Gruner + Jahr, Europe's largest magazine publisher, recorded strong sales growth in 2006. Turnover rose by 9.1 percent to 2.86 billion euros, as reported by Sda based on an announcement by the group. Operating earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose even more strongly by 10.6 percent to around 277 million euros. The boost came from new magazines as well as Motorpresse Stuttgart and the gravure printing company Prinovis, both of which were fully included in the balance sheet for the first time. The publishing house is still on course for growth and wants to expand its brands such as Stern, Geo and Brigitte using multimedia, the statement continues. Major acquisitions as in previous years are not planned for the time being.

 TCS Reisen has commissioned Goldbach Media subsidiary Active Mobile Media to implement an SMS broadcast service. This will enable TCS travel agencies to reach their customers anytime and anywhere, for example for alert content or information about flight changes. This was announced by Active Mobile, the Goldbach Media company for mobile marketing, in a press release. The 30 or so TCS travel agencies operating in six regions can contact their respective customers individually or all together on their cell phones via a web interface. Each travel agency has its own login with which it can independently manage its communication needs.

 The full-service marketing agency Mabero from Rheinfelden won a budget battle against two other competitors. They won over the competition with their presentation for a new corporate design for the Römerfest. In addition to the corporate design, the agency created new marketing measures. Among other things, Mabero recommended establishing the Römerfest as a brand. Mabero is a young agency founded by marketing expert Andrea Roth in September 2006.

 Maxomedia has been awarded the contract to design the official website for Euro 08 Bern. The cross-media agency, which is based in the capital, won the tender against three other applicants. With the website, the agency wants to arouse the public's enthusiasm for the upcoming European Championships. Real Bernese veterans, celebrities and young people declare their allegiance to Bern on the website. The website is planned as an interactive forum for the residents and hotels of Bern, but also for football fans from all over the world. The launch of the website is planned for May 2007. 

 Peter Schmidli will be responsible for corporate communications and the media at Hotelplan Switzerland from July 1. The tourism expert is completing his studies in business communication this fall. He currently works as a lecturer in tourism marketing at the International School of Tourism in Zurich and as a trainer at the management consultancy Lötscher & Renggli in Sursee (LU). Prior to this, he spent three years as sales manager at Bergbahnen Titlis Rotair, Engelberg, where he was responsible for global markets. 

 After divesting itself of Pocketguides last week (see ), Channelmedia is now also breaking off its collaboration with Word magazine. The marketer of print products and ambient media is thus continuing the strategic reorientation communicated last week and the associated concentration on leading products. For Stefan Berger, Managing Director of Channelmedia, the decision was not an easy one, as Word is a magazine for urban street culture that is produced with a great deal of enthusiasm and passion. However, the company is pursuing a growth strategy and is concentrating on the products with the greatest potential, Channelmedia writes in a press release.

In private broadcasting, it is mainly journalists with poor training and financial resources who are on the rampage - not a trace of quality assurance. Taken out of context, the results of two studies are causing a storm in the Swiss media landscape.
The results of two studies ordered by the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) are devastating. Since fall 2006, media professionals and quality assurance in private radio and private television have been scrutinized. According to an OFCOM press release, the University of Zurich has concluded that private radio journalists are young, professionally inexperienced and poorly paid, that they have a relatively low level of education and are poorly trained for their profession. On the other hand, the Winterthur University of Applied Sciences claims that quality assurance instruments are in place, but are not widely applied. In addition, a low sensitivity for the possibility of profiling through quality can be identified and a strong orientation towards business concerns and recipient interests ensures a diffuse concept of quality.
OFCOM intends to use the results to reformulate the performance mandates for the reallocation of private broadcasting licenses. Reactions from the media are not long in coming. According to the Swiss Private Radio Association (VSP), the data collection is methodologically questionable and the results are not very meaningful. In addition, the Gazette points out in a press release that only the production structure and working conditions were examined. The actual program of the radio stations was not recorded at all.
The fact is: regional broadcasters have always trained young journalists who have "bigger" goals. Very few of them are content with a career at a backwoods city paper. The majority, however, are happy if a regional broadcaster gives them a start. The media cannot be viewed out of the economic context and, like traditional companies, must rely on cheaper, inexperienced but nevertheless clever and willing to learn workers. The result is impressive, because the diversity of media as we know it would be unthinkable without unbiased, creative newcomers. Generation internship, ahoy!

Loisirs.ch is the new print and online magazine from GeneralMedia. The French-speaking Swiss publication aims to offer families a wide range of leisure activities, and the first issue of its new magazine Loisir.ch will be published on May 30, according to a GeneralMedia press release. At the same time, the accompanying website will be launched with the latest tips for leisure activities. The print version will be published twice a year with a circulation of 25,000 copies.
The publication will be available from June at tourist offices, kiosks and places offering leisure activities in French-speaking Switzerland.

The National Council has decided to continue indirect press subsidies. In its press release of March 22, the Swiss Press Association expressed its delight at the National Council's decision, particularly with regard to newspapers and magazines with a small circulation. The approval of indirect press subsidies should be seen as a clear vote in favor of the continued existence of press diversity in Switzerland.
Swiss Post is to receive CHF 60 million a year from the federal government to grant preferential prices independent of distance, and a further CHF 20 million will be granted for additional concessions for the transportation of small-circulation publications. The National Council wants the CHF 60 million to be limited to seven years, while the special subsidy of CHF 20 million will apply indefinitely. The Council of States is expected to discuss the bill in the summer session.

 Following the cooperation for the 2006 Football World Cup, NZZ Online and IMG Media have agreed to continue their collaboration. From now on, IMG Media will produce and develop sports specials including live coverage for the online edition of NZZ. In addition, there will be joint marketing in the Swiss advertising market. After Blick Online, Sportal.ch and Sport.ch, NZZ Online is IMG Media's fourth sports offering. In total, the sports network generates over 12 million page impressions and 1.5 million visits per month, as IMG announced in a letter. IMG Media is the market leader in Switzerland in the new media sports sector and focuses its marketing activities on presenter formats and media sponsorships. In addition to the clients already mentioned, IMG works with Swisscom, Sunrise and Ringier, among others.

 The Cannes International Advertising Festival announced the members of the Film and Press Jury on Wednesday. Bob Scarpelli, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of DDB Worldwide will chair both Lions panels. The winners of the Press entries will be announced on June 20. The coveted Lions for the best commercials will be awarded on June 23. 

 The media company is concerned about the former bestsellers Blick and Sonntagsblick. Projects are currently underway to at least halt the negative circulation trend. At the annual media conference on Thursday, CEO Martin Werfeli admitted that he was not satisfied with the circulation figures of the two titles, as SDA writes in a press release. Last year, the circulation of Blick fell from 262,262 to 254,657 copies and that of Sonntagsblick from 280,280 to 272,425 copies. The company is already holding talks and launching projects that will significantly change the Blicks. One of these working groups is headed by Editor-in-Chief Werner de Schepper, who resigned yesterday (Wednesday). The Board of Directors will make its first decisions in early summer.