To the point: for once praise
This week, the Swiss Media Association presented a «white paper» describing the delicate interplay between the media and the public. According to Association President Hanspeter Lebrument, it is intended to serve as a «media policy manifesto» for an «industry on the cusp of change.».
A disclaimer: Hanspeter Lebrument is also our publisher. But anyone who knows me and Hanspeter Lebrument knows that I am not writing these lines simply because of that. I think the idea is excellent, it should have been done a long time ago, but better late than never. If I didn't like the idea, I would say so.
The very fact that the publishers have come together to produce a joint book is remarkable. But it is also remarkable that the authors are broadly diversified. There are contributions from the publishing floor, the editors-in-chief, the association leadership, but also those from politics and science. The opinions are also diverse. Everything is represented, from small local papers to large national newspapers, and the political color of the authors could not be more different.
The book emerged from the journalism department headed by Norbert Neininger, the busy publisher and editor-in-chief of Schaffhauser Nachrichten. He was assisted by the head of the Media Institute, Fredy Greuter. Anyone who has ever done a book with so many authors knows what kind of work is behind such a work. You can find some short excerpts from an interview with Norbert Neininger in the print edition on page 38.
A new wind seems to be blowing in the association with the new director Verena Vonarburg. Whereas until now the association's media conferences have been held in - to put it mildly - less than inspiring settings, this time something has been thought out. The press conference took place in Christophe Guye's art gallery.
A worthy setting for a small selection of artworks from Press Art by business and media lawyer Peter Nobel. Nobel also provided these as illustrations for the book. It is hoped that the book will not only attract the attention of association members. Anyone involved in communications and media should read it. Especially those prophets of doom who predict the imminent end of the classic (print) media. This is all the more important at a time when players from outside the industry, such as Swisscom, want to get involved in the media sector in Switzerland and can afford to do so thanks to their well-filled coffers.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor in Chief
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