In order to prepare a high-quality and very efficient newspaper, diverse demands for new systems continue. This includes more access to news flashes in electronic media and retrieval from databases of newspaper articles and photos. The list extends to speedy management, promotion of group strategies, and shared information by connecting all employees to a network system.

The ATOM system is a comprehensive news system in which The Asahi Shimbun's multi-media strategy is built. All system arms became operational in April 2005 and a full switchover was completed in June 2006. The system comprises a multimedia system that is the key to newspaper production and news distribution to other media, a management and sales system that enables diversified management information to be gathered, analyzed and provided in a timely manner, and a network which serves as the infrastructure for information dissemination.

The Asahi Shimbun received the 2006 Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association Award (technology section) for the ATOM system, after having also received the award in 2005 for the development of the FM Screen. Recently the media which receive our news supply are becoming more diversified, including terrestrial broadcasting and mobile phone services, while improved database search services are also in demand. Members of our technical staff are thus making a concerted effort to develop systems to enhance the dissemination of information to new media and to improve the overall commercial quality of the newspaper.