MediaStore stores pictures: The CCI Europe archiving system is based on NICA from IBM.

MediaStore stores pages: CCI Europe's MediaStore archiving system can display whole pages.

CCI BaseLine puts metro power into package for smaller papers

NEW ORLEANS -- Finding the right pagination system remains daunting for many newspapers.

While money seemed to flow freely during the Y2K rush, that stream is down to a trickle for most newspapers right now. Implementing pagination is somewhat more difficult for those lacking a chunk of change. However, pagination is a necessary evil for the bottom line. The long-term benefits of pagination are extensive, ranging from later deadlines to savings in labor and materials costs.

Pagination is the best next step for papers.

One of the leaders in newspapers systems, CCI Europe of Denmark, whose U.S. offices are in Kennesaw, Ga., continues to provide a slick set of tools that meets the needs of many large publications. However, given the current economic climate, CCI also offers a product geared toward the less-than-large publications.

CCI NewsDesk BaseLine provides an editorial system for newspapers with 50 seats and more. CCI considers BaseLine to be a "product line expansion" of the NewsDesk Editorial System.

"It's the same Cadillac engine," said Torben Juul, vice president of marketing. "It's a full integration for journalists, editors and paginators."

BaseLine works off the same model as the full-blown system. One database serves up information in object-oriented fashion that can be used with many different tools, including pagination, workflow or archiving.

The system maintains integrity through the use of a single database, which provides the system with flexibility for such requirements as workflow, archiving and the ability to reuse material. In addition, reporting functions become more efficient with the single database. It's possible to extract and present data in graphical terms to the end user.

Users also have a graphical interface into the database via CCI DB Access, which supports page and story tracking, and text and photo assignments.

Part of the strength of the CCI system is the database -- CCI NewsDesk Database. Running Oracle on mirrored UNIX servers guarantees high-end production in collecting, storing and serving up information.

The BaseLine system works easily with many types of formats, including NIFT (News Industry Text Format), TIF (Tagged Image Format), SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language), EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) and a wide use of XML (eXtensible Markup Language). In fact, the system allows the database to import and export XML documents. Within the database, typography and page design information are stored separately.

Use of XML spills down to the reporter level in BaseLine. The CCI-modified version of Microsoft Word is an enhanced product integration tool that takes advantage of cross-media technology like XML. "Reporters have an XML-like editor for writing," Juul said. "It has line-count and H&J [hyphenation-and-justification] information."

Another feature of BaseLine is the CCI WebAccess module. This gives reporters full entry into the system via the Internet. "Reporters can use the browser-based tool to file remote stories and edit, as well as see assignment info," said Juul. "It's an open web API [Application Programming Interface]."

With the browser tool, it's possible to move away from the traditional workstation and look for cost-effective solutions. With reporters staying in the field more, a browser-based tool can be used from any type of portable computer without loss of speed or functionality.

And keeping reporters in the field is what it's all about. Aside from reporters using the browser tool outside the office, it can also be used within a newspaper's Intranet. The end result of having a browser-based entry into the BaseLine system within the newspapers means that reporters, and possibly editors, don't need full-blown workstations to effectively carry out their assignments. Moving to a browser-based interface means not having to toss out perfectly good workstations just because Microsoft Outlook releases a gigabyte service pack.

CCI is also integrating Adobe InDesign into its layout application, CCI LayoutChamp. One of the benefits of being a large system provider is that you can throw a continent-size amount of resources into the integration and successful deployment of third-party tools such as Quark XPress and Adobe InDesign. CCI is focusing on InDesign for its layout application.

LayoutChamp contains a WYSIWYG tool for editors and designers. It effectively uses a shape library to store frequently used layouts and templates. Also, the copyfit tool readjusts the entire article across jumps without cheating on leading or kerning, or adding extra white space. This particular feature caught a few eyes at NEXPO.

In the United States, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times have chosen CCI NewsDesk, not BaseLine, for their editorial upgrades.

CCI also offers a content management/archiving system that employs a variety of existing and newly available technologies such as XML, PDF (portable document format) and the inclusion of IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) information and captions. The CCI MediaStore is based on IBM's Nica (Networked Interactive Content Access) archive system (see The Cole Papers, July 2001).

CCI partnered with IBM to integrate Nica into its own line. CCI saw this as the best on the market and did not want to create its own when Nica was available.

CCI introduced MediaStore at NEXPO 2000. Texas' San Antonio Express-News chose to go with MediaStore and went live in June. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale is also looking at MediaStore.

According to David Rocha, Global Product Manager/Nica at IBM, CCI is the only supplier with a joint marketing agreement for Nica. With MediaStore, newspapers get the full functionality of IBM's Nica system, but integrated into the existing CCI system.

MediaStore is a separate database (Oracle) running on a UNIX server that is linked to CCI NewsDesk, thereby allowing all newsroom users access to the archive system via NewsDesk. Library staff have access to NewsDesk via the MediaStore. In addition, the MediaStore can be linked to the newspaper's Internet server for repurposing data.

All types of data can be stored in MediaStore. With tight integration to the NewsDesk system, MediaStore maintains the original metadata from NewsDesk, providing a more seamless archiving workflow. CCI also incorporates page design-like tools for library staff who need to mark up incoming information.

CCI also boasts that newspapers can use MediaStore to replace existing text archives as well as the forerunner to Nica, the AP Preserver system.

Clients can also access MediaStore via a browser. Once in the system, users take advantage of the IBM Text Search Engine, which allows for powerful searching, including fuzzy logic searches.

MediaStore combines robust technology with easy-to-use interfaces, making it a perfect complement to NewsDesk. However, newspapers don't have to own a CCI system to deploy MediaStore; CCI will integrate MediaStore with most existing systems.

Integrating MediaStore or deploying BaseLine are affordable options newspapers can look for from CCI. It's kind of like borrowing the Caddy from Pops for the summer.

-- Jason Zappe, jz@colepapers.net

CCI Europe Inc., (770) 420-1100, e-mail: info@ccieurope.com.

From THE COLE PAPERS, August 2001, Copyright © 2001, All Rights Reserved.