Laura and I have created our own version using a template in a Google simple coding framework and being marketing geniuses we have called it PT editorial planner.

It’s not quite as user friendly but will do everything we need and we can add as many users and projects as we wish. Its also free as part of our Google subscription!

You can use it here on your laptop: https://www.appsheet.com/start/a6bd29de-7cb0-4c50-aa0b-2311ea466a3c but you have to be logged in to your PT google account. It won’t work on your personal Gmail login. The mobile view is here https://www.appsheet.com/newshortcut/a6bd29de-7cb0-4c50-aa0b-2311ea466a3c

We have uploaded all the previous Asana entries and tried to make it look as much like Asana as possible, with almost the same functionality.

It’s got the same structure:

• Newsletter stories
  • Topic suggestions
  • Firm story proposals
  • Definite stories
• Research
• Consultations
• Auctions

You can add documents and images, make comments and add followers. When a story is assigned to you, or you are added as a follower you will get an email. Assignees and followers will get emails when comments are added.

So:

• Please don’t add any more stories to Asana
• If you want to pitch a story please go to the news section and click the add button, fill in the details then add Laura in the Follower box. She will then get an email.
  • Please add stories here rather than suggesting by email, it saves Laura time from having to make a planner entry herself. 
  • She can approve or not and add a comment, and you will get an email alert.
• If you want to find a previous entry use the search function on the Search all posts tab
  • Search functions on the other pages only trawl what is displayed on that page, e.g. entries from past 6 months
• I can dig stuff out of Asana if you think something is missing

We can make changes so let us know if anything is needed. However, we can’t replicate the flying unicorn functionality.

There is an AI generated guide below which may be helpful

Many thanks

Martin

PT Editorial Planner – User Guide

PT Editorial Planner replaces Asana for managing our editorial ideas, story proposals and assignments.

It allows us to suggest stories, assign work, discuss ideas, share documents and track progress in one place.

It works in a web browser on a laptop or phone.

1. Finding stories

The left-hand menu provides several ways to find and manage work:

You can search for stories using the search bar at the top of each view.

Tip: Search all posts is particularly useful for finding older material. Some everyday views only show recent stories or outstanding work.

2. Our three editorial stages

News stories move through three stages:

• Topic suggestions: Interesting ideas that might become stories later.
• Firm story proposals: Ideas with enough evidence to justify an article, awaiting approval.
• Definite stories: Approved articles ready to be written.

To move a story between stages, open it, click Edit, change Editorial stage, then save.

All the story’s information, comments and attachments move with it.

3. Creating or assigning a story

Click New story or + Add within the appropriate section.

Enter a title and description, then choose:

• Assignee: The colleague responsible for the story, selected from the dropdown.
• Followers: Other colleagues who want to receive updates.
• Due date: Optional deadline.
• Editorial stage: The type or approval stage of the story.
• Status: Current progress.

Click Save.

The assignee and newly added followers receive email notifications, including a link to the story.

4. Understanding Status

Status is separate from Editorial stage.

For example, an article may be a Definite story but still have a Status of Suggested because nobody has begun writing it.

You can change Status by editing the story or use the tick button in a task list to mark it complete.

Completed stories remain available for future reference.

5. Comments and discussions

You can comment on any story, including those assigned to somebody else.

1. Open the story.
2. Find Related Comments.
3. Click Add.
4. Write your comment and save.

Each comment records its author and date. Click Expand to see the full discussion.

The assignee and followers receive email notifications when a new comment is added, except the person who wrote it.

Use comments for discussions and updates, rather than repeatedly rewriting the original Description.

6. Following a story

You can follow a story without being its assignee.

1. Open the story and click Edit.
2. Find Followers.
3. Select your name from the dropdown.
4. Save.

You will receive notifications about new comments and can follow as many stories as you wish.

To stop following, remove your name from the Followers field.

7. Adding documents, images and links

Each story has a Related Attachments section.

Click Add to attach supporting material.

You can:

• Paste a URL linking to an article, report, website or Google Drive document.
• Upload a file, such as a PDF or Word document.
• Upload an image, such as a chart, photograph or screenshot.

You can add multiple attachments to the same story.

Where possible, give attachments a short description so colleagues can identify them easily.

Tip: If a document is already online, pasting its URL is usually quicker than uploading another copy.

8. Email notifications

PT Editorial Planner sends notifications for important activity.

Emails contain information about the story and a link to open it directly.

You don’t need to follow every story — just those you want to keep track of.

9. Searching, sorting and filtering

Story lists allow you to search, sort and, where enabled, filter records.

You can use these features to find work by assignee, editorial stage, status or date.

For older stories, use Search all posts, which includes the historical material imported from Asana.

Some other views deliberately exclude old or completed records to keep everyday lists manageable.

10. Using PT Editorial Planner like Asana

Most of the Asana features we use are available:

Getting started

Once you’ve received access to PT Editorial Planner, please try creating a story, assigning it to a colleague, following a story and adding a comment.

Please use PT Editorial Planner as our main record of editorial proposals, discussions and decisions, rather than keeping important information only in email exchanges.

If you encounter a problem or have an idea for improving the app, please let us know. If you have complaints, please contact elon@tesla.com