Project Type
Industry
As one of the world’s leading news and media portals, Microsoft delivers global stories to millions of readers daily. This demand brings with it an enormous need for visual content, especially during breaking and developing news. For Microsoft, building a large, full-time team or relying on a costly external agency wasn’t sustainable. Partnering with SketchDeck offered a scalable solution for image sourcing, editing, visual storytelling and copywriting—meeting the demands of a 24/7 news cycle without compromising on quality or speed.
SketchDeck assembled a dedicated team of top-tier photo editors and journalists operating from New York and Seattle. Working alternating shifts, our embedded team provided seamless, around the clock coverage to support Microsoft’s global editorial calendar. We developed efficient, high-speed workflows to process over 12,000 images monthly from trusted providers like AP, Getty, Reuters, and USA Today.
Beyond sourcing and editing, the SketchDeck team optimized imagery for Microsoft’s platform and global channel partners—while coordinating with other agencies and Microsoft partners in multiple locations. This included enhancing content through curated slide shows and photo collections that elevated visual storytelling and UX. Our integrated, flexible model allowed us to act as a true extension of Microsoft’s newsroom—responding to editorial priorities and evolving needs in real time while upholding strict quality standards.
SketchDeck’s newsroom partnership helped Microsoft achieve substantial gains in productivity and cost-efficiency.
Our embedded team delivered more than just images—they added stability, consistency, and visual impact to one of the internet’s busiest newsrooms. Partnership highlights include:
36%
reduction in cost-per-image
25%
increase in editorial team productivity
images monthly
“Over the years, the team has contracted and expanded as our business needs change. I have always been impressed with the people SketchDeck hires—high-caliber professionals, a sense of humor to get through crazy shifts in the newsroom, and limitless creativity. Microsoft has had a long and positive experience working with an outsourced team managed by SketchDeck.”
—Content Project Manager, Microsoft
