Explaining nature and showing its beauty
Financial crisis or not, *Der Beobachter* is expanding: with a completely new website, a refreshed layout, and the *Beobachter Natur* product line extension.
Over the last few months, the Beobachter has quietly and quietly undergone some fundamental changes. Following an internal reorganization of the management structure, the editorial team headed by journalistic director Balz Hosang has devoted itself to several journalistic projects, the results of which can already be seen or will soon be seen. At the beginning of December, the Beobachter, which belongs to Axel Springer, launched a completely redesigned website in terms of appearance and navigation, and on February 6, 2009, the Beobachter will appear in a new layout (advertising deadline January 8, 2009) - for the first time together with the Beobachter Natur line extension, the "green Beo". "We worked on this for about six months," says Hosang.
Hosang initiated and designed Beobachter Natur together with Roland Wahrenberger, Managing Director of the publishing house, and Remo Leupin, Head of Projects responsible for Line Extensions. A 76-page magazine is now planned, which will initially be published four times. "Everything else depends on how the economy develops and the volume of advertisements," says Balz Hosang. Things are looking good at the moment with the advertisements. He won't say any more. The magazine is produced by the Beobachter team under the direction of Leupin, with specialists from the in-house consulting center under the direction of Toni Wirz as well as freelancers, depending on the topic. The magazine starts with a main topic, followed by smaller articles, tips and guide sections.
Large image share with line extension
Beobachter Natur's designs surprise with long, large-format photo spreads and a very high proportion of images overall. "If you write about nature, you have to show it in all its beauty," says Remo Leupin. At the same time, he also wants the publication to satisfy the readers' thirst for knowledge and highlight complex relationships and discoveries in the areas of nature, energy, sustainable living and technology. "The test readers were virtually immersed in the booklet during the passages in which something was explained to them. In this respect, we have planned a double-page infographic on a specific topic, for example." These could also be unusual ideas. For example, how much energy is consumed in a stadium during a football match. "Such graphics are very time-consuming, but we think it's worth it."
Remo Leupin distances himself from the idea that the Beobachter is simply making yet another sustainability lifestyle magazine, as they are very fashionable at the moment. "We have high information standards. I don't think a green lifestyle magazine with the motto 'We consume and save the world' is very sustainable." However, Beobachter Natur will not be a "morally leavened" magazine. Green lifestyle is also a topic, "but our work is primarily information and utility-oriented, and we want to show how sustainable living is possible". The designs give the impression that a geo in Beo format is in the offing.
New expanded website
The fact that ecoLife, Verde and SI Grün were already three "green" publications on the Swiss market in 2008 does not bother the makers of Beobachter Natur. "Of course we were a little annoyed that the others were earlier than us, but there was no other way," says Balz Hosang. Other things had to be done first. He is referring, for example, to the Beobachter's new website, which was launched at the beginning of December. In addition to a complete redesign and all magazine content, it offers HelpOnline, an optimized self-help tool that allows people seeking advice to find all articles and books published by the Beobachter on a particular topic, as well as further addresses and in-house advisors. Under the direction of Monica Muijsers, a separate online editorial team has also been created to moderate the site in line with current developments and with recourse to the resources of the Beobachter's overall offering.
Developing the Beobachter brand as a whole
Beobachter, the flagship of the Beobachter publishing house under Editor-in-Chief Andres Büchi, is also currently being redesigned. According to Hosang, the main aim is to refresh the look of the title to bring it in line with the new Beobachter Natur magazine, but also with the monothematic issues previously published under the title "Kompakt". "In this way, we want to further develop the Beobachter brand as a whole," says Hosang. However, Hosang and Leupin have no concrete information on whether and which expansion plans will be pursued at Beobachter. "There are projects for further line extensions, but they are not yet ready for discussion," says Hosang.
Expansion thanks to crisis-resistant business model
For Hosang and Leupin, the fact that the Beobachter is expanding while other publishing houses are cutting jobs is due to the fact that the Beobachter, together with the consulting center, is a fairly crisis-resistant business model. "But it also has to do with the high status that the Beobachter has held in the publishing house since its sale to Axel Springer two years ago. People believe in what the Beobachter stands for. In addition, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner is a real Beo fan," said Hosang. The two have nothing but good words for the publishing house. "The fears of being remote-controlled from Berlin, which were rife before the sale, were quickly dispelled. We are now in a much more professional environment than before." Job cuts are currently not an issue at Beo. The gala of the annual "Prix Courage" was recently canceled, "but it's better to cancel galas than cut jobs," says Hosang. (elk)
Hosang initiated and designed Beobachter Natur together with Roland Wahrenberger, Managing Director of the publishing house, and Remo Leupin, Head of Projects responsible for Line Extensions. A 76-page magazine is now planned, which will initially be published four times. "Everything else depends on how the economy develops and the volume of advertisements," says Balz Hosang. Things are looking good at the moment with the advertisements. He won't say any more. The magazine is produced by the Beobachter team under the direction of Leupin, with specialists from the in-house consulting center under the direction of Toni Wirz as well as freelancers, depending on the topic. The magazine starts with a main topic, followed by smaller articles, tips and guide sections.
Large image share with line extension
Beobachter Natur's designs surprise with long, large-format photo spreads and a very high proportion of images overall. "If you write about nature, you have to show it in all its beauty," says Remo Leupin. At the same time, he also wants the publication to satisfy the readers' thirst for knowledge and highlight complex relationships and discoveries in the areas of nature, energy, sustainable living and technology. "The test readers were virtually immersed in the booklet during the passages in which something was explained to them. In this respect, we have planned a double-page infographic on a specific topic, for example." These could also be unusual ideas. For example, how much energy is consumed in a stadium during a football match. "Such graphics are very time-consuming, but we think it's worth it."
Remo Leupin distances himself from the idea that the Beobachter is simply making yet another sustainability lifestyle magazine, as they are very fashionable at the moment. "We have high information standards. I don't think a green lifestyle magazine with the motto 'We consume and save the world' is very sustainable." However, Beobachter Natur will not be a "morally leavened" magazine. Green lifestyle is also a topic, "but our work is primarily information and utility-oriented, and we want to show how sustainable living is possible". The designs give the impression that a geo in Beo format is in the offing.
New expanded website
The fact that ecoLife, Verde and SI Grün were already three "green" publications on the Swiss market in 2008 does not bother the makers of Beobachter Natur. "Of course we were a little annoyed that the others were earlier than us, but there was no other way," says Balz Hosang. Other things had to be done first. He is referring, for example, to the Beobachter's new website, which was launched at the beginning of December. In addition to a complete redesign and all magazine content, it offers HelpOnline, an optimized self-help tool that allows people seeking advice to find all articles and books published by the Beobachter on a particular topic, as well as further addresses and in-house advisors. Under the direction of Monica Muijsers, a separate online editorial team has also been created to moderate the site in line with current developments and with recourse to the resources of the Beobachter's overall offering.
Developing the Beobachter brand as a whole
Beobachter, the flagship of the Beobachter publishing house under Editor-in-Chief Andres Büchi, is also currently being redesigned. According to Hosang, the main aim is to refresh the look of the title to bring it in line with the new Beobachter Natur magazine, but also with the monothematic issues previously published under the title "Kompakt". "In this way, we want to further develop the Beobachter brand as a whole," says Hosang. However, Hosang and Leupin have no concrete information on whether and which expansion plans will be pursued at Beobachter. "There are projects for further line extensions, but they are not yet ready for discussion," says Hosang.
Expansion thanks to crisis-resistant business model
For Hosang and Leupin, the fact that the Beobachter is expanding while other publishing houses are cutting jobs is due to the fact that the Beobachter, together with the consulting center, is a fairly crisis-resistant business model. "But it also has to do with the high status that the Beobachter has held in the publishing house since its sale to Axel Springer two years ago. People believe in what the Beobachter stands for. In addition, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner is a real Beo fan," said Hosang. The two have nothing but good words for the publishing house. "The fears of being remote-controlled from Berlin, which were rife before the sale, were quickly dispelled. We are now in a much more professional environment than before." Job cuts are currently not an issue at Beo. The gala of the annual "Prix Courage" was recently canceled, "but it's better to cancel galas than cut jobs," says Hosang. (elk)
