Denmark’s Media Track Registers Sustained Growth

Media Track – the Danish media monitoring company still known by many as Newswatch – is continuing its expansion.

Media Track in Singapore is expanding its services from media monitoring of Danish radio, TV and newspapers to offering the same services to Swedish and Norwegian clients. This expansion has come gradual as a natural consequence of the takeover in 2012 by Retriever of a major stake in NewsWatch, the Danish subsidiary of Media Track. Retriever is the largest media monitoring company in Scandinavia with an especially strong position on the Swedish market.

But Media Track is also moving out of this special Scandinavian media monitoring niche and into another niche in the IT business: Converting print articles to XML files.

“There are about ten companies worldwide offering this as a service, but Media Track decided to do their own conversion when the company was established back in 2009 and we believe we are now so good at it, that we are ready to offer it to other companies as well,” says Steffen Egelund.

“Because we come from the media monitoring business side and not the data side, we are definitely better if the client is another media monitoring company,” he adds.

The conversion is a very complex IT process which can only partially be automated. From all the media monitored, Media Track receives their output in a number of different formats. When talking printed news media, it will typically be in pdf format but sometimes all they have to work with are simple images of newspaper pages. These files must be extracted and broken down into individual news items and translated to a unified xml format.

Moved from Jakarta to Philippines

“In the beginning, we moved this work over to Jakarta, where the skilled manpower is not as expensive as in Singapore, but the almost regular annual flooding of Jakarta disrupted our business so we set up a backup operation in Manila in the Philippines,” Steffen Egelund explains.

“It worked so well that we have now basically closed down the operation in Jakarta and moved all this work to two locations in the Philippines, the one in Manila and a new one in Cebu so we are pretty safe in case of natural disasters. In total, we have 140 full time staff employed in the Philippines and 35 part timers,” he says.

“Apart from the low cost of highly skilled IT staff, there are other benefits to placing this in the Philippines. The proficiency of the English language is high and conditions for IT companies are OK and so are the international data transmission connections. It is also an added benefit for us, that we work in the same time zone,” he adds.

Recurring entrepreneur

As an entrepreneur, Steffen Egelund is rather fearless. In 2005 he moved to Singapore and started a Danish PR company there called Corporate Spin together with two other friends. Soon they had offices in KL, Singapore and Shanghai.

NewsWatch in Singapore was set up in January 2009 with the idea to deliver a premium service in media surveillance that the Danish market leader InfoMedia was too complacent to develop.

“When I worked for the Danish Conservative Party years ago, I was not satisfied with the existing media surveillance in Denmark. The articles came in a messy state and they came too late in the morning,” he explains.

NewsWatch started offering relevant clips from all newspapers, radio and TV in summary form each day at 6 in the morning Denmark time and it quickly proved attractive to head of Danish media departments in major organisations in Denmark.

Two years ago, Swedish based Retriever bought shares in Media Track’s Danish operation NewsWatch. This way, NewsWatch in Denmark continues to buy its daily news analysis from Media Track in Singapore, but in addition to that, products are also delivered from Media Track to Retriever in Norway and Sweden.”

“Our analysts are working here in Singapore out of this office and we have also analysts placed in some other cities in South East Asia,” Steffen Egelund explains.

Top clients

“Our premium account clients are for instance large corporate clients like Carlsberg and DA – Danish Employers Federation and the five administrative regions in Denmark and other government clients.”

“The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also one of our clients,” Steffen adds.

“That way when the Danish Embassy here in Singapore or elsewhere in Asia is alerted to some news in the Danish press, it actually comes from us here in Singapore doing first the conversion, then the analysis and finally the delivery of the news to the Ministry in Copenhagen – from where they then alert local embassies in case the news affects them as well.”

The product goes beyond simple media monitoring of a brand to include the public discussion.

“Take for instance the Minister of Employment. She needs to know what people talk about related to the ministry and the areas handled by the ministry or even other subjects what could possible involve her ministry. That is a rather complex task to analyze and cannot be handle by a computer program. That is why we we are constantly on the lookout for clever people who can analyze the data we extract from our media monitoring.”

In the example of the minister, she monitors our service on an iPad from NewsWatch where an app is running that brings her not just the raw text but also a picture of the clipping crisp and clear and then most importantly the comments of the analyst.

“Being part of Retriever, we now offer our premium service in Norway and Sweden too, but the markets there are not as mature as in Denmark and most clients are still prepared to settle with the basic monitoring service. It is also a question of what you are prepared to pay.”

Magazine Digitization is Seen to Save the Fading Industry

Admittedly, old magazines are fading away. Like the tabloids and broadsheets that once crowded living rooms, waiting lounges, lobbies, etc., printed magazines are disappearing. There’s no need to be too nostalgic about this matter. Let’s face the fact that the magazine industry started to decline even before this decade began and that magazine digitization is the only way seen to save the industry. Not everyone favors digitization, given the challenge associated with change. Let’s take a look at some institutions that are faced with the difficult process of digitization.

ACRL (Association of College & Research Libraries – the largest division of American Library Association or ALA), C and FUSE (Canadian magazines focusing on arts, culture and politics), and Long Beach Public Library, all agree, in separate occasions and time, that digitization is one of the many solutions to easily share print media across institutions. To them, it builds the past for the present and future generations. The goal really is to preserve the current state of their materials, magazines and newspaper collections to be exact, and get it organized. Now the challenge is finding a digitization expert that can handle the complex designs associated usually with magazines and newspapers digitization.

To newspapers and magazines, technology is needed for digitization to progress. To clear the hurdles, there are companies that offer technologically-advanced services for media companies (including media monitoring companies, libraries, publications, and other related institutions) who need to convert books, magazines, and newspapers into structured and searchable text files without the need to invest in manpower, technology and architecture.

The comparison of magazine digitization to human evolution is fitting at the moment. We humans evolved to survive the worst situation and disasters the world has to offer. Now, if digitization is the only way for magazines not to go extinct, then we'll just have to go with the flow. Well, that’s progress and it’s inevitable.

Sneak Peak: How are Newspapers and Magazines Digitized ?

In our previous articles, we learned why magazines and newspapers are digitized as well as its advantages. The big question remains: How is it really processed?

The demand on newspaper and magazine digitization have grown since the entry of the Information Era; hence the growth of companies who offer such services.

Digitization is the process of converting information into a digital format by capturing the image. A newspaper is either scanned, its picture captured or saved in a microfilm. After which it will be converted into text. Tagged accordingly which makes it searchable once it is indexed into an archive. A digitization service may differ depending on the company that is offering it.

Newspaper digitization, magazine digitization and article digitization are often outsourced to gain the end product without the need to invest in manpower, technology and architecture. Most companies offering such service have an in house technical team who builds their own solution in accordance to how they planned it. They consistently maintain and upgrade it, as it is the heart of their business.

In general, procedures are as follows:

1. Receiving of files

Once a written agreement has been made, the client will send the file to the outsourcing company to be processed. It may arrive in either soft or hard copy. In most cases, the contents arrive as a soft copy provided by or in accordance to agreements with Media Monitoring Companies, Publishing Houses or Libraries.

Documents may also arrive in hard copy such as physical papers or microfilmed documents. Scanning the physical paper or capturing the image of the microfilmed document is optional. Clients may do it themselves if the documents are prohibited to leave their facility.

2. Screening of irrelevant pages

Pages containing images, ads, such as pictures will be removed as it is no longer needed.

3. Conversion into text files

Files will be converted once it runs through the system as the solution is built to convert files.

4. Identify the number of articles

Most times 1 page contains more than 1 article. Identifying the number of articles will help hasten the process of the work load.

5. Tagging of different article elements

The article will be segmented into different parts and will be tagged accordingly based on the requirements of the client

The following is the list of XML Tags where clients may choose from:

XML Tags include:

Language	Pre-introduction
Name	Introduction
ID	Story
Doc Date	Blurp
Physical Position	Quote
Logical Position	Factbox
Headline	Teaser
Sub-headline	Byline
	Image

6. Auto correction

The system is equipped with auto correction features which can pinpoint potential problems, after which will be manually checked. The final product will be automatically saved in a XML format.

7. Quality control

A senior specialist will double check the quality of the product and assure that it is 100% correct. If not it will be processed again.

8. Submission of the finished product

The finished product will be submitted to the client.

With this, universities or public libraries can provide online services to the public for free or for a price. Students, professors or archivists can now search through history conveniently. Not to mention, Media Monitoring companies can conduct a search in their archive conveniently whenever a search is needed. It’s fast, easy & efficient way to monitor media.

Partner only with a Trusted Resource in Article Digitization

Change is inevitable and most of the time, necessary. Many potential clients want to digitize content, convert their materials to digitized versions, or get involved in an article digitization process, but are afraid of change. For them, it is time consuming and frustrating. On the contrary, it is the perfect way to learn about possible options on how to expand any business. At the same time, it offers a way in order for companies to make themselves digitally available.

Moreover, three of the most important benefits of working with an experienced, full-service media conversion partner are: (1) they are an expert in their field,  (2) they can offer honed, high-tech processes, and (3) they can offer a high level of quality products and customer service. A media conversion partner with advanced technological process, have the experience and expertise to convert print media. They are committed to provide high-quality services, which in turn can lessen the hassle that are perceived when change is necessary for any business.

Finding the Right Article Digitization Partner

Ultimately, prospective clients will look for a partner that can help them in their media conversion needs. To help in the decision-making process, consider these suggestions for finding the right article digitization partner:

Article Digitization

• Always ask for a reference on current and previous clients and projects. It’s important what others have to say. The right article digitization partner will not hesitate to provide references if they have positive work relationships with their clients and if they produce high quality work. In other words, quality partners have a healthy client base and strong reputation.

• Assess their level of expertise. Ask questions such as: do they present and recommend value added services aside from article digitization before they start to work on a project? Do they have subject matter experts available to analyze print media for digitization and freely discuss concerns and questions with their prospective clients? Are they flexible in adjusting to clients’ needs in terms of their service?

• Learn more about article digitization by doing self-research before outsourcing its process. There is a wealth of reference, education, and resources available online on article digitization, including blogs, websites, and other industry publications that offer abundant insights on the advancements in article digitization. Vendor websites are also great sources of valuable information. They typically include online resource centers containing videos, white papers, webinars, surveys, case studies, and more that offer detailed descriptions of their work. 

Not all media conversion companies can be a good match for every organization. However, the right one can be a trusted business partner and resource – one that will help companies discover new opportunities amidst today’s rapidly evolving marketplace.

Media Conversion Services to Suit Your Conversion Needs

What happens when a document is scanned? All the captured graphics and text on each page of a document are displayed as though they are all one big graphic image. There’s no problem with this except that it cannot be edited or searched because as far as PDF (Portable Document Format) or document readers are concerned, a scanned document is nothing but a graphic file.  

This is where PDF and digital converter tools enter the scene. They can be used to convert PDF files into searchable text files. However, many of them have limitations in the number of pages that can be processed at the same time. This poses as a roadblock, most especially, if factors like volume and time are important.  

As both start-up and established publishing houses or libraries intensify their venture into digital platforms, the technology looks like it could still be a limiting factor. According to the Innovation Center for Graphic Communication (VIGC) from Belgium, conversion tools are producing inconsistent results. As a result, it is hampering media conversion processes.   

 

The popularity of digital format is increasing. This trend makes publishing houses and libraries face the big challenge of converting their current and back issues or old books on their own, using unreliable media converters. Even eager digital publishers want to move beyond basic conversion processes. They all want to explore enhanced media conversion available in the market today.  

Do-it-yourself converters are proving to be more of a nuisance than a solution, partnering with a media conversion company can help publishers immensely. Such companies are expected to offer not only media conversion, but also media management and media analysis services. Moreover, they also employ the first-rate media analysts to sort, select and process files relevant to the demands of their clients. They use top of the line tools and the latest technology to provide clients with quality services.

Media Monitoring As a Business Plan

All of a sudden, social media has made media monitoring the hottest game in town because of its advertising prowess. Think again. Media monitoring is not only a marketing or PR tool, it is also a powerful force that can help any organization shape its business strategy. It can help any company create more revenue and gain market share, as well as indicating the markers to enable a company to adjust to shifting circumstances in real-time. It also helps organizations gauge the smallest factors and the biggest trends that can impact their success. Here are some reasons why incorporating media monitoring into a strategic planning process can be highly beneficial.

Nobody can avoid technology and how it can influence decisions. In any organization, incorporating media monitoring can help spot innovations even before they reach the market. Yes, it’s difficult to foresee them, but signs can be easily monitored. It can also locate new geographic markets, thus providing a bigger market share. It can identify consumer trends and keep track of them as it constantly and rapidly changes. Most importantly, if not for everybody, it can keep an eye on competitors by staying ahead of them. Monitoring their moves can help an organization gather competitive intelligence.


Now that’s not all there is to it. Furthermore, media monitoring steers organizations clear from risky moves and blind sides. Risk assessment is part of a business plan, but reviewing media coverage provides valuable insight, allowing an organization to make smart decisions. Think BlackBerry and how it was blindsided by Apple when it launched the first iPhone. It’s important to scan surroundings to gather clues if there are disruptive forces hanging about.


It’s a fast-moving world and keeping up is a highly-valued skill. Today, planning a strategy is not just an end-of-the-year event because of the everyday changes in different market scenarios. Business plans should evolve continuously and adapt to dynamic conditions. Using media monitoring to watch and observe emerging and developing changes can help any organization to be more alert and thus, stay competitive.

Why Digitize a Newspaper or Magazine?

Loaded with information, newspapers and magazines appeal to a large audience. These are the major sources of information that come handy at a cheaper cost. However, searching for information with a specified time and location can be a bit of a challenge. Due to this limitation, newspapers and magazines are often targeted as the prime candidates for Digitization. In fact you must have heard of newspaper digitization or magazine digitization, because both of which - newspapers and magazines - are available to a large audience. Since digitization is considered a structural and continuous activity, a large number of digitization projects can be seen these days.

Serving at its best, a digitized newspaper or magazine makes it possible for everyone to search and access its information with the help of an internet connection. This implies that anyone can search and read any information with a single click only! Isn't it great?

Why digitize?

• Newspaper or magazine digitization can greatly increase the width of availability when it comes to searching or accessing any information.
• A single digitized newspaper or magazine can be accessed by multiple readers in a single go.
• With the effective use of a digitized newspaper or magazine, there is no need to use the original print copy which can be fragile or faded with the passage of time.
• A digitized newspaper or magazine can have the potential of being searched with an effective use of a Keyword.