New Jersey Hills Media Group’s transition to ICANON Newzware: A case study of efficiency, innovation, and sustainability

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In the world of local journalism, the need for both cost-effectiveness and cutting-edge technology is becoming increasingly critical, especially for mid-sized newspapers. The New Jersey Hills Media Group (NMG), which transitioned to nonprofit ownership in 2022 under the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media (CNJLM), recently embraced a new technological partner: ICANON’s Newzware. This business software platform, developed by ICANON Associates, is designed to help publishers streamline operations, reduce costs, and focus on the core mission of local journalism. The transition proved to be a turning point in how NMG manages its operations, providing solutions for editorial, advertising, circulation, and finance.

During an interview with ICANON and NMG representatives, they discussed how the media company’s transition to Newzware has transformed its business and significantly improved operational efficiencies.

Why Newzware?



For NMG, the decision to partner with Newzware stemmed from a pressing need for modernization. As Jerry O’Donnell, Operations Officer at NMG, explained, “The system we were using for circulation, billing, and accounting was about as old as me. We owned the servers, the system, everything, and it was getting to the point where, if the server went down, we were going to have a big issue.” The media group sought a solution that could unify their various operations and improve efficiency while ensuring long-term sustainability.

After evaluating multiple platforms, ICANON’s Newzware emerged as the ideal solution. According to O’Donnell, “We did our research and found that the ICANON guys were perfect. They covered everything we needed—from legals to circulation and billing. The implementation was smooth, and they made accommodations for our special needs.” It was crucial for NMG to ensure the transition would not disrupt their core operations, and Newzware delivered on that front. O’Donnell added, “I couldn’t speak highly enough of these guys for their effort and the product.”

Streamlining operations and boosting efficiency
One of the biggest advantages of using Newzware is its ability to centralize and automate tasks, which frees up valuable resources for NMG’s team. As Thea Giardina, Circulation Manager at NMG, noted, “The best part about Newzware’s circulation software is that it automates the easy stuff so we can deal with the complex stuff. What used to take me half an hour now takes me five minutes.” Giardina highlighted the platform’s seamless integration with other systems like TownNews (now BLOX Digital), ensuring a smooth flow of data and operations.

For NMG, the time-saving benefits of Newzware were crucial in helping the organization meet its goal of expanding its audience, both digitally and in print. Giardina shared how the automated billing system, for example, keeps a constant stream of revenue coming in, which is vital for sustaining the newsroom’s operations. “We’re constantly getting revenue from subscriptions expiring and being renewed, which keeps us financially healthy,” she said.


Newzware Legals

Navigating complex legal notices

Legal notices represent an important, albeit complicated, revenue stream for NMG. These notices are not only a vital part of the community but also a steady source of income. However, managing them efficiently can be a challenge. “Legal notices are a pain in the butt, but they’re so necessary,” said O’Donnell.

The challenge for NMG was finding a system that could handle New Jersey’s unique legal notice processes while ensuring compliance and efficiency. Here again, Newzware stepped in to solve the problem. “They made accommodations for our special needs, and in all honesty, it went from ‘we can’t do that’ to ‘hey, it’s done’ in a very short amount of time,” O’Donnell explained. With the implementation of Newzware, NMG has been able to streamline the process of handling legal notices, ensuring they are published on time and in accordance with state regulations.

The role of integration in sustainable news

 

Another key feature that sets Newzware apart is its ability to integrate seamlessly with third-party systems, a crucial factor for NMG, which works with various platforms to publish and distribute content. This level of integration was particularly important for NMG’s advertising and circulation departments, as well as their legal notice workflows. Dana Bascom, Senior Sales Executive at ICANON, emphasized that the company excels in integration. “Our expertise is integration. We have a tremendously flexible and extensive solution, but we also integrate with other CMSs, general ledgers, and press associations,” Bascom said.

For NMG, this flexibility translated into a streamlined operation that allowed their teams to focus on the essential work of journalism. O’Donnell pointed out, “The integration with TownNews for our pagination and layout system has been seamless. We’ve also been able to implement electronic tear sheets, which has been a game-changer in terms of saving postage costs and speeding up the billing process.”

A transformative impact on financial sustainability
At the heart of NMG’s transformation is a focus on financial sustainability. As a nonprofit, the media group relies heavily on donors to support their mission. Tamara Pompey, Chief Revenue Officer for CNJLM, highlighted how the implementation of Newzware has been a significant selling point for donors. “From a philanthropic standpoint, this was a very big selling point with our donors because they want their money to be working for them. Demonstrating additional sustainability and efficiency is something they’re really looking for,” Pompey explained.

Pompey shared that one donor was so enthusiastic about Newzware’s potential to improve NMG’s efficiency that they funded the entire conversion process. “They were excited about how much time and effort it would save us and how it would allow us to focus more on the work that really matters—serving our communities with quality journalism,” she added.

The future of local journalism with Newzware

 

For ICANON, NMG represents the perfect example of how even smaller, hyper-local media outlets can benefit from advanced software solutions like Newzware. Mike Hanson, CFO of ICANON, emphasized that the size of the media company doesn’t matter when it comes to providing value. “Everyone’s unique to us, and their size doesn’t indicate their challenges will be any different than the bigger players. What matters is that we help them run smoothly,” Hanson said.

The partnership between ICANON and NMG is a testament to the importance of embracing technology to create sustainable models for local journalism. As Pompey pointed out, “Newzware was the answer to making our newsroom run more efficiently, which in turn makes our journalism stronger and our mission more impactful.”

Conclusion: A win for local Journalism and technology
The transition to ICANON’s Newzware has been a pivotal moment for the New Jersey Hills Media Group. From streamlining circulation and advertising to managing legal notices and integrating with existing platforms, the Newzware system has provided NMG with the tools needed to sustain their newsroom and continue serving their communities with high-quality local journalism.

As the media landscape continues to evolve, partnerships like this one show that there is a future for local journalism—one built on efficiency, innovation, and a commitment to community engagement. Through Newzware, NMG is now better equipped to face the challenges ahead and to continue fulfilling its mission as a trusted source of local news in New Jersey.

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