Taiwan-based United Daily News Group has implemented a new programme to harness data insights for story planning.

In an INMA Ideas Blog, data development manager Amelie Lin (Lin Yi-Lin) tells how the CurateX programme has empowered the UDN group to harness data insights for driving story planning. “By utilising dynamic data models from topic consensus maps, the newsroom can now adjust and optimise story writing in real time to align more closely with our target audience’s interests and behavioural patterns,” she says.

“This strategy hasn’t just improved our readership rates; it has also dramatically increased our subscription conversion rates.”

Since implementing the programme, subscription conversion rates for stories in specific domains has tripled. “The CurateX programme showcases how we have enhanced user engagement and loyalty and fundamentally reshaped our news production strategies and processes through data insights and technological innovation,” she says.

“Implementing the programme has transformed how we communicate and collaborate across different United Daily News newsroom functions. It has notably enhanced synergy among our editorial, data technology, and business operations teams.

“Such collaboration is groundbreaking; it has resolved the information silos that were once characteristic of traditional media, allowing various departments to share insights and resources seamlessly.”

This shift has not only driven innovation and refined news products but has also increased work efficiency significantly. Moreover, it has unlocked the creative potential of our team members, fostering a surge of innovative ideas in news reporting and product development that continue to shape our success.

Through its use, analysis of user behaviour has been deepened, allowing accurate assessment and prediction of target readers’ preferences. “The platform provides robust data analysis capabilities, including real-time story performance, comprehensive user profiling, and predictive behaviour analytics,” she says.

“These insights have empowered our newsroom to better understand and meet the needs of our audience, refining our content strategies to feature personalised story summaries, interactive narratives and data visualisations. These innovative content platforms not only enhance our readers’ experiences but also boost the attractiveness and shareability of our news content, thereby increasing reader engagement and satisfaction.”

The programme has also driven UDN and affiliated business units to pioneer innovations across various content domains, such as business services, online course design, multimedia production, brand services and channel operations.

“These cutting-edge applications can do more than just to enrich the reading experience; they also elevate the appeal of our news content, contributing significantly to our commercial success.”

Successful deployment has significantly strengthened the United Daily News’ competitive edge in the Taiwan market, setting a powerful example of data-driven transformation that has captured the attention of the global news industry. “We proactively share our expertise and successes in leveraging data for innovative storytelling and fostering dynamic team collaboration.

“This initiative cultivates a culture of knowledge sharing within the organisation and promotes technical collaboration across the international news community, reinforcing our position as a leader in the digital evolution of news media."