds of times in 121 countries, and I would not trade those experiences for a lifetime free subscription to every premium ZOOM equivalent. In the years I have left to practice this wonderful business, I want to do it in person, to savor each moment and to remind myself that, regardless of the country and/or culture, the excitement of a first day launch is identical everywhere.
Two projects, two distinct looks
My two ZOOM-flavored launches have taken place during my time in isolation, conducting the symphony that is transformation, storytelling and design, wearing shorts and sandals, with the Gulf of Mexico as the perfect backdrop.
As I look at these two projects emerge, I am proud of the teams with which I work, and particularly the creative directors whose ideas are such an integral part of the overall product, Michel Becker (Handelsblatt) and Anup Gupta (Hindustan Times), two powerhouse art directors from which I have learned much.
I am also proud to show these projects in which one common theme is the centerpiece of the work: bring members of the newsroom to practice Multiplatform journalism, give print its proper place, and respect that intelligent readers come to our titles via different platforms.
However, as I have often mentioned, a newspaper in India has to look like it belongs there, and so does a newspaper published in Germany. A key theme of my work has been to respect the cultural traditions and styles of each country and I think looking at these two projects we can see the differences—-but also the similarities.
Revisit these project launches here
Handelsblatt: German elegance
Hindustan Times: Color and spice
Professors: get your review version of The Story on time for fall classes
As an academic, I know the importance of having the right tools to advance our students, especially on the important subject of mobile storytelling. Please drop me an email if you would like to sample The Story in its digital edition: mario@garciamedia.com
The full trilogy of The Story now available–3 books to guide you through a mobile first strategy. Whether you’re a reporter, editor, designer, publisher, corporate communicator, The Story is for you! https://amazon
Mario to keynote SND 2020
Honored to keynote this SND virtual conference, Oct. 1
TheMarioBlog post # 3254