The agreed collaboration involves a printing and marketing contract with a turnover of several million francs, as Publicitas Publimag writes in a press release issued on Thursday. The Publicitas Publimag team, headed by Fredy Blaser, will remain responsible for advertising acquisition in Berne, Zurich and Lausanne. The contract will come into force in January 2010 and will run for at least three years.

According to the press release, the project was initiated by Gebert Rüf Stiftung and Stiftung Mercator Schweiz, both of which are committed to promoting research and science as well as communicating these topics. They are funding - initially for a limited period of two years - an external specialist editorial team that will produce the pages for 20 Minuten. This editorial team will be headed by Swiss science journalist Beat Glogger. However, journalistic independence will still be maintained, says 20 Minuten editor-in-chief Marco Boselli: "The integration of sponsor and reaction is very important to us."
The composition of the editorial team shows just how broadly the term "science" is understood. In addition to Glogger, who hosted the Swiss television science program MTW for 12 years and also managed it for several years, the team includes the two journalists Alice Kohli and Fee Riebeling - one a physicist, the other a cultural and literary scientist.

The Zurich agency, which had already developed the new CI for the Swiss manufacturer of filter systems, had a special gift idea, according to the press release: as forward-looking as Elex is, the company is already thinking about potential future customers and therefore asks the recipient of the mailing to give the Caran d'Ache colored pencil box contained in it to a child. But the recipient only finds the answer in the accompanying letter - the first thing he reads on the folder is the provocative text "This is a gift for your successor". Elex has also given itself a present for its 75th anniversary and has equipped itself for the future in the form of a new corporate identity. The new-look image brochure is enclosed with the mailing. The mailing was sent to 200 customers worldwide in English and German.
Responsible at Elex AG: Ulrich Leibacher (Managing Director), Peter Studer (Head of Sales). Responsible at Scotti: Nina Scotti (overall responsibility), Ivan Scotti (CD), Florian Schumacher (AD), Robert Tobler (text).

"Patience & Gorillas" is the name of the winning publication. The overall concept of the 384-page illustrated book with the theme "How to make illustrators" for the Lucerne School of Art and Design impressed the jury, according to a press release. The sheet-fed offset printing company from Central Switzerland won the prize at the
award ceremony in Basel in mid-November.

The jury for German-speaking Switzerland honors Max Dohner The Mittelland Zeitung awarded him the first prize of CHF 10,000. In his six-part series "Life as a commuter", Max Dohner allows readers to see the world of commuting through different eyes. "This is outstanding journalistic craftsmanship, and it requires persistence, patience and an editorial team that consciously encourages it," said jury member Norbert Neininger in his laudatory speech at the award ceremony.
Mireille Guggenbühler, the winner of the second prize, describes in her reportage "Aufruhr im Tal" ("Turmoil in the valley") in a calm, comprehensive, formal and coherent way what separates the Simmental and the Saanenland due to a hospital closure and then ultimately reunites them. The report, successfully rounded off with pictures by Adrian Moser, appeared in Der kleine Bund.
The jury for French-speaking Switzerland awarded the first prize, also worth CHF 10,000, to Philippe Dubathfrom 24Heures. Dubath submitted three different reports to the jury for assessment, all of which were impressive. In his laudatory speech, Daniel Cornu, President of the French-speaking jury, praised Dubath's intelligent, constructive journalism, which is always committed to proximity.
According to the press release, courage and perseverance characterize the investigative journalism of Christophe Sugnaux out. After months of painstaking research, the journalist from La Liberté exposed an alleged major investor as an impostor who wanted to build a huge high-tech factory in Romont, Fribourg. The jury awarded Christophe Sugnaux the second prize of CHF 5,000.
A total of 90 journalists submitted 141 entries to the German and French-speaking jury for assessment. The award-winning entries are available at Bzjournalistenpreis.ch can be viewed here. The supplement "Best Of 2009 - BZ Prize for Local Journalism", which appears in the December issue of Schweizer Journalist, pays tribute to the award-winning works and their authors. From next year, the prizes for local journalism will no longer be awarded by the BZ Foundation for Local Journalism, but by the independent Fondation Reinhardt von Graffenried. The foundation, which is endowed with eleven million francs, will also award a prize for online local journalism for the first time next year.
Jacek Pulawski honored with "Swiss Press Photo 2009" award
Also on Wednesday, the Polish-Swiss photographer Jacek Pulawski the Espace Media Prize for Press Photography "Swiss Press Photo 2009". Pulawski spent several months taking portraits of the refugees who had recently arrived in Chiasso TI from Italy. The pictures published in Kinki magazine show faces that are marked by the hardships they have endured, according to the press release. They moved, irritated and drew attention to a current problem and thus did what a press photo should do today.
Further prizes went to Gaëtan Bally, Yves André, Valérie Chételat, Adrian Moser and Alban Kakulya.
The best press photos of 2009 will once again be published in a catalog in December. They will also be on display as a traveling exhibition in Zurich, Geneva and Bern.
Pictures from the work of Jacek Pulawski:

(Pictures: Keystone)

"For us, this means an estimated 40,000 more people per week who will watch our car program on 20 Minuten Online," says AR-TV producer Gian Meyerhofer about the new partnership. According to the press release, Automobil Revue TV has so far achieved an average viewer rating of 70,000 people per week via the German-language regional channels.

The visualization of a sprinting Santa Claus or a "tuned" reindeer dramatizes the benefits of the gift finder, as the agency writes in a press release: Nowhere else can you find a selection of possible Christmas presents for your loved ones faster this year.
Responsible at Ricardo.ch: Lukas Thoma (Head of Marketing & Communication), Vanessa Delplace (Head of E-Marketing), Marlon Chng (Campaign Manager). Responsible at Dynamite: Roger Bosshart (overall responsibility), Siegfried Simader (AD), Jens Kallauch (consulting), Thomas Campolongo (freelance copywriter-concept developer), ongoing GmbH (online strategy, programming).

"It's nice that the eye is already eating along with our letterheads," Chris Gretener is quoted as saying in a press release. The website Cgcatering.ch is in the oven and should be ready to serve this year.
Responsible at Chris Gretener Catering: Chris Gretener (owner). Responsible at Matter & Gretener: Daniel Matter (Creative Direction), Urs Hartmann (Art Direction), Marcus Gretener (Consulting).

The recently published podcast "Zürich Schlaflos" is also available as a free iPhone application in the App Store via the website and takes listeners along streetcar line 4 and bus line 32 into Zurich's varied nightlife.
The VBZ podcast service encourages city residents and visitors to embark on a journey of discovery through Zurich. According to the press release, listeners experience an exciting journey through time by bus and streetcar, discover details about the development history of the city and agglomeration and gain insights into the historical history of the city on the Limmat.

Sport Factory Outlet in the Bally area in Schönenwerd sells leading sports brands at factory prices. These include city, mountain and downhill bikes from Scott, Cannondale and BMC. Reason enough for Ruf Lanz to develop an Advent theme that is likely to stand out in the usual Christmas romance. It shows Raphael's famous angels, who are obviously suffering from acute shortness of breath. The message: For better air; give bikes for Christmas. The motif is now being used in advertisements, on posters in F12 and F200 format - and as a mega poster on the facade of the outlet.
Responsible at Sport Factory Outlet: Peter Wider (overall responsibility). Responsible at Ruf Lanz: Markus Ruf, Danielle Lanz (CD), Thomas Schöb (text), Marcel Schläfle (AD), Kristina Burch (consulting). Illustration: Raffael, Reto Fontana, Stephan Dietlicher.

Prosecco La Gioiosa is also to be promoted in Switzerland. The advertising agency Weber Harbeke Partners was entrusted with this task. Advertisements in the commuter press give good reasons to drink a toast with La Gioiosa. From the size 36 that fits again, to scratch-free parking, to the successful sugo that even the mother-in-law praises. The headlines celebrate everyday moments of happiness and invite you to come up with your own reason to celebrate.
Responsible at Illva Lugano SA: Gianfranco Caci (CEO), Battista Cruceli (Sales Manager). Responsible at Weber Harbeke Partners, Zurich: Max Weber, Thomas Harbeke (CD), Giovanni Pucci, Christina Zvecevac (consulting), Christian Sidow (text), Priska Meyer, Evelina Melchiori (AD), Ramon Aemmer, Sibill Zellweger (graphics).

There had already been a rapprochement between the two companies in advance, said Swisscom spokesman Sepp Huber according to the news agency SDA. The communications union also sees the planned merger as a logical consequence of consolidation in the telecoms market. There has been speculation about this for months. The same development can be observed throughout Europe. The high investment costs are cited as the main reason. In Switzerland, however, a special situation has arisen because after the merger there will only be two large providers on the market. According to the union, the merger will inevitably lead to staff cuts. The employee representatives are therefore calling for immediate negotiations on a social plan. Together, the two companies employ around 2650 people.
The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) and the Federal Communications Commission (ComCom) are expecting a submission from Orange and Sunrise on the planned merger in the next few days. "We need the companies to explain the situation," said Bakom spokesman Roberto Rivola. "We do not know whether Sunrise will relinquish its license or whether Sunrise will be taken over", Rivola continued. As soon as OFCOM has received the submission, an analysis will be carried out to determine whether the license needs to be amended. The Competition Commission (ComCo) will decide on the merger.
In the event of a merger, the partners would have to submit an application to take over the license or cancel the license no longer in use, according to ComCom. ComCom and Bakom could also impose special conditions for the granting of licenses, said ComCom Secretary Peter Bär.
Swiss market too small for additional providers
If the merger goes ahead, there will only be two providers and therefore less competition, said Sara Stalder, Managing Director of the Foundation for Consumer Protection (SKS). The Swiss market is too small for large providers to continue to enter. However, the merger could also be an opportunity. Thanks to its size, the new player could attack the dominant Swisscom. The prerequisite for this would be approval of the tariffs by the regulatory authorities.
The economist and former price watchdog Rudolf Strahm told the online portal Newsnetz that the competition authorities must prevent the merger at all costs. The resulting duopoly would be "an absolute catastrophe" for customers. Like Stalder, Strahm also believes that ComCom must set prices if the merger is approved.
Swisscom, on the other hand, expects additional competition from the planned merger. There are still several market participants, especially in the fixed network sector. "The market will be stimulated by the merger. And we are facing up to this," said Swisscom spokesperson Huber.