FIAT/IFTA World Conference 2026

When Reuters News Agency acquired the commercial archive licensing operation Screenocean, it inherited two distinct media asset management (MAM) systems. Maintaining these parallel environments — each shaped by its own metadata schemes, cataloguing practices, and operational workflows — introduced growing risks to preservation, discoverability, rights management, and long‑term sustainability. 
The challenge was twofold: migrating a large, active audiovisual archive while preserving the integrity and context of its assets. This paper outlines the methodologies used to address this challenge, including metadata mapping, risk assessment, and workflow redesign. 
This presentation examines the unification of these MAM environments as a case study in preservation through migration. Although driven by technical necessity, the consolidation was equally an exercise in ensuring continuity of archival stewardship amid organisational and technological change. 
Beyond large-scale asset migration, the paper explores effective approaches to MAM consolidation, including metadata harmonisation, duplication management, and the preservation of contextual and rights information that give archival materials their meaning and value. 
The project offers a practical case study for archives facing merger, restructuring, or infrastructure renewal, highlighting key lessons related to preservation, access, and sustainability.