In a bid to help publishers embed data at the heart of editorial decision-making, smartocto and FT Strategies are joining forces.

This joint programme, How to make data-informed decisions in the newsroom, offers newsrooms a blend of strategic guidance and practical experimentation, grounded in best practices from the Financial Times and other leading publishers.

Running from September 2025, this four-part masterclass series is designed to inspire, equip and activate editorial teams who want to do more with data. Participants will not only learn from FT Strategies’ consultants but also gain access to smartocto’s premium analytics platform for a full 16 weeks.

The bridge between strategy and action

The programme targets small to mid-sized publishers looking to sharpen their editorial workflows, as well as larger organisations eager to refine their audience engagement. Central to the initiative is the belief that data isn’t just for analysts. It should inform every stage of the editorial process: from commissioning and creation to distribution and measuring impact.

The masterclasses follow a framework to integrate data across the editorial lifecycle:

  1. Commission: Learn how to use historic performance and smartocto’s quadrant model to shape your content strategy.
  2. Create: Use AI and the User Needs Model 2.0 to create content that truly resonates with audiences.
  3. Distribute: Improve visibility and reach with better homepage placement, notifications and social strategies.
  4. Drive impact: Set up dashboards, track KPIs and build a long-term strategy that works.
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Participants will run weekly experiments, guided by data-driven hypotheses. Alongside the webinars and tool access, the programme includes personal consultations, cohort-based sessions, a newsroom diagnosis and hands-on help with implementation. Participants will also receive tailored recommendations, ongoing Q&A opportunities, and access to FT’s experimentation framework.

With places limited and a deadline of 4 June 2025 for registration, the organisers are encouraging interested newsrooms to move fast. The programme kicks off on 8 September 2025.

Show interest by submitting the form below!

Learn from the pioneers in transformation

FT Strategies (the consultancy born out of the Financial Times) brings the experience of transforming one of the world’s most respected media brands. Smartocto, meanwhile, continues to pioneer in the world of newsroom data, with clients in more than 40 countries using its tools to turn insights into action.

Together, the two partners offer something rare in the industry: a structured, high-impact programme that’s both visionary and practical.

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