1. EMPATHIZE

Tasks:

• Reviewed stakeholder requirements
• Educated on current news industry and competitive landscape
• Conducted interviews with stakeholders and journalists
• Shadowed journalists

Reviewed Stakeholder Requirements

Key Findings:

• Credible and Comprehensive Content: Ensure all news articles are accurate, thoroughly researched, and provide in-depth analysis to build audience trust and establish the platform’s reputation as a reliable news source.

• Engaging User Experience: Develop an intuitive and responsive platform that encourages prolonged interaction and repeat visits through features like multimedia content, seamless navigation, and personalized feeds.

• Scalable Infrastructure: Create a platform that supports the addition of new content types and features without compromising performance, ensuring long-term adaptability and growth.

• Effective Monetization Strategy: Implement subscription models and explore alternative revenue streams, such as partnerships and sponsorships, to generate sustainable income without disrupting the user experience.

• Ethical and Legal Compliance: Adhere to ethical journalism standards and comply with data privacy laws and media regulations to uphold integrity and avoid legal challenges.

Conducted Interviews

Stakeholders

• Focus on Credibility: Stakeholders prioritized the delivery of accurate, well-researched content to establish the platform as a trusted news source.

• Need for Scalable Features: There was a strong interest in designing a platform capable of scaling content types and functionality as audience needs evolve.

• User Engagement Metrics: Stakeholders emphasized the importance of features that drive user engagement and retention, such as interactive elements and seamless design.

• Revenue Generation: Monetization strategies, including subscription models and partnerships, were a key focus for stakeholders looking to ensure the platform’s financial sustainability.

• Ethical Standards: Stakeholders stressed adherence to ethical journalism practices and compliance with relevant laws and regulations to uphold the platform’s integrity and reputation.

Shadowed Journalists

Key Findings:

• Timely and Accurate Reporting: Journalists need tools that provide reliable information quickly while ensuring accuracy, to meet tight deadlines and update stories in real-time.

• Complexity of Sourcing: Journalists face intricate challenges in sourcing and verifying information, often requiring them to validate unverified reports and cross-check multiple sources to uphold credibility under tight deadlines.

• Collaborative Workflows: Journalists rely on effective collaboration tools to streamline efforts with editors, fact-checkers, and other departments, ensuring high-quality reporting.

3. DESIGN

Tasks:

• Developed Prototype
• Conducted User Testing
• Build High-Fidelity Designs
  
• Created Design System

Developed Prototype & Conducted User Testing

These were features introduced into the prototype and tested with news consumers during user testing to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the prototype.

• High User Engagement: The prototype’s engaging layout and interactive features significantly increased user interaction, with users spending 30% more time on the platform compared to previous benchmarks.

• Effective Content Delivery: Subscribers praised the clear organization and accessibility of news content, enabling them to quickly locate relevant articles and explore topics in-depth.

• Positive Visual Design Feedback: Users appreciated the clean and modern visual design, which facilitated easy reading and enhanced overall user satisfaction.

• Responsive Performance: The prototype demonstrated exceptional responsiveness across devices, ensuring a seamless experience for users accessing the platform on mobile, tablet, and desktop.

• Navigation Refinement Needed: Initial feedback indicated the navigation menu was overly complex, leading to revisions that simplified user interactions and improved accessibility.

• Enhanced Multimedia Integration: Features like videos, podcasts, and infographics were well-received, adding depth and engagement to the news experience.

PROJECT OUTCOMES

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are based on 6 months of user data collected from company analytics.

Business Impact:

• 20% Revenue Growth: The subscription model created a stable, scalable revenue stream aligned with long-term business goals.

• 25% Increase in Subscribers: The platform’s strong market entry and appealing features spurred substantial growth within six months.

• 50% Faster Feature Deployment: A scalable design allowed rapid expansion of content and features, meeting increasing user demands efficiently.

• 80% Trust Rating: Credible, high-quality content solidified the platform’s standing as a trusted news source.

• Market Differentiation: The unique interdisciplinary approach to news coverage set the platform apart from competitors, enhancing its market position.

KNOWLEDGE GAINED

• Real-Time Data Visualization: Gained expertise in creating dynamic dashboards that deliver actionable, real-time insights for quick decision-making.

• User-Centric Customization: Learned to design adaptable features tailored to diverse workflows, ensuring flexibility across various operational needs.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Reinforced the value of continuous user feedback to refine features and enhance usability based on real-world input.

• Accessibility and Inclusion: Strengthened skills in designing intuitive, inclusive solutions for users with varying tech proficiencies.

• Scalability and Integration: Developed scalable, integrated systems capable of supporting growth and multi-location operations in diverse contexts.