Frank Heer and Dirk Ruschmann honored with the Swiss Media Awards
The 2011 Swiss Media Awards go to Frank Heer, a reporter for *Annabelle*, for the best articles in the travel category, and to *Bilanz* editor Dirk Ruschmann for the best article in the aviation category. About 50 journalists submitted entries in the two categories of travel and aviation. The Swiss Media Awards are the only industry awards for travel and aviation journalism in Switzerland.
With Frank Heer and Dirk Ruschmann, two journalists were honored this year who have made a name for themselves in Swiss travel and aviation journalism, respectively. In addition, an exceptional 2nd place in the travel category was also awarded this year: Annabelle editor Stefanie Rigutto received the jury's approval. In the new Travel Blog Award, which was announced for the first time this year, no winner could be determined. After an exciting head-to-head race among the two best articles, the jury chose Frank Heer as the winner with his travelogue about the North American ski resort Telluride. Never before in the history of the competition has there been such a stalemate, so that a run-off decision was needed. "Snow Intoxication", the title of the gripping first-person story, impressed the jury with its atmospheric and eloquent writing style. With an extraordinary award to the runner-up, the jury wants to express its special appreciation for the high quality of the articles. Stefanie Rigutto has succeeded in creating a small masterpiece with her city reportage on Buenos Aires. "¡Un beso, Baires!" is outstanding and written with journalistic excellence.
The prize in the aviation category goes for the second time after 2009 to Dirk Ruschmann, editor of Bilanz. Ruschmann convinced the jury with a unanimous result. The article "Überflieger" was journalistically well researched. The mix of quotes, opinions and news was outstanding and made the report stand out clearly from the other entries.
Jury president and SWISS Head of Communications Daniel Bärlocher is delighted with the high quality of the articles submitted. "In an increasingly fast-paced and superficial media world, well-researched and eloquently written background articles are of great importance. Quality journalism is and remains a sustainable success factor," Bärlocher is convinced.
Things turned out differently with the inaugural announcement of the Swiss Reiseblog Award. Although there was a clear intention to award the prize, the jury had to refrain from giving an award. An evaluation of the texts received was difficult, on the one hand due to the small number, on the other hand they were qualitatively below expectations. Social media is an important platform at Swiss with increasing significance. Therefore, the jury will revise the criteria and evaluation methods of the Reiseblog Award and adapt them to the social media channels.
You can find more information and photos at www.swiss.com/media
