John Berry, Editor of The Register Citizen in Torrington and The Middletown Press, CT, conducted a webinar Thursday afternoon for the staff at The Oneida Dispatch on the new functions of the Saxotech publishing system (see picture at right).

Berry’s staff was the first DFM group to adopt the new system and the new print design, created by Bay Area News Group designers Tiffany Grandstaff and Alex Fong. On Sunday, Oneida will also go live with both “Saxo” and the new design. The Dispatch will also be paginated out of Torrington, which will then host the production of three papers in the mini-hub.

“It’s been an interesting process because we’re talking about two staffs coming together to work as one,” said Berry. “It was a little daunting at first, but overall everyone’s been looking forward to the redesigned paper and an improved workflow.”

“Oneida is stoked about getting a new system and new equipment.”

Oneida Editor Kurt Wanfried has been leading his staff as it takes on the new workflow and switches to a three-day print cycle, which will features its first-ever Sunday product. As part of the facelift, The Dispatch will be adding new features in print, and focus on more web updates to meet the demands of readers.

“The new look is fantastic,” said Wanfried. “We’ve had the same style since I’ve been here, and the designers have done a great job in the update.”

As previously noted in this blog, Los Angeles News Group properties will be the next DFM papers to come on line with both “Saxo” and the new print design starting in mid-February.

As seen here, the first-ever Oneida Sunday Dispatch hits newstands this weekend, marking the newspaper’s official switch to a 3-day print cycle.

Update 2/4 Below you’ll find the front page of the first-ever Oneida Sunday Dispatch.