The ‘path of the story’ is relatively self-explanatory: it’s the route a story follows from the time it’s uncovered, usually in a few lines from a reporter’s mobile phone on the field, then posted about in brief fashion online, until it eventually ends up in print about 15 hours later, and even afterwards when it’s further developed online.

“In order to achieve this, we must have the NEWS folks sitting together and, preferably, NOT tied to titles such as news editor for online, or news editor for rent. That is first NECESSARY step,” commented Mario Garcia on his site.

The next clutch moment in the story’s path is the ‘passing of the torch’, when editors who have overseen a story during their shift must update colleagues with their information and where they are picking up.

The Wirtschafts Blatt holds two editorial meetings for this, at 10 am and 4 pm.

"Morning meetings of editors now take 50 minutes – compared to 20 minutes before fusion m. There is more discussion on story-telling,” said Alexis Johann, online editor for the Wirtschafts.

"Nearly 90 percent of editors think print and online now in their daily workflow. and 80 percent know how to - and actually do use – the online-publishing system by now.”

Last but not least, here are some tips for editors considering integration:
- don’t think of integration as an overnight process
- remind editors that their job and passion is to be storytellers, online is simply another (sometimes better) way to do so
- bring down the physical barriers in the newsroom

Source: Garcia Media through IFRA Executive News Service