Overview

PageSuite has proudly partnered with Maine Trust for Local News (METLN), a prominent nonprofit organization operating a major network of news outlets across Maine, since 2018. METLN, which was formed in 2023 upon the acquisition of Masthead Maine by the National Trust for Local News (NTLN), is committed to sustaining the future of local journalism.

Historically, PageSuite has supported METLN by powering traditional PDF-based eEditions for over 20 publications, alongside dedicated eEdition apps for its larger titles.

In early 2025, METLN initiated a critical strategic shift toward a digital-first model. This transition involved ceasing print production for numerous weekly publications and moving them to a digital-only format. METLN approached PageSuite for an innovative solution that could support this new strategic direction, reduce costs, and maintain a high-quality reader experience.

The Challenge

The strategic pivot to digital-first presented an operational challenge. METLN needed to eliminate some of the costs associated with physical print production, including the time-intensive process of manually laying out each newspaper in PDF format. However, this essential cost-saving measure meant they would no longer generate the traditional PDF that powered their popular eEditions. The central challenge became clear: How could METLN preserve the curated, edition-based reading experience that their audience valued, while completely removing the underlying print production workflow?

The Solution

PageSuite proposed its innovative Feed Edition toolset as the solution. This technology directly addresses the challenge by enabling publishers to automatically ingest website content feeds and map them into bespoke HTML templates. These templates are designed to replicate the familiar look and feel of a traditional newspaper, organized via a digital flatplan that dictates sections and story order. The process is highly automated, dramatically reducing production overhead. Furthermore, the PageSuite portal empowers METLN’s editorial team with full control, allowing them to log in to review the automated edition, re-order articles, edit headlines, and even enrich the content with videos or image galleries. PageSuite then publishes these dynamic HTML editions through the same web reader platform, delivering a modern, feature-rich experience that METLN’s audience expects.

Results

The transition to PageSuite’s Feed Edition toolset has significantly streamlined METLN’s production process while enhancing the reader experience and supporting their digital-first strategy.

Operational Efficiency

By moving from eight weekly print editions to seven automated digital editions, METLN has achieved a remarkable reduction in production time. Previously, a team of 2.5 paginators spent the majority of their workweek producing print editions. Today, just two editors complete all seven Feed Editions in under 4.5 hours total per week — demonstrating a dramatic improvement in workflow efficiency and resource allocation.

Editorial Satisfaction

The editorial team has embraced the Feed Edition toolset, praising its ease of use and the ability to review and refine automated layouts quickly within the dashboard. The intuitive editing experience has empowered editors to maintain control over story placement and presentation, ensuring each edition reflects their editorial standards while benefiting from automation.

Digital-First Success

This initiative has been instrumental in helping METLN achieve its goal of transitioning to a digital-first model while preserving the familiar “edition” experience that readers value. The result is a product that blends tradition with innovation, offering new ways for readers to engage with trusted local content.

Karen Beaudoin, Vice President, Digital Product Development, said, “Partnering with PageSuite on this project was a positive experience. The team was quick to turn the editions around, receptive to feedback, and responsive to our needs throughout. We look forward to continuing our collaboration on future digital initiatives.”

METLN and PageSuite are now working on a new mobile app project, further uniting their digital and epaper products.