A Canadian Weeklies Association in Québec, chooses Protecmedia’s technology for its digital expansion
More than 30 publications participate in a common platform to deal with their editorial and advertising needs
Hebdos Québec, a Canadian Weeklies Association in Québec, has decided to use Protecmedia’s technology to put into practice a centralised platform, which allows its 33 member publications to optimise their editorial and advertising resources, in particular for its new digital projects.
This long-term agreement, signed after more than a year of joint analysis, offers members the tools required to coordinate their work and converge their efforts as regards planning the editorial activity. Reduction of operating costs and speed in the dissemination of digital content, both online and via mobile devices, are two of the initial benefits that will be achieved.
Journalists can create, prepare and disseminate content for any medium without any specialist technological knowledge, being able to use their efforts to enrich their editorial content, thereby offering advertisers and readers new advertising alternatives and reading experiences.
“Mon journal local”, a free application available from both the Apple and Android newsstands, will be the common access point for all editions of the newspapers that are members of the association and will make available to readers various special supplements. In addition, it will provide marketing tools that will allow editors to satisfy better their readers’ and advertisers’ expectations (segmentation of audiences, geolocation, push notifications, greater interaction with readers, etc.).
“Through this cooperation agreement, the independent weeklies that are members of the Association will be able to offer their readers a reading experience close to that of Presse +. Moreover, this innovative technology will allow us to offer advertisers a range of new alternatives in interactive advertising for mobile devices”, states Gilber Paquette, General Manager and Marketing Manager, Hebdos Québec.
“This profitable and innovative technology makes the weeklies industry the leader in this era of digital transformation. Although the number reading conventional newspapers is in decline, this multiplatform digital solution will guarantee the continued existence of our weeklies,“ declares Paul Brisson, President, Hebdos Québec.
“This project is the culmination of more than a year’s work. Various technological solutions were analysed, both from America and Europe. Protecmedia’s multiplatform solution offers the advantage of being able to disseminate content through platforms without the need for additional personnel. This system focuses on the creation of quality content, which allows more time for all those that are involved in a newspaper’s creative process,“ adds Gilber Paquette.
The installation will commence in May 2015 and will take place in three different phases, concluding in January 2016.
Hebdos Québec, an active and essential association for Québec.
Hebdos Québec is a non-profit entity created in 1932. Its goal is to promote the independent local press, supporting its development and taking appropriate action. The membership of the Québec Weeklies Association is composed of 33 independent weekly newspapers, all of which publish in French and are located in Québec. These newspapers are read by 1.5 million readers each week.