"Politicians have an unrealistic idea of competition"
Pierre Lamunière on Edipresse and the growing competition from France
Pierre Lamunière on Edipresse and the growing competition from FranceBy Anita Vaucher Edipresse Switzerland warns legislators and the Competition Commission against excessive restrictions in the media market. If publisher Pierre Lamunière had to sell his company today, he is convinced that it would fall into foreign hands.
Last November, Edipresse Suisse reorganized its management and increased the number of its members from three to ten. In addition, the separation of powers between management and editorial staff was implemented. What is the idea behind these measures?
Pierre Lamunière: We wanted to make the organization more dynamic and give more weight to journalism. The editors-in-chief now have more time for their journalistic work.
You have withdrawn from the operational area in order to concentrate on the company's strategy. Where do you set your priorities?
Lamunière: I define the corporate strategy, formulate the objectives and represent the company externally at the highest level. In a certain sense, I am also the company's "gardien éthique".
How long will Edipresse remain a family business?
Lamunière: I hope for quite a long time, because I still have ten years of active professional life ahead of me. However, I don't believe that Edipresse will remain in the hands of the same family forever. The same applies to Tamedia and Ringier, by the way.
Edipresse has been targeted by the Competition Commission. The market in French-speaking Switzerland is saturated and Edipresse is only growing abroad. Is this actually a good time to sell Edipresse Switzerland?
Lamunière: As a Swiss company, we have very strong roots in this country. What's more, we do what we do with enthusiasm. I have already said on several occasions, and I emphasize once again, that I have nothing against competition in the market. It is simply ridiculous to want to put this stamp of an overpowering corporation on us. Out of 16 daily newspapers in French-speaking Switzerland, we only control three of them. People often forget that we have also sold newspapers from time to time. Politicians often have a totally unrealistic idea of competition. They would probably prefer a public service model such as that embodied by the SRG. The only reason to sell Edipresse Suisse would be if they tried to tie our hands with questionable laws.
How do you define your role as a publisher?
Lamunière: As a publisher, I want to be able to participate in the democratic processes in this country and help shape society. Edipresse has a very strong position, not least because we have repeatedly launched new titles. Without our innovations and investments, the newspaper landscape in French-speaking Switzerland today would be a sum of regional monopolies - just as they are everywhere in German-speaking Switzerland, with the exception of the Zurich area.
Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger recently welcomed the entry of foreign competition into the French-speaking Swiss market.
Lamunière: We are accused of "dominance" precisely because we also take into account considerations other than purely economic ones. This is absurd and extremely serious. Especially in connection with the statement made by Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger in Le Temps, according to which he would rather see foreign investors investing more in Switzerland than domestic publishers being able to strengthen their position.
French publishers are showing interest in the French-speaking Swiss market. Another argument for selling Edipresse Switzerland now?
Lamunière: It's not just that French publishers are interested in us. Tamedia or Ringier could also be up for sale one day. And according to the laws in force today, they would also have to be sold abroad. This political view is very one-sided. Unfortunately, the Competition Commission does not decide on the basis of generally applicable market criteria, but rather determines these on a case-by-case basis.
Hersant has so far been successful in acquiring customers in French-speaking Switzerland. Has Edipresse neglected this market?
Lamunière: We have somewhat neglected this segment in the past. I'm thinking in particular of the newspaper La Côte, which we would have liked to take over. If publisher Corbaz is prepared to sell, we will be happy to make a corresponding offer.
Hersant announces a free newspaper for the Geneva region and an increase in circulation for La Côte. A declaration of war on Edipresse?
Lamunière: It's a natural competition, as it is in many markets. Hersant probably has the same vision for Switzerland as he does for France. There, free newspapers without editorial content are enjoying considerable success in the classifieds market. Hersant currently has an advantage over Swiss publishers because, under current French law, we have no opportunity to invest in France.
How do you rate the reporting on ambassador Thomas Borer from Ringier?
Lamunière: I would have forbidden the publication of the article in SonntagsBlick for reasons of professional ethics. Life within your own four walls is strictly a private matter.
So in this case you would have tipped the article out of the paper over the editor-in-chief's head?
Lamunière: This is of course a very delicate balancing act in the division of tasks between publisher and editor-in-chief. But in this case, it's about the ethics of the company and the editorial line of the newspaper. In my opinion, it is the publisher's job to define this line.
Last November, Edipresse Suisse reorganized its management and increased the number of its members from three to ten. In addition, the separation of powers between management and editorial staff was implemented. What is the idea behind these measures?
Pierre Lamunière: We wanted to make the organization more dynamic and give more weight to journalism. The editors-in-chief now have more time for their journalistic work.
You have withdrawn from the operational area in order to concentrate on the company's strategy. Where do you set your priorities?
Lamunière: I define the corporate strategy, formulate the objectives and represent the company externally at the highest level. In a certain sense, I am also the company's "gardien éthique".
How long will Edipresse remain a family business?
Lamunière: I hope for quite a long time, because I still have ten years of active professional life ahead of me. However, I don't believe that Edipresse will remain in the hands of the same family forever. The same applies to Tamedia and Ringier, by the way.
Edipresse has been targeted by the Competition Commission. The market in French-speaking Switzerland is saturated and Edipresse is only growing abroad. Is this actually a good time to sell Edipresse Switzerland?
Lamunière: As a Swiss company, we have very strong roots in this country. What's more, we do what we do with enthusiasm. I have already said on several occasions, and I emphasize once again, that I have nothing against competition in the market. It is simply ridiculous to want to put this stamp of an overpowering corporation on us. Out of 16 daily newspapers in French-speaking Switzerland, we only control three of them. People often forget that we have also sold newspapers from time to time. Politicians often have a totally unrealistic idea of competition. They would probably prefer a public service model such as that embodied by the SRG. The only reason to sell Edipresse Suisse would be if they tried to tie our hands with questionable laws.
How do you define your role as a publisher?
Lamunière: As a publisher, I want to be able to participate in the democratic processes in this country and help shape society. Edipresse has a very strong position, not least because we have repeatedly launched new titles. Without our innovations and investments, the newspaper landscape in French-speaking Switzerland today would be a sum of regional monopolies - just as they are everywhere in German-speaking Switzerland, with the exception of the Zurich area.
Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger recently welcomed the entry of foreign competition into the French-speaking Swiss market.
Lamunière: We are accused of "dominance" precisely because we also take into account considerations other than purely economic ones. This is absurd and extremely serious. Especially in connection with the statement made by Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger in Le Temps, according to which he would rather see foreign investors investing more in Switzerland than domestic publishers being able to strengthen their position.
French publishers are showing interest in the French-speaking Swiss market. Another argument for selling Edipresse Switzerland now?
Lamunière: It's not just that French publishers are interested in us. Tamedia or Ringier could also be up for sale one day. And according to the laws in force today, they would also have to be sold abroad. This political view is very one-sided. Unfortunately, the Competition Commission does not decide on the basis of generally applicable market criteria, but rather determines these on a case-by-case basis.
Hersant has so far been successful in acquiring customers in French-speaking Switzerland. Has Edipresse neglected this market?
Lamunière: We have somewhat neglected this segment in the past. I'm thinking in particular of the newspaper La Côte, which we would have liked to take over. If publisher Corbaz is prepared to sell, we will be happy to make a corresponding offer.
Hersant announces a free newspaper for the Geneva region and an increase in circulation for La Côte. A declaration of war on Edipresse?
Lamunière: It's a natural competition, as it is in many markets. Hersant probably has the same vision for Switzerland as he does for France. There, free newspapers without editorial content are enjoying considerable success in the classifieds market. Hersant currently has an advantage over Swiss publishers because, under current French law, we have no opportunity to invest in France.
How do you rate the reporting on ambassador Thomas Borer from Ringier?
Lamunière: I would have forbidden the publication of the article in SonntagsBlick for reasons of professional ethics. Life within your own four walls is strictly a private matter.
So in this case you would have tipped the article out of the paper over the editor-in-chief's head?
Lamunière: This is of course a very delicate balancing act in the division of tasks between publisher and editor-in-chief. But in this case, it's about the ethics of the company and the editorial line of the newspaper. In my opinion, it is the publisher's job to define this line.
