Magazine production with Content-X
German magazine ‘impulse’ uses Content-X editorial
system by ppi Media and Digital Collections
Published from Hamburg, impulse has an unambiguous philosophy as this magazine always stands for
uncompromising quality journalism based on sound research, objectivity, a dedicated editorial staff and
content that is worth the price. Published monthly and read by about 1,26,000 decision-makers, once
the right editorial system is in place, nothing can stop this leading magazine for entrepreneurs from
succeeding. That's why impulse uses Content-X by ppi Media and Digital Collections.
As an editorial solution,
Content-X combines the
digital asset management
system (DC-X) with the layout
tool (InDesign). Editors write
copy and place photos and
graphics in DC-X where the
plug-in, Content-Link, makes
them available for layout in
InDesign. This is how the
magazine gets its look. Which
article is placed on which
page is clearly displayed in
the integrated CX planner.
Wherever it is
Content-X is web-based. The
impulse team works exclusively
in the cloud and can import
copy, images and entire stories
into the system from all over
the world. The only thing they
need is access to the internet.
“This makes it much easier to
work with colleagues outside of
Hamburg. For example, it is now
no problem for us as a magazine
based in Hamburg to have a story
produced by a colleague sitting
in Southern Germany,” says Eva
Weikert, editor-in-chief, impulse.
Once the content has entered
the system, it
is never lost and can be used
for other publications or for
archive research. “The archive
function is particularly valuable
and unbelievably practical.
Especially our photo editors
really appreciate it,” adds Eva.
A flashback
First published in 1980, impulse
was owned for many years by
the publisher Gruner + Jahr. In
2013, long time editor-in-chief
Dr Nikolaus Förster took over the
company and founded Impulse
Medien GmbH. January 2013
brought about a big change
for impulse. Later on, the
management made an additional
change and decided to bring in a
new editorial solution that could
be accessed from anywhere and
offered a range of functions.
But, more than anything, it
needed to be implemented as
quickly as possible. To meet
these sophisticated requirements,
impulse chose Content-X.
Easy solution
Content-X being able to easily
re-use content is also advantageous
for impulse because in addition to
Impulse Medien GmbH’s regular
monthly magazine publication,
the publisher also produces other
titles as well. One of them is
their annual publication, impulse
kompakt, which is a collection
of the year‘s most important
stories. The team also uses the
editorial solution to produce
all their inserts, brochures and
smaller newspapers.
Future plan
Impulse Medien GmbH has
a handful of plans for the
following years. “impulse sees
itself as a network for movers
and shakers, entrepreneurs who
are developing new ideas and
creating value. Our objective
content is available across all
forms of media, from the magazine
via network meetings to seminars
at our academy. Transferring
the challenges of digitalisation
to all areas of the company is
our challenge for the coming
years – and never losing sight
of our main objective: exciting
our members and providing them
with the right impulses,” says
Ole Jendis, publishing director,
Impulse Medien GmbH.
And if that is the objective, what
could be more obvious than making
no compromises in the company‘s
system landscape? When it comes
to an editorial system, no one
should settle for anything less than
the optimal solution. impulse and
Content-X, that works.
