Roger Zbinden has been Head of Market Japan at ST since May 2003 and took over responsibility for other Asian countries in 2004: China, Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan. As of February 1, 2011, Zbinden will take over the management of the Swiss Business Hub at the Swiss Embassy in Tokyo, where he will be responsible for Swiss export promotion and location marketing in Japan.
ST restructured its management in Asia in November. The newly created Asia-Pacific Markets Group will be headed by Simon Bosshart, currently Head of Market China, as of January 1, 2011, according to a statement from ST. Bosshard will therefore be responsible for China, Japan, Korea, Australia and Southeast Asia. The position of Market Manager to head the Japan team in Tokyo will be filled as soon as possible.

In August, the Tages-Anzeiger published an article entitled "The imaginary astronaut". In it, the newspaper from the Tamedia publishing house uncovered contradictions in the media coverage of Burtscher and in public statements made by Burtscher herself. Since summer 2009, Burtscher has repeatedly appeared in various media - including on television. This gave the impression that she was on the way to becoming a
to become a Nasa astronaut.
Tamedia spokesperson Christoph Zimmer confirmed on Radio 24 on Wednesday that Tamedia had received the complaint on Tuesday. However, Tamedia is sticking to the Tages-Anzeiger story as it was published four months ago, Zimmer said.

British cannibal and uniform researcher Stephen Griffiths was arrested seven months ago. Bild.de wrote this at the beginning of December. He had eaten the bodies of three women. The perverted killer is now awaiting trial in the high-security "Wakefield" prison in West Yorkshire. Because he believes that his cell is cursed, he has already tried to kill himself four times. Now he has been refusing to eat for a week. So Bild ran the headline: "British cannibal goes on hunger strike".
Anyone who now believes that such a story cannot be made even more absurdly ridiculous is mistaken. Bild.de has managed to spoil the spinach for the children with another title: "Instead of human meat in soy sauce After imprisonment: Indonesian cannibal now eats spinach". And the healthy vegetable has already become a substitute for human meat.

The Sportplausch Wider in Wallisellen has declared war on tight ski boots with a written fit guarantee. This is advertised with posters and postcards.

In Viscom's view, it is offensive and difficult to understand that companies such as Swiss Post, which are largely dependent on taxpayers' money and state protection mechanisms, sometimes have printing jobs carried out in countries where hourly wages of less than CHF 3 are paid, let alone where minimum standards in terms of working conditions are observed or apprentices are systematically trained. Viscom is therefore calling on large state and semi-state companies to do the same as the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics when it comes to sustainable procurement policy, says Viscom Director Thomas Gsponer.
The Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (BBL) recently concluded an agreement on sustainability in procurement with a Swiss industry association (Viscom) for the first time. Members of the Swiss employers' association of the graphic arts industry who are in possession of a Viscom sustainability label now have easier access to federal procurement. The label guarantees that minimum standards are met in all key areas of sustainability. Five key pillars ensure sustainable production along the entire value chain. In addition to compliance with the CLA for the graphic arts industry, the award criteria for the label include occupational safety and equal pay for men and women, active participation in vocational training, environmentally friendly work and the processing and finishing of an order in accordance with the latest technical standards. The BBL fully recognizes the Viscom sustainability label.
In concrete terms, this means that if two comparable providers apply for a federal contract, the one with a Viscom sustainability label does not have to submit additional proof that it fulfills certain sustainability criteria. Viscom ensures that the criteria are regularly reviewed for the attention of the FOBL. All companies in the graphic arts industry without a Viscom sustainability label can also provide proof of sustainability themselves.
What has been agreed with the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics, Viscom now also expects from the large state and semi-state companies, namely the recognition of the Viscom sustainability label and the associated easier access to the respective procurement system. Appropriate talks will be initiated in the near future. According to Dr. Thomas Gsponer, we are confident that the companies in question, which all speak very frequently about corporate responsibility, are open to balanced solutions on the subject of sustainable procurement policy.
Generally binding vocational training fund from January 2011
Viscom achieved another breakthrough in the area of vocational training. At the beginning of December 2010, the Federal Council approved the generally binding vocational training fund for the graphic arts industry - after a lead time of around three years. This means that from January 2011, all companies that do not train apprentices themselves will also pay into the fund in solidarity.

Four out of forty campaign ideas made it onto the "Only an ad can do that" shortlist at the judging on December 9. Which of the four works was crowned the winner will be revealed tonight, December 16, at the Basilika bar-lounge club in Zurich. The tension is mounting. Because: the winner will receive prize money of 10,000 francs in cash as well as the commission to realize their idea. The winner will also receive up to 30,000 francs for the implementation of the campaign. The campaign will then run for a year from March 2011 in more than 100 Swiss newspapers and magazines. A great opportunity.
But that's not all: on May 12 and 13, the winner of "Only an ad can do that" will also be able to travel to the creative competition bestYET, which will be held in Croatia in 2011. Actually, bestYET was supposed to take place in Paris next year, in the country of the 2010 third-place winners. But the French surprisingly canceled, and the Croatians stepped into the breach.
Now the best of numerous European creative teams under the age of 28 will be determined in Croatia, in which city has not yet been decided. The winner of bestYET will then go on to take part in the 58th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival in June 2011.
Creative in a double pack
Two teams from each country always travel to the bestYET. That's why not only the winner of "Only an advertisement can do that" will be celebrated tonight. The audience at the award ceremony will choose from the creative
teams on the shortlist, as well as one that will accompany the winners to Croatia, where it will also have the chance to assert itself as the best young creative team in Europe.
The task for "Das kann nur ein Inserat 2010" was to create an advertising campaign that promotes the effectiveness of print media in newspapers and magazines, preferably with an interactive touch, for example through the use of augmented reality, QR codes or Kooaba. In this way, the Swiss Media Association, which is organizing the competition, wants to overcome the media divide and convey that advertisements can achieve something the moment they are viewed: Arouse interest or trigger a purchase.
Print works, online too
Last year's winning campaign already played with the possibilities of interactive technologies. "This time, however, we already made the use of augmented reality, QR codes or Kooaba a topic in the call for entries," emphasizes Toni Vetterli, Head of Marketing at the Swiss Media Association. "This meant that the hurdle was higher than in other years." This was also reflected in the number of participants: A total of 20 teams submitted 40 campaigns with 171 subjects. Last year, there were 35 teams with 83 campaigns.
The winning campaign and the three campaign ideas that will be decided by the audience tonight were selected by a six-member jury. Jury president Andreas Prokesch was supported by five critical and creative minds from the industry: "Croatia or not" was in the hands of Andi Portmann, copywriter at Wirz, Diana Rossi, copywriter at Jung von Matt/Limmat, Marcel Schläfle, AD at Ruf Lanz, Michael Seiler, Swiss Media Association, and Silvio Seiler, winner of "Only an advertisement can do that in 2009". Jury president Prokesch emphasized at the briefing for the jury members: "It is important to me that we respect and understand all the work submitted before we make our choice." Today, December 16, from 7 p.m., you can read on Advertisingweek.chwhich are the two creative teams traveling to Croatia for Switzerland in May 2011.
Anne-Friederike Heinrich

For 2011, Switzerland can nominate three jury members in each of the three categories "Media", "Promo & Activation" and "Direct". The organizers of the "International Festival of Creativity" and the jury presidents of the respective categories will decide which of the nominees will be allowed to sit on the jury. The nominees are: Barbara Dürst, Managing Director Ogilvy One AG, Axel Eckstein, Creative Director Euro RSCG, Roman Hirsbrunner, CEO Maxomedia, Dominik Oberwiler, Executive Creative Director Advico Y&R, Markus Ruf, Creative Director Ruf Lanz Werbeagentur AG, Alex Schmid, Managing Director Alex Schmid AG, Philipp Skrabal, Executive Creative Director Wirz Werbung, Martin Spillmann, Executive Creative Director Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett, Dominique von Matt, CEO Jung von Matt/Limmat.

It's hard to keep track of everything. One participant at a recent conference on apps at the Media Institute put it in a nutshell: "We've only just got our website under control and now we have to deal with apps and social media." If you want to communicate professionally and invest responsibly in digital media, you need to keep learning. The Media Institute and IAB Switzerland are jointly offering a compact seminar for the first time for anyone who wants to gain an overview of the latest digital tools and platforms.
360-degree view
The course does not just deal with individual areas such as social media. It shows the functions of the new instruments in combination with traditional media. Communication goals can be achieved with a consistent 360-degree view. Whether it is journalism, advertising or PR, the use of digital media is integrated into cross-media strategies in this seminar.
The course deals with the development of content for journalistic and commercial communication and its marketing. It provides basic knowledge of the current possibilities, the technical requirements and the legal framework. The in-depth seminars also provide knowledge about practical work.
This continuing education course teaches the current basic knowledge of digital media in a compact and intensive manner. It covers the development of journalistic and commercial digital media offerings, forms of production and marketing, the development and application of editorial systems, distribution channels and billing instruments from all perspectives. The development of digital media is discussed from a technological, cultural and economic perspective.
From professionals for the practice
The course is taught by experienced lecturers with a strong practical focus. It is aimed at people working in the media, communications and developer industries, users and newcomers to interface functions in production, marketing, advertising, IT, consulting, etc. as well as anyone interested in digital media.
The course consists of a three-day beginners' seminar and four in-depth days. These can also be booked individually. Attendance of the entire course can be completed with a certificate after a successful transfer test, attendance of individual days is confirmed with a certificate.
Josefa Haas, Head of the Media Institute

In Germany, the federal states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are of particular interest to the agency's Swiss PR consultants because their geographical proximity to Switzerland and strong economic ties create a PR market. Oehen PR Switzerland is independent and owner-managed. The company has had a representative office in Vienna since 2007, and since this winter also in Munich.

All journalistic contributions that have been published or broadcast in the press, radio, TV or online can still be submitted until January 7, 2011. The contributions can come from all subject areas and parts of the country. They must correspond to the genre of local journalism, be directly related to current affairs and be written in one of the 4 national languages (D, F, I, R) and published in Switzerland.
The Swiss Press Photo Award honors freelance and staff photographers who have published individual photos or photo series in a Swiss press organ.
Independent expert juries decide on the awarding of the prizes. The president of the print jury is Ms. Sylvia Egli von Matt (Director MAZ), the president of the television jury is Marc Friedli (Managing Director TeleM1), the president of the radio jury is Rolf Hieringer (Head of Regional Directorate Radio DRS), the online jury is presided over by Jodok Kobelt (independent journalist) and the jury for the Swiss Press Photography Award is presided over by Markus Schnetzer (Head of Picture SI).
The Fondation Reinhardt von Graffenried will award the best works with prize money totaling CHF 110000. The prize will be awarded on April 8, 2011 at the Stadttheater in Bern, followed by a party at the Kornhauskeller in Bern. This award ceremony continues a tradition of more than 20 years of the predecessor foundation BZ-Preis für Lokaljournalismus in a new and extended form. It is the largest and nationally most important media event in Switzerland, with over 700 representatives from the media industry, Swiss business, politics and culture in attendance.

The Council of States approved the National Council's proposal in the debate on the Postal Services Act. The supporters of this criterion argued that this would ensure that small newspapers would be promoted. By 29 votes to 9 with 4 abstentions, the Council of States released the spending brake this week, as the National Council had done earlier. Subsidies for the delivery of newspapers by Swiss Post now amount to CHF 50 million per year. 30 million will go to the regional and local press, 20 million to the membership and foundation press. This means that the final difference in the Postal Services Act has been resolved, so that the bill will be put to a final vote this week together with the Postal Organization Act. The councils had decided not to abolish Swiss Post's remaining monopoly on sending letters weighing up to 50 grams for the time being. However, the Councils do not want an absolute halt to liberalization: the Federal Council is to reassess the situation three years after the revised Postal Services Act comes into force.