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Hersant's silence keeps the rumor mill churning in French-speaking Switzerland
Hersant's silence keeps the rumor mill churning in French-speaking SwitzerlandBy Anita Vaucher The acquisition of the two regional newspapers L'Express and L'Impartial by the French publisher Hersant is a shot across the bow for the publishing and media industry in French-speaking Switzerland. The strategy of the new player is still unclear.
Fabien Wolfrath, the former owner of the regional newspapers L'Express and L'Impartial, and Philippe Hersant, the new owner of the two papers, have one thing in common: they shun journalists like the devil shuns holy water. A questionable attitude for entrepreneurs who earn their daily bread with print media.
In the course of the sale of the two regional newspapers L'Impartial and L'Express (WW11/02), Fabien Wolfrath announced that questions from journalists would only be answered in writing, if at all. It is said that Philippe Hersant's father advised his son Philippe on his deathbed never to confide in a journalist. That is why Hersant junior has never granted an interview.
The rumors surrounding the publishing group of the family-owned company Hersant are therefore running rampant. And no one has yet been able to really understand why the French company is showing such great interest in the French-speaking Swiss media market. Hersant's anything but transparent communication policy leads financial analysts to assume that the acquisition policy that Hersant has been practicing in French-speaking Switzerland since last summer is intended to shift capital abroad. This could be countered by the fact that Hersant is not just any investor, but an industry specialist with the relevant know-how.
However, French media expert and banker Jean-Clément Téxier believes that the French-speaking Swiss print market, with its variety of newspapers and an interesting advertising market, could be highly desirable for a French company like Hersant. Moreover, the financial results of print products in French-speaking Switzerland are often better than those of French products, says Téxier. Moreover, if you want to be a global player, you have to go beyond borders. This also applies to French companies, which can only be successful in the long term if they operate across borders and regions.
Swiss print market with tempting profit margins
Jean-Paul Corbaz, publisher and editor of La Presse (Riviera-Chablais and Nord vaudois), is surprised that Hersant is interested in small local newspapers and wonders whether the French company is aware of the cantonal and regional characteristics of the Swiss press. Personally, Corbaz is not yet interested in selling either Edipresse or Hersant. However, he had already negotiated with Philippe Hersant three years ago when the Delta project was in the pipeline. Delta was intended to standardize the newspaper mastheads from the Montreux, Yverdon and Nyon regions and tie printing to one location. The Delta project is now history and the newspaper La Côte is in the hands of Hersant.
However, Philippe Hersant's interest in printing plants outside France is demonstrated by the expansion project for the printing plant in Neuchâtel, for which planning permission has already been granted. Hersant wants to print his French titles here.
When his printing center in Thonon was shut down three years ago, he asked Jean-Paul Corbaz about alternatives in Switzerland. Not least to be better prepared for strikes, which are on the agenda every few months in France.
Roger de Diessbach, editor-in-chief of La Liberté, which is published in Fribourg, also appears to be confused by Hersant's latest coup. While last summer he saw the French publisher as the savior of small newspapers, he is now loudly warning against publishers such as Edipresse and Hersant following the coup in Neuchâtel.
According to de Diessbach, these would eventually divide the market among themselves if the small newspapers did not step up their cooperation. The editor-in-chief's fears cannot be dismissed if the next object of Hersant's desire is Le Quotidien Jurassien. La Liberté has a 50 percent stake in it
Fabien Wolfrath, the former owner of the regional newspapers L'Express and L'Impartial, and Philippe Hersant, the new owner of the two papers, have one thing in common: they shun journalists like the devil shuns holy water. A questionable attitude for entrepreneurs who earn their daily bread with print media.
In the course of the sale of the two regional newspapers L'Impartial and L'Express (WW11/02), Fabien Wolfrath announced that questions from journalists would only be answered in writing, if at all. It is said that Philippe Hersant's father advised his son Philippe on his deathbed never to confide in a journalist. That is why Hersant junior has never granted an interview.
The rumors surrounding the publishing group of the family-owned company Hersant are therefore running rampant. And no one has yet been able to really understand why the French company is showing such great interest in the French-speaking Swiss media market. Hersant's anything but transparent communication policy leads financial analysts to assume that the acquisition policy that Hersant has been practicing in French-speaking Switzerland since last summer is intended to shift capital abroad. This could be countered by the fact that Hersant is not just any investor, but an industry specialist with the relevant know-how.
However, French media expert and banker Jean-Clément Téxier believes that the French-speaking Swiss print market, with its variety of newspapers and an interesting advertising market, could be highly desirable for a French company like Hersant. Moreover, the financial results of print products in French-speaking Switzerland are often better than those of French products, says Téxier. Moreover, if you want to be a global player, you have to go beyond borders. This also applies to French companies, which can only be successful in the long term if they operate across borders and regions.
Swiss print market with tempting profit margins
Jean-Paul Corbaz, publisher and editor of La Presse (Riviera-Chablais and Nord vaudois), is surprised that Hersant is interested in small local newspapers and wonders whether the French company is aware of the cantonal and regional characteristics of the Swiss press. Personally, Corbaz is not yet interested in selling either Edipresse or Hersant. However, he had already negotiated with Philippe Hersant three years ago when the Delta project was in the pipeline. Delta was intended to standardize the newspaper mastheads from the Montreux, Yverdon and Nyon regions and tie printing to one location. The Delta project is now history and the newspaper La Côte is in the hands of Hersant.
However, Philippe Hersant's interest in printing plants outside France is demonstrated by the expansion project for the printing plant in Neuchâtel, for which planning permission has already been granted. Hersant wants to print his French titles here.
When his printing center in Thonon was shut down three years ago, he asked Jean-Paul Corbaz about alternatives in Switzerland. Not least to be better prepared for strikes, which are on the agenda every few months in France.
Roger de Diessbach, editor-in-chief of La Liberté, which is published in Fribourg, also appears to be confused by Hersant's latest coup. While last summer he saw the French publisher as the savior of small newspapers, he is now loudly warning against publishers such as Edipresse and Hersant following the coup in Neuchâtel.
According to de Diessbach, these would eventually divide the market among themselves if the small newspapers did not step up their cooperation. The editor-in-chief's fears cannot be dismissed if the next object of Hersant's desire is Le Quotidien Jurassien. La Liberté has a 50 percent stake in it
