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The Chronicle of Higher Education
Start Spreading the News
Published weekly and read by nearly half a million college
administrators and faculty members around the globe, The Chronicle
of Higher Education covers the academic world in depth. It's clear,
concise and timely, as is The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which
applies the same high standards of journalistic quality to the
coverage of issues affecting non-profit organizations and
foundations worldwide.
Keeping that news timely, both in print and through the papers'
web editions, is a real challenge. And Matthew Bassow is up to
it.
He's the database manager for both papers -- but that wasn't
always so. Back in 1999, Matthew was working in the Art department,
helping to prepare data presentations for publication. "We needed a
better way of handling 'fact files,' which are collections of data
we use as the basis for stories," he recalls. "At that time, we'd
get the data from a news source, and we'd basically have to handle
it as text. We'd run it into Quark, and set it up there, and then
use the Quark file for publication in print or on our website. The
results were very static -- once we had our Quark file, that was
it. We couldn't easily update it or adjust it, and when it came
time to do the same sort of story next year, we'd have to start
from scratch. It was a very inefficient process, and we began to
realize that we really needed a database."
And that's when Matthew turned to FileMaker Pro. "At that time, we
used Macs in the Art department, and other departments were
Windows-based, so we needed database software that was
cross-platform. That was the main reason we chose FileMaker, and
then I began to see how easy it was to develop in the software, how
quickly I could build solutions."
From that simple start in the Art department, Matthew learned that
FileMaker Pro could make a difference anywhere. "FileMaker Pro just
grew with us," he continues. "From that beginning we began using it
in other departments, for other applications. We began using Quark
plug-ins and found that it meshed nicely with that software, and we
discovered it worked well with data imported from Excel."
Before long, Matthew and Robert Caldwell, an assistant database
manager, were turning out all sorts of FileMaker Pro solutions, for
use throughout the company. "Between us, we've developed an entire
range of FileMaker Pro solutions," he declares. "We've got over 180
databases now, containing hundreds of thousands of records, filling
all sorts of functions -- circulation, advertising, business -- as
well as layout and web publication."
And there's a reason why. "It's impossible to put a dollar value
on what FileMaker's meant to us," Matthew enthuses. "FileMaker Pro
is fast and easy to develop and that's really important in the
world of journalism. With FileMaker Pro, we can develop on the run
-- coming up with the solutions we need without interrupting our
workflow. FileMaker Pro has grown along with us, and we've grown
with FileMaker.”
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For more information please contact:
Matthew Bassow
Database Manager
The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inc.
202-466-1716
matthew.bassow@chronicle.com
http://chronicle.com
Filemaker Contact:
Kevin Mallon
Public Relations Manager
FileMaker Inc.
408-987-7227
kevin_mallon@filemaker.com
http://www.filemaker.com
- The Chronicle of Higher Education does exactly what the name implies -- it covers the news of the world of academia, in depth and on time. And helping to keep the news fresh and timely, you'll find FileMaker Pro.
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