[Posted October 12]
What is the digital relationship between the School and magazine? For example, are there implications, integrations, etc. that we should be aware of that are not obvious when looking at the site?
Beyond desired integrations like Events Calendar Pro and others mentioned in other question responses below, the relationship between the School’s website and that of the magazine is relatively separate. In terms of visual presentation, the magazine’s branding should present as an independent entity, separate from the Harvard Chan School’s site and branding.
When will the multi-site decision be made and do you want the agency partner to help influence this decision?
We have arrived at a decision to host on the School’s platform (Pantheon) rather than separately. This means our local IT Web and Application team will be responsible for security and WordPress core updates. We will be looking for vendors to provide information on maintenance plans that include fixing features that may break over the course of site use including when we periodically update core (particularly regarding the block editor), as well as how feature improvements or change requests are handled as they come up.
What is the status of the new strategy for the magazine? Will this be in place when the engagement starts? Synonymous question: How much of your brand strategy and story is defined? (ex. differentiation, positioning, story, values?)
We are currently in the process of developing an initial strategy for how the magazine may become a dynamic source of public health journalism to an expanded audience. This will be ready when the engagement begins. Any functional requirement surfaced so far has been included in the RFP (e.g., separate sections for main content vs. Alumni content, issue-based information architecture, etc.)
The RFP mentioned extending the team with some Harvard resources, can you talk more about how you see that playing out for both design and development? Synonymous question: We would like to better understand your team capabilities – where do you anticipate needing additional support, and where are there opportunities for collaboration?
As of now, our internal IT Web and Application Development Team will be involved with code reviews and hosting setup assistance. As we have decided to host with our preexisting infrastructure, they will also be responsible for ongoing security and core updates. From a creative standpoint, we expect our senior designer and associate creative director to be involved with design ideation, iteration, and review. The senior designer may be available to contribute to the actual design process if this is desired by the vendor.
We understand the agency will not be responsible for providing content for the site, however, would like to confirm if this only relates to the articles and the “written words”, or does it also mean that the agency is not responsible for images, graphics, infographics, etc.?
The vendor will not be responsible for providing any content beyond microcopy where necessary (e.g., calls to action, navigation labels, etc.), and stock imagery or graphics to aid in design mocks, iterations, etc. Additional images may be provided by the School upon request. Regarding images, they should provide any stylistic guidance that may apply to images, graphics, and infographics as they relate to the new visual identity of the magazine. This may involve providing tools, guidelines, or assets in the process of designing the site that assists with implementation.
Related to the above, how much creative support do you anticipate the agency is providing when it comes to infographics or data visualizations? Assuming the aesthetic for these assets is established as part of the print edition and brought to life online, do you have a creative team that handles that today?
In this project, we’re looking for the new design and visual language developed by the vendor to inform and update all aspects of the magazine. This includes how assets like infographics and data visualizations appear online. The print edition will then draw upon the styles developed by the vendor for the digital edition; this effort will take place in-house.
Re: Interactive data visualizations – Is the intention to enable easy embedding of visualizations created independently? Or is the desire for a tool that enables the creation of data visualizations? (the former easy, the latter complex).
The former.
Is there any translation of your content today? Or will there be as part of being accessible to the “global public?” Synonymous question: Do you have any requirements around multi-language or translation?
The site should be translation-ready, but we are not requiring this feature to be set up as part of the initial project.
Is there an expectation that the agency partner will continue to provide creative support (or support beyond typical website maintenance) after the initial site system has launched?
This is something we hope to see as part of the ongoing maintenance, future work section of responses. Particularly how vendors may handle creative support as well as functional design updates to the site as they come up after the engagement ends.
Payment and PCI compliance: Is there someone in information security who can advise us about Harvard’s requirements as part of the project. We have some initial ideas, but want to make sure there is someone on the Harvard team that will be available to weigh in on different implementation and integration options?
Yes, our IT Web and Application Development team will be on hand for this part of the project.
What browsers and devices does the site need to support (you mention “modern browsers”)?
The website should display and function flawlessly on desktop applications (current long term support versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari); mobile (latest versions of Chrome, Safari, Samsung); and, to meet our accessibility requirements (WCAG AA 2.1), the content of the website should be accessible on most older browsers.
We would plan to use Gutenberg to build this site (the latest block editor for WordPress). However, Gutenberg does have some challenges with being an accessible editor and it tends to increase the build effort because there is not as much support available. Is that acceptable?
From our understanding, many of the initial accessibility issues with the block editor (aka Gutenberg) have been resolved. We also understand that while historic documentation may be lacking, support for the block editor among the WordPress community is increasing. With all that in mind, we have chosen to make utilization of this feature a requirement of the project.
Are you open to external services such as CVent or Aventri for event registrations and payment? It would simplify the build and keep payment for events off the main site.
We are open to other options, however our strong preference is using the Events Calendar Pro as the basis for events on the site.
When talking about article templates and components having the ability to have customizable layouts, do you mean that a user should be able to customize which modules are on a page or that they should have options to customize the modules themselves? If the modules themselves, please describe the customization you have in mind.
The former. To create engaging editorial experiences for the reader, the publisher should be able to select from a variety of component types while composing a story. Limited adjustments to the modules, such as type, color, image size, are expected, while structural adjustments like padding, are not.
For social share capabilities, is a service like AddToAny ok?
This plugin would need to be reviewed by our web security team prior to use.
Will there be an SSO integration requirement for WordPress authentication? Synonymous question: Do you want to integrate admin user sign-on with an existing university sign-on system? Or can user accounts be unique to WordPress?
Yes, HarvardKey will be required. Our IT Web and Application Development team will be on hand for this part of the project.
Are the existing WordPress user roles sufficient, or do you have unique requirements around roles and capabilities?
The existing roles are sufficient for site admins.
Are there standard security guidelines and/or requirements you could share with us? For example, will there be a scheduled penetration test required before launch? If so, will that be something Harvard will provide or will we be including the cost in our estimate?
We will be using a readymade Harvard service for this, so no estimate is necessary. Our IT Web and Application Development team will be on hand for this part of the project.
When speaking of a “printer-friendly format” would you want every page to have a print stylesheet?
All pages should use a print stylesheet to optimize layout in that format, however achieving a good format is more important for individual article pages than an issue or search results page, for example.
Is there a Harvard solution for GDPR and CCPA compliance that we will leverage for this site?
Yes, additional information may be found on the Harvard University Information Security site.
A modular architecture to the project, for example having a design system in its own package, a decoupled frontend and backend using a front-end framework like React or Vue.js, could give the magazine’s team flexibility to create immersive standalone pieces. Is that an approach you would be interested in exploring?
Our desire is to get away from necessitating development skills for those individuals publishing the editorial content on the magazine site. We are looking for immersive experiences to be accomplished with ease, and within the limits of WordPress’ block editor and approved additive plugins (such as Advanced Custom Fields). A more detailed conversation about how to strategically accomplish this will take place with the selected vendor.
Would you see a benefit to structured data (schema markup) to make the articles easier to understand to third-party and/or search engines?
We would look forward to learning more about the benefits of this as part of your RFP response.
Should the paywall system integrate with an existing print subscription database? Enable a user to subscribe to print, print + digital, digital only? If so, are there any details about the existing subscription infrastructure?
We do not have an existing subscriber database that can integrate will with WordPress. We would be looking to set this up. Given our ambitious timeline for the project, we are prepared for subscription handling to be covered in a post-launch phase of the project.
There’s mention of ‘inserting an ad’ – are these manually managed ads & calls-to-action, or integration with an ad server?
[Posted October 1]
To confirm, is your team open to receiving proposals from firms not directly invited to bid?
Yes.
Is there a Harvard maintained base theme that your team prefers to use as a starting point?
In this case, there is not a base theme.
How much design direction are you looking for?
The vendor will be the lead in developing a visual identity and design system for the magazine. We expect this will include, but is not limited to, choices in: Typography, colors, photo and illustration direction, modifications to the logo, visualization standards etc. The process by which we arrive at the best option for the visual identity of the site will be determined by the vendor. Our desire is to also establish a close working relationship between the vendor and the magazine’s creative team, including the principal designer and associate creative director, to share in the creative development aspects of this project.
Does the visual identity have to relate to Harvard?
No. While some nods to Harvard visual themes are welcome for consideration, the final look should reflect a standalone, independent magazine more than a connection to its parent institutions.
Are there any required plugins we should be aware of?
No plugins are specifically required, however, a list of plugins currently approved for use can be found here. Any plugin not present in the above list will be subject to approval.
We ask that the site be built utilizing WordPress 5.0’s block editor, which can be bolstered by plugins that add expanded capabilities to this core feature, such as Advance Custom Fields.
Page builder plugins will not be acceptable.
Is there a preference for keeping the site hosted on Pantheon?
Yes, this is required.
Will events related to the magazine use a similar (or the same) events functionality as seen on the main School site?
Our preference is that events use the same plugin (The Events Calendar Pro), but we expect they will be customized visually to align with the magazine’s design system, rather than the main School events calendar. In short: Same system, different appearance.
You note that the site will need to support a distinctive section for alumni- and faculty-focused content. Can you confirm: Will this content be accessible to all, or behind a login? Can you confirm which areas of content you consider to be specific to alumni and faculty audiences? We presume the following: Alumni News, Faculty News, In Memoriam, and Philanthropic Impact. Are we missing areas? Are there new areas you imagine developing?
Alumni content will not be behind a paywall. However, it should be presented in a way that reads as a secondary front page to the main front page.
Areas that will move to the alumni section include those listed in your question, Frontlines (short news stories about faculty research or School initiatives), as well as cross-linked stories involving alumni and faculty published in the main magazine section.
We recognize that there’s a metered paywall requirement for the newly envisioned online magazine. Does Harvard University and/or Harvard Chan have requirements for the payment processing partner/online payments?
Yes, payments must be processed by UPay Touchnet. The University also requires a redirection workflow (where users are redirected to the payment processor website to pay and then redirected back to the website after payment) vs an embedded credit card form.
Are there any other related third-party integrations to send subscription or transactional data to other Harvard systems?
Our email service, Emma, will need to be integrated with the site in a way that collects contact records from email signups, and possibly event registrations and subscriptions, yet each of those transactional interfaces must feel like a part of the site, rather than an Emma form.
The University has a relationship with Salesforce CRM. We are not currently using this solution for the magazine, but it may be pursued to handle subscriber relationships.
Beyond those two, we’re looking for a vendor who can help us determine the best approach.
We imagine that we would track metered usage for both logged in and anonymous users. Is this correct?
Yes.
Is there an internal event ticketing system (e.g. Eventbrite) that will need to be integrated with WordPress, or do you envision using an event system built for WordPress?
We would prefer to use the ticketing extension of our events calendar plugin, but would consider alternatives suggested by the vendor.
The project scope includes SEO strategy. Can you provide more details and/or context about the specific level and type of SEO strategy that you’re seeking as part of this engagement?
With the understanding that some vendors may not have an in-house SEO strategist, we are looking for the site to be developed in a way that lends to natural keyword and search optimization. Good SEO can be achieved through a variety of methods, and we’re looking for a vendor’s take on that.
Have you thought about updates to workflow for content creation at this point?
Yes. Currently, articles on the site are created and published by the designers who work on the printed magazine, with contributions from the editorial team. In the new site, ease of use will be important so editorial can become the primary publishers and managers of content.
What is the cadence of articles you expect to see on the site?
In year one, we expect to publish 2–3 standalone articles per week, as well as the three issues in February, May, and October. On occasion, we may also early release content destined for a forthcoming issue, adding to the weekly frequency of articles published digitally.
Do you already produce content for the intended audience as described in the RFP?
Yes, we understand our current digital audience to include those individuals.
However, the major shift we’re looking to achieve is how this audience perceives the content we produce in the magazine. Going from a publication about Harvard Chan–involved efforts, to one that is institution-agnostic in its reporting on the most important public health issues of the day.
Are there any specific search functionality requirements to take into account (e.g., faceted filtering by category, by issue, content type, department, etc)?
Yes, in addition to clear and easy navigation, readers of the magazine should be able to explore content based on a variety of taxonomies through a robust search. Since the site must be hosted on Pantheon, there is a possibility to utilize Pantheon Search to achieve this.
Can you provide more details on the paywall and other revenue necessities? Will there ever be advertising or sponsored content on the site?
The exact revenue model for the magazine is still to be determined. At a minimum, a paywall that can be adjusted with various price and metering settings, and a custom content block that would allow for an ad to be placed in line with article content will be required.
You note that you haven’t yet decided if the new site will be hosted independently or will remain as part of the School’s multisite network. Can you provide any additional information about what will inform and influence this decision?
This will depend on domain naming capabilities and other details we have not yet resolved with our internal stakeholders. We will arrive at a decision in mid to late October.
Content can be migrated in a number of ways, but a less intensive approach can be using your existing database as a base for the new site as data structures are already in place. However, this can occasionally bring with it unnecessary or unwanted legacy configurations you would like to leave behind. Is there an opinion on whether this should be a fresh instance of WordPress, or whether you would like to build on the existing infrastructure?
This will need to be a fresh instance of WordPress. For most articles on the current site, we will be able to work with our IT team to get the content exported in a useful format. Approximately 50 existing articles are designed with custom CSS code in a “feature format,” these can be linked to from the new site but remain in their current form on the existing site or can be hand migrated to the feature equivalent on the new site. We’re interested in hearing about vendors’ suggested approaches to migration given this information.
How many people will be involved in this project from the Harvard Chan team? Can you provide information about how your team will be structured and how review cycles would ideally work for your group?
Based on frequency and type of contact, you can expect the following individuals to be available or present throughout the project:
- Weekly check-ins and strategy or creative contributions
Editor-in-chief, associate creative director, senior designer - Major project touchpoints and/or presentations
Those listed above, and: Vice dean for strategic communications, chief communications officer, associate editor, features editor, associate director for digital strategy - Specialized support or contributions as needed
Staff photographer, and the Department of Information Technology Web and Application Development Team
Can you clarify what’s driving the mid-February target launch date?
The February 2022 launch aligns with the mailing date of our Winter 2022 printed issue.
What’s most important to achieve in a Phase One?
Continuity with the existing site: Ability to publish the Winter 2022 issue and present content in article and feature form collected on a front page, viewable by issue, and searchable, with the addition of an alumni section. All other requirements are highly desired in phase one as well, but we are conscious of feasibility.
