AZ Medien invests in online platform and forwarding facility
The Aargau-based publishing house AZ Medien plans to adapt to changes in the media industry: It will expand its online platform starting in early summer 2008 and invest in the distribution facility at its Aarau printing center. The decision regarding a possible new free newspaper, however, has been postponed once again.
The Aargau publishing house AZ Medien wants to adapt to the changes in the media industry: It is expanding its online platform from early summer 2008 and investing in the forwarding facility at the Aarau printing center. The Board of Directors of AZ Medien has approved both steps, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. However, the decision on a possible new free newspaper has been postponed again. The new online platform will focus on the Mittelland region and Northwestern Switzerland. Among other things, it will provide users with offers in the areas of "Search & Find", business, gastronomy and services. It will also include target group-oriented services, for example on the topics of events and going out. In future, various offers will also be available via mobile. In addition to the forum pages of the printed AZ regional editions, an online database is planned. Articles submitted by associations, institutions and political parties can be published on a new multimedia "neighborhood platform" on the Internet. According to the press release, 14 additional jobs are expected to be created in the online area.
The publishing house is investing 7 million Swiss francs in the forwarding facility. The aim is to create new capacity. According to the press release, this is intended for new print products in the compact and free newspaper sector, among other things. However, no further details on these new products are given: The final decision on the realization of these projects is to be made in the first half of 2008. This further postpones the decision as to whether the announced free project from AZ Medien will be realized. Originally, the publishing house wanted to make a decision at the end of January 2008. "It is a weighty project that needs to be carefully considered," explained AZ Medien spokeswoman Eva Keller about the delay. Various models are being considered and would also be open to cooperation with other media companies.
The publishing house is investing 7 million Swiss francs in the forwarding facility. The aim is to create new capacity. According to the press release, this is intended for new print products in the compact and free newspaper sector, among other things. However, no further details on these new products are given: The final decision on the realization of these projects is to be made in the first half of 2008. This further postpones the decision as to whether the announced free project from AZ Medien will be realized. Originally, the publishing house wanted to make a decision at the end of January 2008. "It is a weighty project that needs to be carefully considered," explained AZ Medien spokeswoman Eva Keller about the delay. Various models are being considered and would also be open to cooperation with other media companies.
