| name | editorial-integrated-product-development |
| description | A framework for embedding domain expertise and editorial judgment into product algorithms and cross-functional workflows. Use this when building high-trust products where engagement metrics alone are insufficient, or when transitioning from a content-neutral platform to a mission-driven destination. |
Editorial-Integrated Product Development
In high-stakes industries like news, health, or finance, relying solely on engagement-driven algorithms leads to low-quality outcomes and brand erosion. This framework bridges the gap between expert intuition and scalable software by embedding domain experts (editors) directly into the product development lifecycle and using their judgment as the primary signal for algorithmic ranking.
The Mission-Function Matrix Structure
Organize the product organization into two axes to balance craft excellence with speed:
- Functions: (Product, Design, Engineering, Data) Focus on standards of craft, career frameworks, and skill development.
- Missions: (Consumer, Monetization, Platform) Cross-functional "wartime" teams that include PMs, designers, and—crucially—embedded domain experts/editors.
The Editorial Algorithmic Workflow
Instead of training models purely on clicks or time-spent, use expert judgment to "scale" quality across the user experience.
1. Identify the "Solar System" Hierarchy
- The Sun: Define the core product that provides the brand heritage and trust (e.g., News).
- Satellite Planets: Build adjacent products that share the same DNA but serve different life needs (e.g., Games, Cooking, Shopping).
- The Connection: Ensure the satellites feed back into the core via a shared subscription or account system.
2. Define Editorial Importance Scores
Work with domain experts to create structured data from their intuition.
