Build what makes you special. Buy the rest
a day ago
- #newsroom-technology
- #journalism-innovation
- #build-vs-buy
- The build vs buy dilemma in newsrooms involves deciding whether to develop software in-house or purchase it from vendors.
- Newsrooms should focus on building what makes them unique (journalism) and buy standard solutions for other needs to avoid maintenance overhead.
- Tech teams in newsrooms often become reactive, building one-off tools that lead to technical debt and maintenance burdens.
- Strategic technology decisions require evaluating if a tool enables unique journalism, has long-term maintenance plans, and benefits multiple teams.
- Open source software offers a middle ground, providing flexibility without full vendor lock-in, but requires careful consideration of maintenance.
- Future-proofing journalism involves treating technology as a strategic partner to innovate storytelling and audience engagement.