Maz with successful business year thanks to communication courses
Last year, for the first time, the Swiss journalism school Maz generated more revenue in its communications department than in its journalism department. Journalists still make up the majority of participants.
They make up around two thirds of course participants, as can be seen from the Maz annual report published on Monday. A third of the course days are booked by communication specialists. Maz offers study courses, further training, compact courses and seminars, for example. The profit of 40,000 francs in 2015 was achieved thanks to increasing demand for the courses on offer. Turnover rose by 6 percent compared to the previous year to 4.75 million francs. Costs remained stable. Turnover in the Journalism department fell by 5 percent. One reason for this was the photography course, which was completed in spring 2015 and will not be resumed until 2016.
High demand for online courses
In contrast, the Maz achieved strong sales growth in the Communication division. "The online communication services in particular enjoyed great popularity," said CFO Sonja Döbeli Stirnemann. Maz continues to finance over 80 percent of its operations on the open market, with the remaining money coming from donors, cantons, the federal government and sponsors. The only downer last year was the poor performance of the financial investments. The plunge on the stock markets meant a loss of around CHF 75,000 for the Maz. 2015 also marked the end of an era for the Swiss School of Journalism: Iwan Rickenbacher stepped down as President. With Res Strahle, the institution is now presided over by a journalist for the first time. (SDA)
