When Globe announced that it had become more than just a telecom company and had now transformed itself into a full-blown entertainment media company, it was just being smart. No pun intended.
The world’s needs and wants are constantly changing in this age of digital evolution. Everybody in the industry has to ride the bandwagon and stay relevant with the fast-changing times.
For 30 years, the Manila Standard has been providing its loyal readers with excellent news about national issues and international events, especially with thought-provoking pieces dished out by its award-winning opinion threaders.
To keep up with the fast-paced digital landscape, the Manila Standard is now poised to embark on an ambitious and exciting journey that will fetch the millennials all the way up to the future generations, beginning with the launch of the new face and features of its digital platform—the manilastandard.net.
When Manila Standard publisher Rollie Estabillo prodded everyone in the newsroom to “digitalize” their minds in an editorial meeting one afternoon, everyone, including the news and section editors, contributed to the contents planning and new design of the website.
They worked and agreed on making sure of its user-friendly features even to loyal readers who have followed the Manila Standard through the years. Interesting stories for particular subjects are now easier to navigate and read.
In accommodating the millennials, who will become the more influential segment a few years from now, the manilastandard.net came up with a new look that is simple yet pleasing to the eyes. Although this is not of prime importance. We had to pay attention to aesthetics.
After all, who wouldn’t go for beauty?
Digital Collaboration
In this age of powerful social media, everyone has become capable of playing the role of a “reporter”, able to dish out a story that could fetch viewers from thousands to millions of people.
In this day and age, everybody has the opportunity to grab a piece of the action through the powerful social media.
Enjoying more power and influence in just one click, people online can actively participate in just about any trending topic. Comments and reactions are the highlight features of the social media that almost everyone turns into an instant expert.
Digital collaboration is the operative word
One of the new features is the new category, COMMUTER’S CORNER, under the WHEELS & MORE section.
This corner aims to protect and empower, not just car owners, but the millions of commuters as well.
This is a platform where they could be heard and take action. They can air their complaints against an erring driver or traffic enforcer or post something that aims to praise a particular driver for his good deeds to passenger.
More than just publishing the post, COMMUTER’S CORNER is bringing it to the next level.
It will also collaborate with volunteer groups, like the Lawyers for Commuters group and various government agencies like the Land Transportation Office, Metro Manila Development Authority and the Philippine National Police to work on some cases brought to the attention of this corner.
It will also lead a campaign to honor honest public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in a yearly awards ceremonies.
To cite an instance when a simple post by a commuter could make a great difference, last year’s Viral Photo awarded by CBCP was of a passenger’s picture of a taxi driver he rode in who refused to receive a tip. The honest taxi driver insisted on giving the passenger the exact change.
This story of a rare breed of taxi drivers, especially in Metro Manila, fetched millions of viewers on the net.
Colorful contents and videos
When Forrest Gump, said “Mama always said life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get,” he must have been talking about the digital highway.
Who would have thought that time would come when hailing a taxicab is just as simple as touching either a digital application like Grab or Uber on smart phones?
Coming very soon is Google’s digital travel service where its “client tourist” can travel around the world without actually leaving home. At the tap of a finger, one can fly over the skyscrapers of Manhattan or enjoy a 360-panoramic view of the majestic pyramids of Egypt using VR technology.
We are not going to that extent…yet.
But we’re investing in some things so simple yet powerful like infographics and videos.
Digital publishing has arrived and is, at a point when it could rival what a television broadcast could offer. No need for a very expensive satellite dish to have a global broadcast.
All we need is to click LIVE on Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook and voila, you now have the world as your digital audience.
Publishing companies or anybody with access to Facebook Live, can now broadcast an important event live to worldwide audience.
Taking advantage of the video capability, the manilastandard.net will produce its own news videos and segments like STANDARD TALK and the RIDE & PICK.
In STANDARD TALK, Manila Standard’s news editors will invite newsmakers and celebrities for a roundtable talk that will be broadcast live on Facebook. Questions can be posted by viewers on the Facebook page and may get instant answers.
Other pertinent information missed by viewers will be posted on the website.
RIDE & PICK is a travelogue with a touch of history. Hosts will go on road trips to look for people or celebrities who have been keeping interesting collections which can be good conversation pieces.
New and exciting prospects
When Manila Standard treasury manager and OIC Annie Grefal and Estabillo held serious talks about going full blast on the digital platform, it signaled an idea whose time has come.
There was actually no need to start from scratch as the digital platform has been there all along like a battery of long-range missiles waiting to be aimed to a particular target.
Digital department head Jun Buscas spent weeks of constant nagging and coordinating with Leen Technologies and reorganizing the designs of the site, making sure all the technical features sought by the editors are present in the new website—symmetrical, colorful videos and graphics-laden.
The product is finally out, but there is more work to be done. From the most critical issues to the less serious stuff, the digital journey ahead offers unbounded possibilities.