Stefan Schmid becomes new Editor-in-Chief of the St. Galler Tagblatt

The St. Galler Tagblatt remains in the hands of eastern Switzerland, while its regional journalistic focus is strengthened. The Board of Directors of Tagblatt Medien has elected 38-year-old St. Gallen journalist Stefan Schmid as successor to Philipp Landmark following a hearing with the editorial team. Schmid, who currently heads the domestic department at AZ Medien's Nordwestschweiz newspaper group, will take up his post on August 1 at the latest.

Schmid already worked as domestic editor for the eastern Swiss media house from 2005 to 2009, and from 2009 to 2011 he was page editor and a member of the editorial board. "I have worked for the 'Tagblatt' for most of my journalistic career and am therefore very pleased to return to this newspaper - and at the same time to my home canton - as Editor-in-Chief," the native of Wittenbach said in a statement.

In addition to the St. Galler Tagblatt, Schmid is also responsible for the regional editions Appenzeller Zeitung, Wiler Zeitung, Toggenburger Tagblatt and Ostschweiz am Sonntag. The historian and political scientist can rely on a proven and rejuvenated management team. Online Editor-in-Chief Sarah Gerteis, Jürg Ackermann, Head of the national sections, and Ostschweiz am Sonntag Editor-in-Chief Silvan Lüchinger will remain in their positions on the editorial board.

Andri Rostetter, head of the "Ostschweiz" department, was newly elected to the management board. The 36-year-old journalist joined the Tagblatt in 2008 after a two-year stint as sole editor of the Neuer Sulgener Anzeiger. Rostetter studied history and German in Bern and Fribourg. He replaces Bruno Scheible on the editorial board. He will bring his journalistic skills to bear in his new role.

"I am very much looking forward to working with the new management team," says Pascal Hollenstein, the journalistic director of the NZZ regional media: "This editorial team stands for modern journalism with pizzazz and precision both online and in print. It also guarantees a strong eastern Swiss voice in the Swiss media concert."

The position of the Thurgauer Zeitung is also strengthened in this context. Its head, David Angst, will be appointed editor-in-chief. "In many issues, Thurgau has its own, very specific optics. The Thurgauer Zeitung should be able to take this into account even better than before. That is why it is right that the editor-in-chief of the 'Thurgauer Zeitung' is put on an equal footing with that of the 'St. Galler Tagblatt'," Hollenstein says in this regard.

Until Stefan Schmid takes office, Silvan Lüchinger will manage the Tagblatt ad interim as Editor-in-Chief. Philipp Landmark will leave the editorial team at the end of this month. However, he will remain at the Tagblatt's disposal for journalistic projects until further notice.