Why did Media2Tickets decide to focus on this project?
The organisation’s website, “Informator Kolomiya,” faced limitations due to its outdated WordPress platform. The website’s mobile interface was substandard, which was a problem as around 90 percent of Informator Kolomiya’s monthly readers use mobile devices to access the site. The old website also lacked features that enhance trust, such as visible editorial workflows and interactive content. Without addressing these challenges, the organisation's ability to retain and expand its audience was at risk.
How did applying design-thinking principles help?
Media2Tickets successfully applied several elements of design thinking throughout the project. User feedback shaped the project’s design and technical priorities. Early in the process, Media2Tickets conducted a brief user survey asking readers what they wanted from the redesigned website. The input revealed a strong need for better mobile navigation, faster loading times, and clearer access to sources — these priorities were subsequently adopted. Moreover, working in short iteration cycles — implementing features in phases and testing them throughout the process — helped the organisation stay flexible and avoid delays, especially when minor issues emerged during the content-migration phase.
Did Media2Tickets’s approach change engagement with its audience in any way?
By directly responding to user feedback, the website overhaul created a stronger connection between the newsroom and its audience.
What challenges did Media2Tickets encounter and how did it address them?
One of the main challenges the organisation faced was coordinating the technical team and editorial staff while everyone was simultaneously engaged in ongoing projects. Scheduling was tight, and the short two-month timeline required careful prioritisation and constant communication to stay on track.
Another challenge was managing the migration of legacy content. Some articles required formatting adjustments, and ensuring content integrity during the transfer took more time than initially expected. Similarly, the team initially underestimated the time needed for the internal testing and feedback cycles. Even with a soft launch, extra days had to be allocated to address unexpected bugs and user-experience issues — especially on mobile devices.
The team members reflected that these challenges helped them refine their internal workflows and establish stronger collaboration between editorial and technical roles, which will benefit future projects.
How was Media2Tickets’ project received by its audience?
Following the project, the site expanded its audience. Audience members are spending more time on the site than before, indicating that its interactive features were well-received.
What insights or lessons did Media2Tickets gain from this project?
Build extra time into your timeline for technical delays, internal approvals, and last-minute fixes. Centralising communication between tech and editorial teams helps avoid bottlenecks. Start testing earlier, even with incomplete versions. Feedback at any stage is useful. Content migration always takes longer than expected, so plan accordingly.
What are Media2Tickets’ next steps?
Moving forward, Media2Tickets plans to fully integrate the new website into its daily editorial workflows and continue improving it based on user behavior and feedback. The upgraded platform has already streamlined internal processes and enabled the outlet to publish more efficiently, particularly on mobile. The website will also serve as a template for upgrading the other two regional media outlets in Ivano-Frankivsk and Kalush. Media2Tickets will also work on making its website’s English-language version more navigation-friendly. Lessons learned from this project — especially around design, migration, and user testing — will directly inform those future upgrades.
Additionally, Media2Tickets will monitor key performance indicators (bounce rate, average session duration, and user growth) to evaluate how well the redesign meets audience needs. This project was not just a one-time improvement — it laid the groundwork for more sustainable, user-centered local journalism across their network.
What advice would Media2Tickets give to other journalists or organisations considering a similar path?
Start with your audience. Conduct a short survey to ask what they need — even 50 responses can reshape your design priorities. Prioritise performance on mobile devices from Day 1. Build a flexible team with clear roles and deadlines — this keeps progress moving even when delays arise. Test early and often, even if only internally at first. It saves time later. This project showed Media2Tickets that trust can be built not only through content, but also through a website that truly reflects the values of independent journalism.
Credit: Transitions, Journalismfund Europe's partner for implementing the Microgrants for Small Newsrooms programme, produced this case study.
