Star Media Group ties up with Layout International

PETALING JAYA: Star Media Group Bhd, the owner of Malaysia’s leading English daily, The Star, is tying up with Layout International to accelerate its transformation into multi-platform and “digital first” news publishing.

Star Media Group said in a statement that the tie-up with Layout International, an enterprise-solutions provided, will also optimise the media group’s newspaper production cycle.

“The total solution consists of the NewsPublish Multi Channel Publishing System and the A7pro Digital Archiving System, bringing Layout International’s expertise and industry-specific experience to The Star.

“Turnaround time and efficiency of The Star’s automated production cycle will improve for print, digital, online, mobile and social media platforms. Layout International will further develop the existing online sites, adding new features and streamlining content,” the statement said.

In the same statement, Star Media Group chief technology officer Kang Yew Jin said the implementation of the NewsPublish systems is a core building block of the group’s transformation.

“It will replace a number of older systems that we have, streamline technology architecture and be fundamental in improving efficiencies as we ensure that content written once can be published and applied across our group,” said Kang.

Meanwhile, Star Media Group chief operating officer Roy Tan said mobile and digital first is today’s reality, adding that it is critical to a publisher’s sustained survival and growth.

“It is key to the group’s transformation strategy and, as such, finding a competent partner is equally important. We believe this partnership with Layout International will enable us to achieve our business goals quickly and concisely, with tangible results that will benefit our consumers,” said Tan.

Layout International chief executive officer Jean-Michel Habis says the company’s purpose is to help clients define their specific needs and “implement the right solutions accordingly”.

“As part of Layout International’s expansion plan in Asia, a support centre is being established in SouthEast Asia to enable dedicated and timely support to publishers in the region, in line with our vision to offer a consistent and dependable service to our clients,” Habis said.