Tages-Anzeiger and NZZ reduce fee budgets
The print media must cut costs: Both the Tages-Anzeiger and the NZZ have recently decided on immediate measures to reduce their operating costs. At the Tagi, freelance fee budgets are being cut by 10 percent, and savings are being made in consulting costs and brand advertising.
The printed press has to make savings: Both the Tages-Anzeiger and the NZZ recently adopted immediate measures to reduce their running costs. At the Tagi, the cuts affect all departments equally. Tamedia spokesman Christoph Zimmer confirmed Tuesday that the newspaper will cut its fee budget by 10 percent in all areas this year, as well as make savings in consulting costs and image advertising. Züritipp has already set lower salaries for its freelancers.
The magazine, news and newsnet not affected (for now)
The cultural department of the Tages-Anzeiger is most likely planning to save the money elsewhere. For example, fewer assignments will probably be handed out to external parties. In addition, the position of arts editor Barbara Basting, who recently moved to DRS2, will not be replaced.
However, the cuts do not affect the magazine (for the time being). The publisher and editorial staff of the Saturday supplement have been independent since 2005 and are no longer part of the Tages-Anzeiger. The magazine belongs to Tamedia's Media Switzerland division, the Tagi to the Zurich & Northeastern Switzerland division. The commuter newspaper News and Newsnetz are also not affected at present.
Line fee at NZZ one-third lower
The NZZ also recently made a cut in its fee budget. Freelancers in the NZZ feuilleton now earn only 1.40 francs per line instead of 2.10 francs. The rates were thus cut by about a third from one day to the next. So if a freelancer writes a fifty-line concert or theater review, he now earns just seventy francs.
It can be assumed that these measures are only the beginning in view of the further decline in subscriber numbers and advertising placements. However, Tamedia is still keeping a low profile with regard to further cost-cutting measures. Nor does it want to say anything concrete about Der Bund: Tamedia will make a decision by the end of the first half of 2009 at the latest. It is still completely open whether the title will be retained or disappear. "We are not ruling out a new title name in principle," Zimmer told Werbewoche. "However, models in which both previous titles continue to exist are still conceivable."
Adrian Schräder
The magazine, news and newsnet not affected (for now)
The cultural department of the Tages-Anzeiger is most likely planning to save the money elsewhere. For example, fewer assignments will probably be handed out to external parties. In addition, the position of arts editor Barbara Basting, who recently moved to DRS2, will not be replaced.
However, the cuts do not affect the magazine (for the time being). The publisher and editorial staff of the Saturday supplement have been independent since 2005 and are no longer part of the Tages-Anzeiger. The magazine belongs to Tamedia's Media Switzerland division, the Tagi to the Zurich & Northeastern Switzerland division. The commuter newspaper News and Newsnetz are also not affected at present.
Line fee at NZZ one-third lower
The NZZ also recently made a cut in its fee budget. Freelancers in the NZZ feuilleton now earn only 1.40 francs per line instead of 2.10 francs. The rates were thus cut by about a third from one day to the next. So if a freelancer writes a fifty-line concert or theater review, he now earns just seventy francs.
It can be assumed that these measures are only the beginning in view of the further decline in subscriber numbers and advertising placements. However, Tamedia is still keeping a low profile with regard to further cost-cutting measures. Nor does it want to say anything concrete about Der Bund: Tamedia will make a decision by the end of the first half of 2009 at the latest. It is still completely open whether the title will be retained or disappear. "We are not ruling out a new title name in principle," Zimmer told Werbewoche. "However, models in which both previous titles continue to exist are still conceivable."
Adrian Schräder
