Stäheli: New concept and layout for the NZZ by fall 2009
The NZZ Group plans to develop a new concept and layout for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung by this fall. According to an interview with NZZ CEO Albert Stäheli in the newspaper Sonntag, the possibility of a single-issue newspaper has not been ruled out. In addition, the partnership with Publicitas is to be reevaluated.
The concept of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung will be reviewed "in every respect" and the NZZ will be renewed by the fall, announced Albert P. Stäheli in an interview with the Sonntag newspaper. Quality and content will be expanded in a targeted manner, and the layout in particular will be reviewed and adapted to new content requirements, said the NZZ Group CEO. "It should make access and navigation easier. Younger readers are used to charts and illustrations. We have to take that into account."
Nevertheless, he clearly does not want to turn the NZZ into a view for the educated. The newspaper will always remain somewhat elitist and pick up its readers with its own elegance, Stäheli continues. "I would have serious reservations if the NZZ were to aim for more breadth." The CEO does not rule out the possibility of a single-bundle newspaper. "Anything is possible, from six newspaper bundles to a single-bundle newspaper."
NZZ "solidly financed"
At the end of December, Stäheli announced the reduction of 24 jobs in the NZZ Group. However, the Group will not be in the red in 2008, as might have been expected due to the cost-cutting measures and the ten percent drop in advertising revenues in 2008. "The NZZ is solidly financed and could weather even more severe storms," said Stäheli. He also refuted the suggestion to Sonntag that the cost-cutting measures would thin out the network of correspondents excessively: "We are only keeping Zagreb ... the NZZ still has more foreign correspondents than any other newspaper in the world."
Stäheli also commented on the future of the various titles that belong to the NZZ Group, including the St. Galler Tagblatt, the Neue Luzerner Zeitung and the Zürcher Landzeitungen. Following the already completed adjustment of the management structure, the next step will be to merge the service areas, which currently exist separately at each location. "We have strong companies with these newspapers. But as the NZZ Group, we have not yet exploited the synergies."
It is conceivable, for example, that the three Zurich regional newspapers, which have a joint jacket section, could in future obtain sections from the St. Galler Tagblatt or the Neue Luzerner Zeitung. "As a premium product, the NZZ naturally enjoys a largely unique position in this area," says Stäheli
Cooperation with Publicitas is being reconsidered
Regarding the cooperation with the marketer Publicitas, Stäheli said that it would be more appealing if such a strong brand as the NZZ did not contact customers via Publicitas but directly. "Together with Publicitas, we will address the question of how its future orientation matches our goals in the advertising market." He could well imagine P as a central, external partner for the processing, administration and collection of the advertising business. "However, I consider marketing to be the core business of the publishers."
Nevertheless, he clearly does not want to turn the NZZ into a view for the educated. The newspaper will always remain somewhat elitist and pick up its readers with its own elegance, Stäheli continues. "I would have serious reservations if the NZZ were to aim for more breadth." The CEO does not rule out the possibility of a single-bundle newspaper. "Anything is possible, from six newspaper bundles to a single-bundle newspaper."
NZZ "solidly financed"
At the end of December, Stäheli announced the reduction of 24 jobs in the NZZ Group. However, the Group will not be in the red in 2008, as might have been expected due to the cost-cutting measures and the ten percent drop in advertising revenues in 2008. "The NZZ is solidly financed and could weather even more severe storms," said Stäheli. He also refuted the suggestion to Sonntag that the cost-cutting measures would thin out the network of correspondents excessively: "We are only keeping Zagreb ... the NZZ still has more foreign correspondents than any other newspaper in the world."
Stäheli also commented on the future of the various titles that belong to the NZZ Group, including the St. Galler Tagblatt, the Neue Luzerner Zeitung and the Zürcher Landzeitungen. Following the already completed adjustment of the management structure, the next step will be to merge the service areas, which currently exist separately at each location. "We have strong companies with these newspapers. But as the NZZ Group, we have not yet exploited the synergies."
It is conceivable, for example, that the three Zurich regional newspapers, which have a joint jacket section, could in future obtain sections from the St. Galler Tagblatt or the Neue Luzerner Zeitung. "As a premium product, the NZZ naturally enjoys a largely unique position in this area," says Stäheli
Cooperation with Publicitas is being reconsidered
Regarding the cooperation with the marketer Publicitas, Stäheli said that it would be more appealing if such a strong brand as the NZZ did not contact customers via Publicitas but directly. "Together with Publicitas, we will address the question of how its future orientation matches our goals in the advertising market." He could well imagine P as a central, external partner for the processing, administration and collection of the advertising business. "However, I consider marketing to be the core business of the publishers."
