Waste policy with its own newspaper
It remains unclear who is behind the free evening newspaper *Ticino oggi*
It remains unclear who is behind the free evening paper Ticino oggiThe free evening paper Ticino oggi has been on the market for a month now. Although the launch on September 2 was anything but optimal, the paper has since steadily improved in terms of print quality, content and distribution. However, demand is assessed differently. "For the most part, the public leaves Ticino oggi in the boxes and restaurants," says Renato Cassis, co-owner of the publishing house Mediatik and co-publisher of the nightlife magazine Re.set, which is appearing for the first time this week. "About half of every issue is read. And every now and then a comment by editor-in-chief Flavio Maspoli even becomes a topic of conversation," says publisher Matteo Cheda. Advertisers are keeping a low profile: there are a maximum of three advertising pages per issue - despite the introductory rate in September.
"Ticino oggi has no primeurs so far. And for a daily newspaper, the domestic page is very incomplete," criticizes Cheda. Some of the editorial staff also come from Italy and are hardly familiar with Swiss politics. This can also be seen in the use of certain vocabulary that is not common in Ticino journalism.
The shrill tones are now followed by the quiet ones
It is still unclear who invested the start-up capital of three million francs. Based on statements made by Maspoli, both Cheda and Cassis continue to assume that the company Thermoselect, which builds incineration plants, is one of the direct or indirect backers. It was therefore generally expected that the Ticino government would be the target of a lawsuit because Thermoselect is involved in a legal dispute with it.
The company had already once massively supported a Maspoli newspaper - L'Altra Notizia, which was discontinued in 1996 - and used it as a propaganda channel against Ticino's waste policy. But in contrast to the shrill L'Altra Notizia, Ticino oggi is downright calm and well-behaved. There is still little sign of propaganda. At least Maspoli has adopted Thermoselect's position on waste policy in Ticino in one of his first comments. However, Thermoselect stubbornly denies any involvement.
However, Cassis remains skeptical. "Thermoselect has simply chosen a different strategy: They are now coming along quietly in order to strike a louder note at the appropriate moment - for example, towards the cantonal elections next spring," he believes. Cheda, on the other hand, assumes that Thermoselect will no longer engage in such heavy-handed propaganda as in the past, "but will rather give a platform to those politicians and candidates who are in line with their own views". Markus Knöpfli
"Ticino oggi has no primeurs so far. And for a daily newspaper, the domestic page is very incomplete," criticizes Cheda. Some of the editorial staff also come from Italy and are hardly familiar with Swiss politics. This can also be seen in the use of certain vocabulary that is not common in Ticino journalism.
The shrill tones are now followed by the quiet ones
It is still unclear who invested the start-up capital of three million francs. Based on statements made by Maspoli, both Cheda and Cassis continue to assume that the company Thermoselect, which builds incineration plants, is one of the direct or indirect backers. It was therefore generally expected that the Ticino government would be the target of a lawsuit because Thermoselect is involved in a legal dispute with it.
The company had already once massively supported a Maspoli newspaper - L'Altra Notizia, which was discontinued in 1996 - and used it as a propaganda channel against Ticino's waste policy. But in contrast to the shrill L'Altra Notizia, Ticino oggi is downright calm and well-behaved. There is still little sign of propaganda. At least Maspoli has adopted Thermoselect's position on waste policy in Ticino in one of his first comments. However, Thermoselect stubbornly denies any involvement.
However, Cassis remains skeptical. "Thermoselect has simply chosen a different strategy: They are now coming along quietly in order to strike a louder note at the appropriate moment - for example, towards the cantonal elections next spring," he believes. Cheda, on the other hand, assumes that Thermoselect will no longer engage in such heavy-handed propaganda as in the past, "but will rather give a platform to those politicians and candidates who are in line with their own views". Markus Knöpfli
