Two weeks ago our classified advertising section looked different, thanks to a new computer system. Numbered headings help people find ads quicker. The type became easier to read.
Since the computer system was installed at the end of November, advertising and technical services staff have spent many additional hours training, inputting information, and overcoming any problems that arose.
Searching for a new system began 26 months ago, according to James Haggarty, the technical services manager. With one of the largest weekly classified sections in North America, the Western Producer needed a reliable system to replace an aging one, and also wanted to reach a goal of complete pagination.
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Pagination means doing pages on computer. With the exception of classifieds, about 90 percent of the paper was being paginated before November.
Photos are scanned in and placed on pages, and text is typed in and formatted, all on computer. The classified advertising section until now was laid out by cutting type and logos with knives and waxing the final pages together.
The new Harris Publishing system is really a large database that relates customer information, classified headings, ad copy, and ad frequency to each issue of the paper, said Haggarty.
Many of the display ads are still being pulled from the old system and being pasted into holes left by the Harris system. However, within a few months the display ads will also be paginated.
As our paper has 90 percent of the entire content paginated within the next month, we will join a very small group of newspapers in North America who can do that.
We also will be able to better meet the needs of advertisers and readers as the mechanical work in putting out the paper is reduced.
