See how Medienholding Süd achieved a print production revolution by focusing on the core pillars of people, processes, and technology! #PrintAutomation #AIinPrinting #MediaTech
Explanation in video
Making Newspapers with a Little Help from AI: A German Newspaper’s Story
Hey everyone, John here! Welcome back to the blog where we unravel the mysteries of AI, making them super simple for everyone. Today, we’ve got a fascinating story from the world of newspapers. You might think newspapers are all old-school ink and paper, but they’re also exploring how new tech like Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help them out. We’re going to look at a big German newspaper company called Medienholding Süd (let’s call them MHS for short) and how they started using AI to help make their actual, physical newspapers.
And of course, my brilliant assistant Lila is here with me!
Lila: Hi John! So, AI is helping print newspapers? That sounds like a mix of old and new! I’m curious to learn how.
John: Exactly, Lila! It’s a perfect example of how AI isn’t just about robots or futuristic gadgets; it’s about solving real-world problems in all sorts of industries. Let’s dive in!
The Big Challenge: Keeping Newspapers Thriving
Imagine you’re running a newspaper company. For years, things have been done a certain way. But now, fewer people might be buying physical papers, and the costs of printing – like paper, ink, and getting the papers delivered – are going up. That was the situation MHS found themselves in. They publish a lot of newspapers in a region of Germany, and they needed to find ways to be more efficient without making their newspapers any less interesting or well-made.
Lila: So, they were looking for a way to save money and time, but still make great newspapers? That sounds tricky.
John: Precisely! They knew they had to change something. Their first thought, like many companies, was “Maybe some new technology can fix this!” They specifically looked at AI to help with automating parts of how their newspaper pages were put together.
It’s Not Just About the Tech!
Here’s where MHS learned a really important lesson, and it’s the main takeaway from their story. They quickly realized that just buying some fancy AI software wasn’t going to be enough. Think of it like this: if you buy a super-advanced oven, but you don’t know how to bake or you don’t change your old recipes, you’re not going to suddenly become a master chef, right?
MHS figured out that to make AI work for them, they needed to focus on three things equally:
- People: The employees who actually do the work.
- Processes: The way the work gets done, step-by-step.
- Technology: The new AI tools themselves.
They called this their “magic trio.”
Lila: That makes sense, John. If the people using the AI aren’t comfortable with it, or if the old ways of doing things don’t fit with the new tools, it probably wouldn’t work very well. What’s “AI” exactly, in simple terms?
John: Great question, Lila! Think of AI (Artificial Intelligence) as making computers smart enough to do things that usually require human intelligence. This could be learning from information, making decisions, or even creating things. In this newspaper’s case, they were looking at AI that could help design the newspaper pages automatically.
Getting Everyone on Board: The “People” Part
MHS knew that bringing in AI could make some employees nervous. People might worry about their jobs or feel like they couldn’t learn the new systems. So, they did a few really smart things:
- They talked to everyone: They were open and honest about why they were exploring AI and what they hoped to achieve. No secrets!
- They formed a special team: This team, called “Pilot” (like a pilot project, the first try), included people from all different departments – writers, page designers, IT folks, and managers. This way, everyone’s viewpoint was heard.
- They listened to concerns: They addressed fears head-on. They explained that the goal wasn’t to replace people, but to give them a new, powerful “assistant.” The AI would handle some of the repetitive tasks, freeing up humans for more creative and complex work.
- Training: They knew people would need to learn new skills, so training was a big part of the plan.
Imagine your favorite coffee shop gets a new, super-fast coffee machine. The owner wouldn’t just plonk it down and expect everyone to know how to use it. They’d train the baristas, explain how it helps them serve customers faster, and maybe even get their ideas on the best way to fit it into their routine. That’s similar to what MHS did.
Changing How Things Get Done: The “Processes” Part
Next up, MHS looked at their existing “processes.”
Lila: Processes? Does that mean, like, the steps they take to make a newspaper page?
John: Exactly, Lila! A process or workflow is just the series of steps you follow to get something done. MHS carefully looked at how their newspaper pages were currently being created. They identified what was working well, what was taking too much time (the “pain points”), and where AI could actually help.
They didn’t try to change everything all at once. They used something called an “agile methodology.”
Lila: “Agile methodology”? That sounds like something a gymnast would use!
John: (Chuckles) Not quite, but it is about being flexible and quick! Agile methodology is a way of working on projects in small, manageable chunks. Instead of a giant, long-term plan, you do a little bit, see how it works, make adjustments, and then do the next little bit. It helps you learn and adapt as you go. So, MHS started by trying to automate the layout for just certain types of newspaper pages, not the whole paper.
The AI in Action: The “Technology” Part
So, what did the AI actually do? MHS partnered with a company that provides AI tools for print production. This AI is a type of Generative AI.
Lila: “Generative AI”? Is that like AI that generates… stuff?
John: You got it! Generative AI is a kind of AI that can create new content. It could be text, images, music, or in this case, newspaper page layouts. MHS uses AI that can take the articles, photos, and ads, and then, based on pre-designed templates (like cookie-cutters for page designs), automatically arrange them on a page.
But here’s a crucial point: the AI doesn’t do it all by itself and then send it straight to the printers. The AI creates a first draft of the page. Then, the human page designers (the layout artists) review it, make any necessary tweaks, and give the final approval. So, the AI is an assistant, not a replacement.
What Were the Results? Did it Work?
MHS started seeing some really positive results from their “Pilot” project:
- Faster Page Production: For the pages they targeted, the time it took to create the layout was drastically reduced. Imagine a task that took hours now taking just minutes!
- Cost Savings: Less time spent means lower costs. This helped them deal with those rising expenses we talked about earlier.
- Happy Staff: Because they were involved and the AI was helping with tedious work, the layout artists could focus on more interesting design challenges. Their roles evolved.
- Consistency: The AI helped make sure the page layouts were consistent and followed the newspaper’s style guidelines.
- New Possibilities: With the time saved, MHS even found they could create new, smaller, hyper-local weekly papers that they couldn’t have managed before. So, AI actually helped them expand their offerings!
Key Lessons from MHS’s Journey
Moritz Gathmann, who led this initiative at MHS, shared some really valuable lessons that any company thinking about AI could learn from:
- Remember the trio: It’s always about people, processes, AND technology, not just one.
- Talk, talk, talk: Involve employees early and be transparent. Explain the “why.”
- AI as a helper: Frame AI as a tool that empowers humans, not one that replaces them.
- Be patient: Big changes take time. Don’t expect overnight miracles.
- Start small: Pick a specific area to test AI, learn from it, and then expand. Don’t try to boil the ocean!
- Measure your success: They used KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) – which are just specific ways to track if things are improving, like measuring time saved or costs reduced.
- It’s a culture shift: Using AI isn’t just about new software; it’s about a new way of thinking and working.
John’s Thoughts
What I find really inspiring about MHS’s story is how they put people at the center of a technology project. It’s easy to get dazzled by new AI tools, but they remembered that real change happens when the people using the tools are on board and the ways of working are adapted. It’s a great reminder that technology is there to serve us, not the other way around.
Lila’s Take
Lila: I agree, John! It sounds like MHS was really smart about how they introduced AI. It’s much less scary when you understand how it can help you and when your bosses actually listen to your worries. I used to think AI was super complicated and only for tech geniuses, but hearing how it helped make newspaper pages and how they focused on explaining it makes it seem much more approachable!
John: Well said, Lila! And that’s the goal here – to show that AI, even in something as traditional as newspaper printing, can be a positive force when handled thoughtfully. It’s all about making smart choices about how we use these powerful new tools.
This article is based on the following original source, summarized from the author’s perspective:
Medienholding Süd’s journey to print automation was about
people, processes, and technology