The event was organized by the Swiss Journalists’ Association (Impressum) and the University of Fribourg. One of the demands raised at the forum was that the state should not interfere with media content but should ensure favorable conditions for the media. Hans-Jürg Fehr (SP), Alain Berset (SP), and Dominique de Buman (CVP) emphasized the importance of the media and media diversity for informing voters and shaping public opinion in a direct democracy. In Fehr’s view, in addition to radio and television, the print media and new media also require government regulation that safeguards public service and, if necessary, is co-financed through fees—without interfering with media content. In contrast, publisher and editor-in-chief Norbert Neininger called for tax breaks and changes to the law. And SVP Secretary-General Martin Baltisser called on the Competition Commission to take action against media concentration at the regional level.

Nobody expected this: The two owners of Basler Zeitung Medien, Tito Tettamanti and Martin Wagner, have sold the company after just a few months. After protests from the editorial team and representatives of the Basel public, they apparently lacked the central foundation for a media business: trust. The savvy financier Tito Tettamanti did what he would probably have done with other investments in a similar case: he sold his stake as quickly as possible. The financial risk was compounded by a personal injury. The connections to Christoph Blocher fueled the suspicion that the new owners were part of the extended political SVP circle: The role of newspaper owner thrust Tito Tettamanti into the public spotlight, but instead of applause there were boos.
Martin Wagner and Tito Tettamanti became publishers thanks to their networks. It was again their networks that led to their withdrawal. Attempts to provide factual reasons for their decisions in communications were fruitless: Editor-in-chief Markus Somm and advisor Christoph Blocher could not escape their shared history. When the biographer and the person portrayed are given key roles in the same company within a short space of time, it was probably the good relationships that ensured the collaboration. When positions are distributed within a network, this network remains the center of attention.
In the media industry, rope teams and networks of relationships work very well. They also have their good points: People know each other, are a well-coordinated team and don't have to argue about attitudes and working methods. Familiar colleagues don't cause stress. And you can easily have a beer with them in the evening. The disadvantages: Too much closeness makes you blind. By patting each other on the back, you cover up weaknesses at the same time. For outsiders, the barriers to entry to a club are high. And the biggest disadvantage: these networks like to be discreet. As a rule, the readers know nothing about it.
However, this will change: New habits create new needs. Today, it takes two clicks and the CVs of my contacts are on my screen. If I want to get to know them a little better, I take a closer look at their circle of friends. Tell me which networks you use and I'll tell you who you are. Who knows who? Who is friends with whom? Or business connections? Who is an indirect contact? Or a direct contact? Where are there dependencies, economic and/or personal? Who has a score to settle with whom?
Anyone who builds up their social network on the Internet discovers surprising connections. The success of Facebook and Xing is also creating a new awareness of the importance of networks. And those who analyze the contacts discover exciting patterns. Interesting studies show, for example, how opinion patterns spread via Twitter and Facebook. It is both fascinating and frightening how much can be found out about private individuals using publicly accessible data.
Today, media managers are also expected to reveal personal details. Anyone who pays attention to an author on the Internet today wants to be able to access their profile, find out about their skills, their attitudes, their preferences. Media providers cannot send information out into the world as neutrals. If news can be accessed at will, then knowledge of the sender is what makes a story valuable. This applies not only to media professionals, but also to the owners and managers of media companies. The disclosure of motivations and goals, transparency about production processes and the flow of funds are part of future media marketing. Here too, the digital public wants to get to know the responsible faces and their stories.
Moritz Suter presents the purchase as a decision that he only discussed with his wife. However, he also lives in his networks. There is already speculation about who supported him in the purchase. Without these relationships, he cannot successfully anchor the Basler Zeitung in the reader and advertising market. If he manages to build trust within and among his networks, his relationships will hopefully soon provide the economic stability that is a prerequisite for successful quality journalism.

The Adelboden-Lenk ski region interest group is launching a new TV commercial. The film replaces the previous, somewhat outdated "Adelboden Lenk ...dänk!" commercials. The new spot uses funny little gnomes to focus on the outstanding quality of the pistes and thus also on safety. The claim has been replaced with "We simply do everything for our business". The spot focuses symbolically on the quality of the slopes, which has already received several awards in Europe, for example the "Ski-Areatests" seal of quality. This added value is visualized by hard-working little helpers who are hidden around the slopes and immediately get the slopes back into shape after every skier. The spot created by Habegger is flanked by activities with cooperation partner Ikea. On four Saturdays, for example, the "original brownies" will be visiting Ikea Lyssach. pan

As Head of Digital, Schärer will contribute his conceptual strength and many years of experience in Internet and social media communication to all aspects of finding solutions. Assai announced this in a press release on Wednesday. The current member of the management team, Anika Hirsch, is leaving the company in this context. At the same time, the technological management of Assai, the Wirz Group's specialist agency for sales and dialog marketing, is also being redefined. Michael Hirsch, who was previously responsible for this, is also changing career direction.

In a series of radio spots, the Mexican national champion in slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, combined, snowboard halfpipe, snowboard slalom and freeride communicates that he buys his equipment at Sportplausch Wider. Labíno tells all the "Gringos Alpinos" in the commercials that only in this sports store can he find a wide enough range of equipment to cover all his championship disciplines.
Autograph sessions with Pedro Labíno are also planned for a later date in Wallisellen.
Responsible for the Sportplausch Wider: Peter Wider (overall responsibility). Responsible at Advico Young & Rubicam: Markus Gut, Thomas Schöb (CD), Thomas Schöb (lyrics and direction); Selmi Tonstudio, Chris Grunder (sound engineering).
Spot Campeon
Spot Freeride
Spot ski boots
Spot Matterhorn
Spot avalanches
Spot Echo
Spot Website

Ovaltine is on the move with new products such as a spread (2005), an ice cream (2006) and biscuits (2008). In addition, the new varieties "Extra" and "Noir" strengthen Ovomaltine's presence on the chocolate shelf. This expansion of the product range reveals a remarkable brand development. Originally invented as a tonic for children and the sick, Ovomaltine increasingly found its target group in active and health-conscious people and made a lasting connection with the world of sport. At the same time, the launches in the spread, ice cream, snacks and chocolate categories open up a very broad range of enjoyment perspectives. A challenge for Brand Partner. In a redesign, the team focuses on strengthening design consistency. For the first time since 1990, the lettering has been boldly changed. For the first time, it is also allowed to touch the product image. pan

With the Vanilla.ch business unit, Ringier is introducing a completely new type of service worldwide, namely cashless payment using a smartphone. You simply download the corresponding free app from the Apple or Android store, register on Vanilla.ch and your cell phone becomes your wallet or, if you wish, your credit card. The first sales outlets and online stores have been offering this practical payment method since last summer, and the number is growing all the time. In addition to simple and secure payment by cell phone, Vanilla.ch also offers new attractive offers every day that are reserved exclusively for Vanilla users. These can be displayed on the smartphone, together with the quickest route to the relevant point of sale. Vanilla.ch is primarily aimed at a young, urban and consumer-friendly target audience for whom smartphones have quickly become an indispensable lifestyle accessory.
Vanilla.ch has commissioned the Zurich agency Brain2 with the launch, which places the invitation "Take out your cell phone to pay" at the center of all advertising material.

From static to dynamic - that was the slogan that Swiss Marketing President Uwe Tännler issued at the beginning of the year. This also meant refreshing and updating one of today's most important communication tools: the website. Swissmarketing.ch has now gone live these days. Anyone who clicks through to the new site will remember what Tännler had said beforehand: "We don't want to reinvent the entire online presence, but we want to combine existing elements more intelligently."
This is exactly what has happened. The new website, designed by the Solothurn specialists from Webgearing, gives more weight to the "evolution" factor than the "revolution" factor. Of course, the new corporate identity has of course also been transported to the web, which gives the image and appearance of the professional association a more airy feel and signals greater transparency. The prominent listing of social media tools at the top right also shows that the association has managed to jump on the bandwagon, which is already rattling along at a rapid pace, and can therefore offer its members added value. You are on the way to becoming a networked community.
Further training just a click away
The fact that the new website is being launched at the same time as the "marketingplus" project is underway can be seen as a calculated stroke of luck. This is because the educational topics addressed in this project are now also being implemented online. Members, new and old, can find out everything about the characterization of the individual training courses, admission criteria, dates and the advantages of the European Certificate at the click of a mouse. All this in short, crisp descriptions, exactly how the communicatively experienced elite of tomorrow want it presented.
Of course, the regional aspect of Swiss Marketing is not neglected on the new website. One of the strong features is the graphically displayed map of the country, which allows easy access to the clubs spread throughout Switzerland and thus brings the nucleus of Swiss Marketing even closer. More usability, integration of social media, a new, transparent and optimistic look - these are the first steps in Swiss Marketing's web evolution, which is, of course, not complete, but continues to progress. Just as for "marketingplus", the same applies to the new website: Existing know-how, services and power in the world of sales and marketing are being taken to a higher, even more professional level. When will you take a look?

But is that really the case? There are still a few problems: What will happen to the unloved editor-in-chief Martin Somm? The attacks on Somm by the editorial staff were fierce. Is it suddenly peace, joy and happiness again? That's hard to believe.
The local politicians in Basel have also fallen silent, the main thing being that the evil Ticino financier Tettamanti is gone and Zurich's Blocher has nothing more to say. It would still have been possible to come to terms with Wagner from Basel.
As was to be expected, the Sunday press again dealt intensively with the BaZ case. Tettamanti, who is usually rather shy of interviews, even had his say twice, and management consultant Blocher was allowed to present his conspiracy theories in Sonntag.
And already the guesswork is starting again. Tettamanti says that he would have made a small profit on the sale of his shares, Moritz Suter, on the other hand, already said last week that the sellers could not have asked for "much more money" for such a highly indebted company. There could be an explanation for this, namely that Suter has now only paid part of the purchase price and the rest would only be due after BZM has been restructured.
As usual with company takeovers, it has been agreed to keep the sales price secret. What good is this phrase if the protagonists do everything they can through failed communication to keep the speculation going?
Where did Moritz Suter get the money, they ask, and who from the Basel Daig helped him? Or is the SVP father Blocher somehow involved after all? Rumors are flying and will continue to fill the columns for some time.
It will be interesting to see how Moritz Suter will restructure BZM. The already announced cost-cutting measures in the editorial department are unlikely to solve the problem, and even moving out of the feudal editorial offices will not be enough. The highly indebted print shop is the main problem. And finding a solution here on our own is likely to be difficult. Dear Zurichers and Aargauers, dress warmly if you want to invest in the region one day.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]

Wirtschaft regional mainly reports on economic and financial topics from the Liechtenstein, Werdenberg and Sarganserland region.
Stahl has been working for Liechtenstein's largest publishing house for nine years. Before joining the business editorial department, he was editor in the domestic section of the daily Liechtensteiner Vaterland.

Patrick Boos will be responsible for the strategic management and further development of the digital activities of the Eastern European joint venture of the two media groups Ringier and Axel Springer. This was announced by Ringier Axel Springer Media on Tuesday. Boos has many years of experience in the field of new media. Among other things, he worked for the German television station Sat.1, as founder of Webmiles, which specializes in bonus miles, and as Managing Director of eBay Germany.
Ringier Axel Springer Media also announced that Andreas Tilk will remain Managing Director in Poland. He will continue to head the national company in the future. Tilk took over the management of the former Springer subsidiary at the beginning of June 2010 in order to integrate the company into the new joint venture.
The two media companies Ringier and Axel Springer have been operating jointly there since July 2010. Ringier Axel Springer Media, based in Zurich, bundles the Eastern European activities of the two parent companies in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Serbia.

Sometimes, when Power Point presentations tend to go on and on, when steamy chatterboxes spread hot air unhindered, you want to say this sentence. A phrase that may not speak of the utmost politeness at meetings and conferences, but would still be appropriate: "Now make a point!" Colloquially, this means that a speaker should come to the end of their speech. Hopefully with a statement that summarizes the essentials and gets to the point. Swiss Marketing is now doing the same. Whereby: there are even two intelligently placed points. And it's not the end of the story; on the contrary, a new offensive is being launched. With the "marketingplus" project, Swiss Marketing is ramping up a new type of communication in terms of training and further education.
Creating a bracket
"Marketingplus", says project manager Simon Hubacher, "is the generic term for our offensive in the education and examination sector." Around one and a half years ago, the communications manager on the Swiss Marketing Central Board set about creating a concept that would allow us to present a uniform visual identity together with all the supporting organizations. The successful redesign, which is now in place, shows the two directions of Swiss Marketing in separate colors: Blue stands for the association's activities, strawberry red for the topic of education. A refresh that amounts to a precision landing: where the blue dot is, the association is meant, the red dot stands for education and training. Know-how for marketing and sales knowledge in a nutshell.
The brochure that sums up "marketingplus" (part of which can be seen in the main image) is state of the art. Testimonials proclaiming the advantages of the dual pathway, concise descriptions of the main educational pathways, classification of vocational and higher vocational examinations in the world of business.
The new image is particularly relevant in the area of continuing education. A separate umbrella has been created for the education and examination sector, placing this segment on a professional level and creating a common bracket that encompasses Swiss Marketing and all the supporting organizations. The competencies of all the players involved are thus also visually bundled and clearly signalize: something is being done here for the next generation of marketing and sales professionals. An investment in the future, a commitment to knowledge that is not based on theoretical material, but is acquired in parallel with practice and can be used precisely where the markets are booming. From practice, for practice. This is exactly what has made the Swiss economy strong over the years. And exactly what the Swiss economy will need in the future.
Appealing not only to those hungry for further training
"Marketingplus" is also intended to usher in a new era in association communication. "We are doing this first and foremost," says Claude Dubois, Head of Examinations at Swiss Marketing, "because we want to reach our target group better and also expand it." The main aim is also to reach interested young people before they decide on a further education path. Or, as Dubois succinctly puts it: "Picking people up earlier". But that's not all; the aim is to widen the ripple effect. In addition to those interested in continuing education, the extended target audience also includes careers advisors and their associations as well as the key players in local human resources departments (see also interview with Peter Petrin). Contact is also being maintained with the Conference of Vocational and Advanced Vocational Examinations; if know-how and assistance were made available there and a budget were allocated, the objectives of "marketingplus" could be pursued even more efficiently and thus establish a kind of benchmark for the dual pathway.