The document discusses the shift in newspaper culture and operations towards using free and open-source tools, exemplified by a company-wide challenge initiated by John Paton on July 4, 2010. It emphasizes the benefits of collaboration, cost-saving through new technologies, and fostering a problem-solving culture while engaging with communities. The approach includes utilizing various digital tools for tasks ranging from publishing to advertising, reflecting a significant change in organizational structure and mindset.

1. Change your tools –
and your culture
Steve Buttry
Newspapers Atlantic
May 11, 2012
#newsatl

2. Read more
• stevebuttry.wordpress.com
• Slideshare.net/stevebuttry
• stephenbuttry@gmail.com
• @stevebuttry
• jxpaton.wordpress.com
• jrcbenfranklinproject.com

3. • Journal Register companywide challenge
• Publish all digital & print products on July
4, 2010 using only free & open-source tools
• “We will declare our independence from
not only old proprietary systems but the old
way of thinking as well.” – John Paton

4. Google tools
• Docs & forms
• Calendar
• Sites
• YouTube
• Maps
• Fusion tables
• Picasa

5. Photo editing

6. Photo editing

7. Timelines

8. Timelines

9. Data visualization

10. Data visualization

11. Data visualization

12. Mapping

13. Polling

14. Embed documents

15. Live coverage

16. Live coverage

17. Curation

19. Pagination, building ads

20. Ben Franklin in action

21. Ben Franklin in action

22. Ben Franklin in action

23. Ben Franklin in action

24. Ben Franklin in action

25. Ben Franklin in action

26. Ben Franklin in action

27. Homegrown CMS

28. Free & cheap mobile apps
• Evernote • MovieCamera
• 5-0 Police Scanner • Splice
• ABBY TextGrabber • iTimeLapse
• iTalk • Filterstorm
• HootSuite • Pano
• Banjo • AudioBoo
• Ustream Producer • Vericorder
Source: Val Hoeppner, Freedom Forum Diversity Institute

29. Ad manager iPad tools
Jim Maurer, classified ad manager,
Pasadena Star-News:
1. Goodreader: Stores all media kits, rate
cards for easy presentation
2. PenUltimate: process proofs in field
3. Notability: sign agreements &
contracts.

30. Ad manager iPad tools
Jim Maurer:
4. Keynote: slide presentations
5. Expedition VGA: enables projector use
6. Numbers: spreadsheets
7. Trackord: GPS mileage log
8. Dropbox: Download, store & share files

31. Ad manager iPad tools
Jim Maurer:
9. AdMall: Market
trends, demographics, co-op
information
10. Teamview: Access computer & files
from the field.
11. Reminders: Organize your day.
12. Flipboard: Social media

32. Ben Franklin results
• Millions in vendor costs saved
• Some free tools are better
• Collaboration
• Threw out “the way we’ve always done
it”
• Developed culture of problem-solving
• Transparency

33. The crowd is free, too
• Crowdsourcing
• Town meetings
• Social media
• Live chats
• Blog networks
• Fact-check boxes
• SeeClickFix

34. Ben Franklin in context
• Cutting costs
• Changing culture
• Finding solutions
• Engaging community
• Changing org structures
• Digital First: content, sales, culture

35. More than Ben Franklin

36. More than Ben Franklin

37. More than Ben Franklin

38. More than Ben Franklin

39. More than Ben Franklin

40. More than Ben Franklin

41. More than Ben Franklin

42. Read more
• stevebuttry.wordpress.com
• Slideshare.net/stevebuttry
• stephenbuttry@gmail.com
• @stevebuttry
• jxpaton.wordpress.com
• jrcbenfranklinproject.com