To the point: A found meal
The economic crisis is intensifying worldwide and is also affecting people in Switzerland. When public sentiment is running high, it’s a goldmine for the tabloids.
The economic crisis is getting worse all over the world and is also affecting people in Switzerland. When people's emotions are boiling, it's a feast for the tabloids. A tabloid can do a number of things in such a situation: It can simply keep the indignation boiling or add fuel to the fire to further fan the people's anger. Another tried and tested method is to ask readers to comment directly and to give them the opportunity to express their outrage by letter, fax or e-mail, or to contact the accused directly by means of a pre-printed letter. This is to be done via the editorial office, because after all, one wants to keep the reins in one's own hands.
Blick is playing the whole keyboard with great relish these days. With ever new lurid titles, the story is spun on without end. Since we can't assume that all our readers read Blick, here are a few tidbits: "Bonuses back, Mr. Ospel," "Ospel disappears - anger grows," "When will you pay back your bonuses, Mr. Ospel?", "Money, Marcel!", "UBS and bonuses - it's okay to laugh," "Kurer had to grovel in room 235.
And of course it hails letters to the editor. The people's voice loves it clear and unambiguous. A quote from the gutter: "From now on, the Kronenhalle is off limits. For you, only McDonald's is allowed", "If you don't pay back your bonuses, we'll feed you on a crocodile farm", "All I can say is: Fie!" or "Mr. Ospel, you are the nightmare of the Swiss". From Wollerau, Ospel's place of residence, it sounds, "You are a disgrace to our community." Another writes "Boni back or emigrate".
Such journalistic behavior can be called a campaign. Blick editor-in-chief Bernhard Weissberg sees things differently. For him, the whole affair is not a campaign, but - as he reports in his "Scheff Blog" - a "campaign for decency. It doesn't get any more hypocritical than that.
Why not stand by it? Blick has returned to its roots and celebrates the classic tabloid style. No more of the emancipated tabloid that Ringier's chief ideologue Frank A. Meyer propagated for years and parroted by everyone, and that no one really knew what it was supposed to be. Now the two-handed sword is being used again and the lowest drawer is being opened.
But is it really a departure from Frank A. Meyer's ideas of a contemporary boulevard? In style, perhaps, but certainly not in substance. Citoyen Meyer can look proudly at his adepts from his Berlin villa. After all, the current mudslinging is about the fight of good against evil. An action for more decency. You can hear it.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
Blick is playing the whole keyboard with great relish these days. With ever new lurid titles, the story is spun on without end. Since we can't assume that all our readers read Blick, here are a few tidbits: "Bonuses back, Mr. Ospel," "Ospel disappears - anger grows," "When will you pay back your bonuses, Mr. Ospel?", "Money, Marcel!", "UBS and bonuses - it's okay to laugh," "Kurer had to grovel in room 235.
And of course it hails letters to the editor. The people's voice loves it clear and unambiguous. A quote from the gutter: "From now on, the Kronenhalle is off limits. For you, only McDonald's is allowed", "If you don't pay back your bonuses, we'll feed you on a crocodile farm", "All I can say is: Fie!" or "Mr. Ospel, you are the nightmare of the Swiss". From Wollerau, Ospel's place of residence, it sounds, "You are a disgrace to our community." Another writes "Boni back or emigrate".
Such journalistic behavior can be called a campaign. Blick editor-in-chief Bernhard Weissberg sees things differently. For him, the whole affair is not a campaign, but - as he reports in his "Scheff Blog" - a "campaign for decency. It doesn't get any more hypocritical than that.
Why not stand by it? Blick has returned to its roots and celebrates the classic tabloid style. No more of the emancipated tabloid that Ringier's chief ideologue Frank A. Meyer propagated for years and parroted by everyone, and that no one really knew what it was supposed to be. Now the two-handed sword is being used again and the lowest drawer is being opened.
But is it really a departure from Frank A. Meyer's ideas of a contemporary boulevard? In style, perhaps, but certainly not in substance. Citoyen Meyer can look proudly at his adepts from his Berlin villa. After all, the current mudslinging is about the fight of good against evil. An action for more decency. You can hear it.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
