The Best of Swiss Web Award has honored Maxomedia for two projects. For the Gleis7.ch/1991 project, the agency for cross-media communication took home the "Online & Mobile Campaigns" category win as well as a seal of approval in the "Creation" category. Maxomedia received another seal of approval for the vacation apartment platform Fewo.myswitzerland.com, which was awarded in the "Technology Quality" category. 

The Federal Office of Public Health is launching the new tobacco prevention campaign "BRAVO - less smoke, more life". TV commercials, posters and print advertisements aim to further reduce the number of Swiss smokers and encourage companies to make their premises smoke-free.
Switzerland is focusing on less smoke and more health. The creative Zurich-based advertising agency By Heart is responsible for the new anti-tobacco campaign. The advertisements show representatives of companies, associations and organizations that have made the transition to a smoke-free business. According to a press release issued on Monday, this is intended to reflect the praise that the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) wishes to bestow on these individuals and companies and to motivate others to also introduce a smoking ban. For example, recruits, CEOs and event organizers pose for the camera. Each picture is accompanied by a quote in which the people photographed rave about the benefits of a smoke-free environment.
The campaign builds on last year's, in which companies were asked to make their premises smoke-free. According to the press release, the campaign idea appeals to a large majority (86%) of the Swiss population, as the proportion of smokers fell in 2006 - a success that the FOPH would like to extend with the new campaign.
The FOPH's new campaign will be shown on television, in magazines and on billboards from May to June and September to October 2007.

 Maxomedia has developed a geogame on behalf of Swiss Post International. The aim of the game is to deliver parcels and letters worldwide on time. The aim is to hit the specified delivery location of the postal items on all continents as accurately as possible using drag-and-drop. The viral component of the geogame is the Tell-a-Friend function, with which every player can challenge friends and acquaintances to play. The flash-based geogame serves to increase frequency on the Swiss Post International (SPI) website and to boost the Swiss market leader's image in international mail delivery. According to a press release, the geogame makes it clear to players what a huge logistical feat SPI accomplishes on a daily basis.

 The credit card institution of Cornèr Bank has given itself a new identity under the name Cornèrcard and has also renewed its website in the process. The bank commissioned the Bern-based communications agency nothing from outer space to create a new online identity. The Bernese were responsible for the conception of the online presence and design and developed the XHTML/CSS prototype as the basis for the technical implementation. Special Flash animations enriched the site, the institute writes in a press release.

 Marco Möschler is the new Key Account Manager for the Print division at Tamedia. His main tasks include supporting, advising and maintaining print customers. In particular, Möschler is responsible for the customers of Alpha and Stellen-Anzeiger. Before joining Tamedia Stellenmarkt in May, he worked as a sales consultant and project manager for Allgemeine Plakatgesellschaft Apg. 

In fall 2007, Ringier launches China's first weekly women's magazine in cooperation with the Wenhui Xinmin United Press Group. The two publishing houses Ringier and Wenhui Xinmin United Press Group have entered into a strategic partnership. This will not only result in a women's magazine, but also in new media products.
Ringier has been active in China for more than 10 years and currently operates more than 30 magazines, 3 websites, a TV program and two printing plants. The Wenhui Xinmin United Press Group is the leading media group in Shanghai with 5 daily newspapers, 6 weekly newspapers and 6 magazines and publishes, among others, the leading daily newspaper in Shanghai, the Xinmin Evening News. Launched in 1929, the newspaper currently has a circulation of one million copies.
Ringier employs over 6800 people in 12 countries and publishes around 130 newspapers and magazines, produces around 20 TV programs and operates over 50 websites and 11 printing plants.

At the end of July, the weekly newspaper is all about cars. In the 30/07 issue, advertisements for vehicles with low CO2 emissions are rewarded with a discount, while those for cars with high CO2 emissions cost more.
According to a press release issued on Monday, WOZ is launching an exceptional bonus/penalty offer for vehicle advertisements exclusively for its special car edition at the end of July. Advertisements for private vehicles with low CO2 emissions will be rewarded with a discount. Advertisements for cars with high CO2 emissions have to pay a kind of CO2 levy for the WOZ and therefore pay more than the normal price. The officially declared CO2 values per model published by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy are decisive for the discount. On this basis, WOZ has created five emission / tariff categories. The discount or surcharge can amount to up to 50 percent of the normal WOZ display rate.
The entire issue 30 / 07 deals with topics such as the psychology of driving and the fascination of car racing. In addition to major car importers, garage owners from the countryside also have their say. Left-wing celebrities and non-celebrities write about their relationship with cars. Of course, Auto-WOZ also covers the current climate debate.
The advertising rates will be available on the WOZ website from Wednesday.

The creative Geneva-based advertising agency Amrein-Pieren is responsible for the latest advertising campaign from fruit dessert manufacturer Andros.
As can be seen from the Amrein-Pieren media release on Monday, the agency is staging exhausted mothers and lively children on the new Andros posters to suit the target group.
Andros has been successfully advertising its fruit puree on French-language television for years with commercials accompanied by a light melody and the slogan "Andros, Andros, ça, c'est fort de fruits".
The Amrein-Pieren advertising agency was founded in 1961 and has branches in Bern and Geneva as well as partner agencies in Germany and France.

Airplane frass: dried out, overcooked, looking like plastic or cardboard - a real treat for the palate. If you want to experience the ultimate airplane dinner, put the curry you brought with you into the airplane microwave, as a British stewardess demonstrated. It hasn't been this exciting on board since 9/11. Raise your hand if you like airplane food. At least in economy class, we can't talk about culinary highlights. A stewardess who recently wanted to treat herself to a treat let it rip at an altitude of 10,000 meters. When her smuggled-in curry dish exploded and the plane half burned down, the good woman surely caused temporary heart failure for some passengers.
Although the airline stressed that the jumbo jet was able to continue the flight from London to Miami without any problems and that no passenger was injured, it must be remembered that the bright yellow spicy meal exploded with such force that it caused damage worth 30,000 euros. In addition, the plane was completely out of action for a long time afterwards. Flying may be less dangerous than driving, but accidents are much more colorful.

José Fernandes is the new head of Star TV's marketing department. He will support Star TV in the further maintenance and development of all marketing offers and the positioning of the STAR TV brand in the market. According to the SDA, Star TV has recruited a highly qualified Head of Marketing. José Fernandes has sound international experience in the entire marketing environment and specializes in the networked activation and creation of communication platforms across the marketing portfolio.
The 43-year-old ideal candidate worked at Chiemsee in Germany as an international marketing manager on the client side before significantly developing and influencing the YOZ (Youth Only Zone) television format for Eurosport Paris, which is still running today, in the role of TV and New Media Director. Over two years ago, he set up the Zurich branch on behalf of MPM Vienna and, as Managing Director, Key Account Manager and Client Service Director, looked after clients such as Nokia, Sunrise, Coke and Swisscom in sponsorship and communications.
Star TV was launched in summer 1995 as Switzerland's first national private channel and focuses on film, lifestyle and entertainment. The station can be received in over 80% of all households in German-speaking Switzerland via the cable network.

 
Sony has engaged the communications agency Grey for the launch campaign of its new Walkman video MP3 player. The media strategy is tailored to the mobile lifestyle of the target audience and the usage pattern of the device, the agency writes in a press release. Advertising will be placed where the new Walkman will soon be in use, in the major free titles that owe their success to commuters in urban areas. In addition, on rail posters and on public transport. Special titles and an integrated website round off the package of measures. The campaign starts in the national Sunday press and runs until mid-June. 

 The 2006 annual accounts of the media union Comedia once again show a loss due to falling membership figures. The Comedia board is therefore considering a merger with other unions. With whom and when remains to be seen. According to the SDA, the central treasury, the relief fund and the campaign fund closed with a loss of around 750,000 francs. The reason: declining membership figures. At the end of 1999, the year Comedia was founded, there were 17,800 members; now there are only 14,300. While the press and electronic media, book and media trade and visual communication sectors are growing continuously, the number of members in the graphic arts and packaging sector has fallen by 4,700 (30 percent). The Central Executive Committee and management see the political and financial perspective in a merger with one or more trade unions. However, a merger only with the Communication Union (GeKo) is not an alternative, as the two unions alone would not reach the critical size. Nevertheless, at its congress in Basel on June 22-23, 2007, the Comedia leadership will propose that a merger with the Unia union or the GeKo be examined by 2009.