Swiss Post's Advertising Agency Consulting department visited 17 advertising agencies in Zurich and Berne as part of a twice-yearly self-promotion campaign. Between December 1 and 5, the postmen were sent out with a mobile chestnut stand to "deliver seasonal deliveries" to the agencies they look after. The campaign was very well received, according to a press release. 110 kilos of chestnuts, over 200 contacts and many cold feet were the result of the guerrilla campaign.

Swiss Post's chestnut campaign in front of the In Flagranti agency in Lyss

NZZ am Sonntag, the Sonntag and Zentralschweiz am Sonntag newspapers are jointly launching an advertising combination called "NZZ am Sonntag plus Sonntagspool" from 2009. According to the publisher, the total circulation will amount to over 440,000 copies and reach over one million readers. This means that the new combination is likely to be the Sunday offering with the highest circulation and user numbers in Switzerland, as the NZZ Group writes in its press release.
The offer remains limited to commercial 4C ads. The sales organizations of NZZ am Sonntag (NZZ Media), von Sonntag (Publicitas Aarau) and Zentralschweiz am Sonntag (Publicitas Lucerne) are jointly responsible for marketing.
A combined discount of ten percent is granted for a subscription to all three Sunday titles, the press release adds. For brochure inserts, the combined discount is five percent.

Together with Advico Young & Rubicam, the Juso organized a poster campaign for last weekend's vote. The aim was to bring more young people to the polls with the upbeat motifs and the message "Don't just let the old people decide". This is because the older population continues to decide disproportionately on political proposals, although their effects will be felt primarily by the young population, says Cédric Wehrmut, President of the Juso. The posters could be seen in larger Swiss cities and could also be sent as animated e-cards on Lass-nicht-nur-die-alten-entscheiden.ch.

Responsible at the Juso: Cédric Wermuth (Party President), Vivien Jobé (General Secretary). Responsible at AYR: Philipp Skrabal (CD), Isabelle Hauser (AD), David Schellenberg (graphics), Andi Portmann (text).

Roger Müller is the new Deputy Head of Communications and Media Spokesman for Luzerner Kantonalbank (LUKB). Müller reports to Daniel von Arx, Head of Communications and Media Spokesman.
Most recently, Roger Müller worked in the communications department of SR Technics, a global maintenance company in the aviation industry. Prior to that, he worked for several years at Swiss Radio DRS, where he was Deputy Head of Communications for almost two years. Roger Müller studied journalism and organizational communication in the USA and at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, where he graduated as a certified communicator FH.

Tribune, one of the largest newspaper publishers in the US, has filed for bankruptcy. The media group, which includes newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, filed for bankruptcy protection.
A rapid slump in revenue and the company's debt burden had made this step necessary, the Group announced on Monday. The period of creditor protection is to be used for far-reaching restructuring.
"The company will continue its media operations under creditor protection, publish newspapers and operate its television stations and Internet media without interruption," said the statement from the group, which owns nine newspapers and more than 20 TV stations.
Protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code will allow the company to continue operating under its current management while reorganizing its business. Tribune owner Sam Zell announced that the restructuring would focus primarily on the debt burden of around 13 billion dollars.
The real estate mogul Zell acquired the publishing group last year, but then saddled the company with the eight billion dollar loan for the purchase as debt, according to US media reports. He himself only raised around 315 million dollars for the deal, the Washington Post reported.
The Tribune Group also includes the Chicago Cubs baseball club, for which a buyer is now being sought. Tribune is the second-largest newspaper publisher in the US in terms of revenue and the third-largest in terms of circulation.

Following the positive licensing decision, Radio Monte Carlo Swiss has redesigned its website under the motto "Reduce to the Max". The focus is on the private station's music offering, which can still be heard as a live radio program or can now also be viewed as a web TV program. The centerpiece of the new homepage is a large video and audio player. Interactive TV commercials are placed between the video clips.
The new launch will give Switzerland a music TV for adults, Giuseppe Scaglione is quoted as saying in a press release. According to the radio producer, they don't just want to hear Sade, Barry White, Norah Jones or Cicero, they also want to see them.

The financial crisis is taking its toll - media groups are complaining about financial difficulties and often resort to drastic measures. However, the South African business newspaper Business Day is taking an unusual and probably unique approach: it is putting its journalistic production on hold for the time being in order to avoid redundancies and is hoping for either the good fortune of the Christmas season or a miracle at the start of the New Year. The editorial office will remain closed between December 24 and January 5. Let's hope that the Christ Child, Santa Claus or whoever brings the long-awaited subscription blessing to summery Johannesburg.

The web agency Mitlinks has created a new website for the young fashion company Kacycrown. The new black website introduces visitors to the fashion collection and provides an insight into the jewelry, shoes and accessories divisions. Mitlinks also created a mini content management system and a newsletter tool to keep fashion customers regularly informed about new products and promotions.
Responsibility Kacycrown: Danijela Savic (IGF). Responsibility Co-left: Lorenzo Mutti (CD), Pius Kraushaar (design), Watezz Bleuer (technical realization).

The 49-year-old Thomas Ebeling will become the new CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 in January. The former Novartis manager will take up the post at the beginning of March 2009, the company announced on Tuesday.
After four years at the helm of ProSiebenSat.1, CEO Guillaume de Posch announced in the middle of this year that he would be stepping down at the end of the year. His contract would have run until 2010.
Before joining the Basel-based pharmaceutical company Novartis in 1997, the designated CEO Ebeling worked for the beverage company Pepsi and the tobacco company Reemtsma.
In October, the psychology graduate announced his intention to leave Novartis, where he had long been seen as a potential successor to CEO Daniel Vasella. Ebeling was head of Pharmaceuticals until fall 2007, but was then "demoted" to head of the four times smaller Consumer Health Division due to struggling business.

Microsoft is entering the fashion business with a T-shirt collection. The line, appropriately named "Softwear by Microsoft", is being marketed by the advertising agency Crispin Porter & Bogusky, which is also responsible for the "I'm a PC" advertising campaign.
According to Microsoft, the line was created to bring the 80s - a pioneering time for the computer industry - back to life. However, at least some of the creations are more reminiscent of famous skater brands than retro style. For example, the MS-DOS lettering or that of Microsoft. Another motif features a chic mug shot of the young Bill Gates.
The well-known rapper Common, who acts as the figurehead for the new brand, has also designed some of the T-shirts. The collection will be available in selected stores from December 15. It is part of the current general efforts of the Microsoft marketing department to make the brand cooler. This can also be seen in the current TV commercials with Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld.

The advertisers at Metzgerlehner are marketing Phonak's first headphone system. For the worldwide launch and the creation of a product identity, the agency in Erlenbach is developing a communication package that includes POS displays and operating instructions as well as advertisements and brochures. The subjects in a powerful design promise music lovers brilliant sound and perfect wearing comfort - "It's love at first sound."
The global hearing system manufacturer from Stäfa is entering new territory with the earphone system: for the first time, the high-tech company of Sonova Holding is entering the consumer electronics market.

Responsible at Phonak: Alexander Zschokke (Vice President Marketing), Riccardo Dillier (Product Manager). Responsible at Metzgerlehner Worldwide Partners: Felix Dammann (CD), Marco Lehner and Balint Dobozi (strategy/text), Christoph Schiess (AD), Silvan Metzger and Anna-Lea Michael (consulting), Dorian Iten (illustration), Augenblick (POS partner).

Star TV is expanding its music program in 2009: In future, video clips will be shown in the night program under the name "Star Tunes". In addition, the music program "Lautstark", which is hosted by Melina Roshard, Mario Almer and Patrick Eisenmann, will be continued, contrary to rumors to the contrary. "We are currently in negotiations with both existing and future "Lautstark" sponsors," program planner Barbara Hobi told Werbewoche. It is not yet known whether an agreement has been reached with the current main sponsor Sunrise.
In addition to the music offering, the station is also expanding its online offering. Various online games, such as Dark Orbit, Seafighter, Gladiators 2 and The Pimps, are now available free of charge on Startv.ch. They were realized by Bigpoint.