This is a huge conceptual change for people familiar with editing and reporting roles. We're used to buying "products" online or in physical stores. Tech people often refer to a new application or service as"product. "product." All is clear. However, we didn't traditionally consider news in this in that way, http://mynewsdesk.com/global-product/.
Product managers are accountable for overseeing a news product that is both an editorial successand a commercial success and that is constructed efficiently and operates well.
The news you publish, in aggregate and over time, can be an item in various formats, whether it is a tangible thing (a newspaper) or as a digital service (a website or app) which you can sell or offer to a targeted audience of customers.
Our news products need to be well-designed and relevant in the present "personal news cycle" in which each individual is in complete control of her consumption of news. They need to understand their customers who they are, what they like, and how they use it.
This is what a manager does. This position that has been a core part of the world of technology for many years, is increasingly being played by news agencies.
Product managers are responsible for determining what the users (your viewers or readers) need from the whole of the product, what their experience with it like, and how it can be more convenient or valuable to them. That means they're responsible for simultaneously considering the marketing and business strategies as well as the technology execution and yes, the editorial direction of the news. Good product managers integrate all three of these into a single strategy overseeing a news product that is both an editorial success, a commercial success, and is built efficiently and functions well.
In our Thought Leader Summits that took place in November, the American Press Institute invited over 40 product managers from top news organizations to discuss the crucial role of product managers. In the course of that day's intimate discussions , we've distilled into this white paper the best practices and insights that news organizations everywhere can take from.
This white paper is designed to aid a range of people: People working in the management of products who are looking for innovative ideas and practices; Managers trying to ensure their business has the proper process in place to have an individual who manages the experience and value users receive from your news sites; and journalists and designers and developers, marketers or anyone else within the company who is involved in creating content or developing products and would like to play a an active part in making the products succeed.
The concepts as well as in some cases the actual words are derived from the a few dozen attendees at our summit. We don't imply that everyone at the summit agrees with each idea or opinion expressed in this whitepaper, but collectively they deserve credit for inspiring the wisdom it contains.
As an API consultant, Sarah Milstein was responsible for the organization of the summit as well as recruiting participants. O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures' VP of Programs is she. She has a diverse experience in product development, journalism and lean startup techniques.
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Oh_Man -- NimoStar
Moose -- Dem0n
Symmetry -- Roy