Espace Media Groupe's Internet news portal, espace.ch, is offering its users a new read-aloud function on all news articles. A click on the "Read aloud" button of the respective article is all it takes for a human voice to read the news item aloud.  
According to the Espace.ch press release, the read-aloud function is easy and secure to use. Users do not need any additional software. People with visual or reading impairments in particular would benefit from this new, free service.
 
Espace.ch is the Internet news portal of the Espace Media Groupe. This includes the Berner Zeitung, Tele Bärn and Capital FM.

As of this year, Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett (SFLB) is providing cross-group advertising services to Goldbach Media and its companies. The creative minds at SFLB have been responsible for Goldbach Media's advertising since 2006. According to a press release from the Goldbach Media Group, the advertising agency has also been responsible for the advertising of the Swiss companies Active Mobile, Ad Link, IP Multimedia and the Crossfactory division since the beginning of this year.  
The Gate Communication was selected as the PR agency for the Group and all companies in a competitive evaluation. The agency supports Goldbach Media and all companies in strategic issues as well as with measures and concepts in the areas of corporate communication, media relations and marketing communication.
 
Goldbach Media intends to further expand its position as the leading marketer of electronic media in Switzerland. Cross-group communication and cooperation with the two agencies are intended to strengthen the group affiliation in the appearance of the companies. On the other hand, the greater integration of the companies into Goldbach Media's overall presence will allow the cross-media range of services to be highlighted and the level of awareness to be raised even further.

Before the summer break, Zeit Magazin will once again be published with every issue of the weekly title Die Zeit. This reverses a move that caused a stir eight years ago, when the renowned glossy supplement was discontinued in favor of Leben, a supplement printed on newsprint. The driving force behind the decision was editor-in-chief Giovanni di Lorenzo, as Horizont.net reports. He explained to Der Spiegel: "In the magazine, the stories are more personal, more intimate. This creates an attractive contrast to the other Zeit sections, which are more analytical and distanced." The publisher also refers to findings from market research, according to which loyal Zeit readers would like the magazine back and believe that Zeit would have better market opportunities with a magazine supplement. Thanks to glossy paper, the traditional title is certainly also hoping for more luxury goods advertisements.
 
This revitalizes the supplement magazine market, which has long been declared dead. Süddeutsche Zeitung was the only national daily newspaper to hold on to its magazine for better or worse. According to Spiegel, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung is now also considering a relaunch of its FAZ magazine. However, a decision has not yet been made, according to Handelsblatt.

Freicom Relationship Management and Communication has been awarded the international Consultancy Management Standard (CMS II). Freicom is the first St. Gallen PR agency and the tenth in Switzerland to pass the quality audit. The CMS audit checks whether an agency is managed according to certain quality criteria. The certificate attests to high-quality work and processes in the areas of management and communication, corporate planning and development, finance, implementation of projects and campaigns, customer satisfaction, new business and personnel management.
According to a press release from Freicom, the agency is a member of the Association of Public Relations Agencies in Switzerland and is number five in the official ranking in terms of turnover. It employs over 30 people at its offices in St. Gallen, Balgach and Zurich. It offers all integrated communication services, divided into the areas of public relations, marketing and advertising, project management and event management.

The decision on a possible ban on tobacco and alcohol advertising in the canton of Zurich has been made: The conservatives in the Zurich Cantonal Council have prevented a stricter ban on tobacco and alcohol advertising. Although posters for cigarettes and alcohol are to disappear from public property in future, they will not be allowed on private property that can be viewed from there.  
The more far-reaching regulation demanded by the Commission for Social Security and Health (KSSG) and supported by the cantonal government, according to Health Director Verena Diener (Green Liberals), was narrowly defeated today by 86 votes to 89.
 
The SVP and FDP motion to exempt beer and wine from the ban on billboard advertising on public property and in public buildings was rejected by 91 votes to 83. The EPP clearly failed with its demand to include a total ban on alcohol and tobacco advertising in the new health law: The cantonal council rejected this proposal by 145 votes to 20.

2006 was a successful year for the Geneva-based advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi Simko. As in the previous year, the agency was the fastest growing Saatchi & Saatchi branch worldwide. With an increase in turnover of almost 70%, it was the number 1 among the 143 branches that make up the global Saatchi & Saatchi network.  
According to a press release, the agency recorded growth in all business areas, with international business increasing by almost 80% compared to 2005, while domestic business more than doubled. This result was achieved through strong growth in the regular client base and the acquisition of a whole series of new advertising mandates such as Nestlé Cereals, Orange, Seat and Happy.
 
Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide, was delighted after visiting the Geneva office: "The Geneva contributions to the agency network are not only impressive in financial terms. Pedro Simko had also "gathered a cheerful, inspired and multinational team around him" in Geneva.

Peter Stringham has today been appointed CEO of the international company Young & Rubicam Brands. The former CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of HSBC Bank succeeds Ann Fudge, who left the company in December 2006 and was CEO of Y&R North America six years ago. After leading the global marketing and brand development of HSBC in the UK, he is now taking over the management of Young & Rubicam Brands in New York. The company comprises 18 agencies, including big names such as Wunderman and Burson-Marsteller.
The 57-year-old Stringham can look back on a long and successful career in the advertising industry: he was voted "Most Influential Person in Advertising" by Marketing Magazine and "Marketing Director of the Year" by the Daily Telegraph. He also serves as a judge for various international creative competitions.

When Gap, Apple and Motorola teamed up to launch the Red campaign, it looked like a lot of money would flow into the coffers of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. But the proceeds remained more than mediocre, despite massive investment and eye-catching celebrity involvement.
The Red campaign was designed to raise public awareness of AIDS and encourage people to buy Red products to support the Fund. Christy Turlington had herself photographed in a yoga pose for GAP posters, Chris Rock starred in Motorola commercials, and Bono, the world savior in constant action, was of course also won over for the campaign.
All for nothing: According to expert estimates, the marketing costs are likely to amount to over 100 million. But so far, the campaign has generated only a measly $18 million. Why should you listen to Bono and his ilk when they ask you to enrich companies in order to save AIDS patients? Precisely because people also drink prosecco from a can when Paris Hilton declares it to be super cool.
The Red campaign's meager proceeds are one more reason for nonprofits to shy away from such campaigns. Marc Rosenmann, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, explains, "There are concerns that business is taking on the patina of philanthropy and displacing or even replacing philanthropic action." The question begs to be asked: Does the concept of smart consumption as exemplified by Oprah Winfrey or Bono really entice people to become aware of their own ability to make a difference, or perhaps more to assuage their conscience when they have once again afforded superfluous items because they are for a good cause?

Trimedia Communications is the first European PR agency group to open a branch in the online community Second Life. The Trimedia World is to become the central virtual meeting place for media professionals and people interested in PR and marketing.  
 
Trimedia customers are offered the opportunity to exhibit their products or campaigns in the building's showroom and thus present their brands in a three-dimensional space. In addition, regular discussion rounds are held on the subject of PR 2.0 and online journalism. 
With The Trimedia World, the agency, which also has five offices in Switzerland, aims to drive and help shape developments on the social web. Martin Zahner, CEO of Trimedia Communications Switzerland, sees Second Life as an important part of Public 2.0, "which is changing the use of the Internet according to new communication rules".
 
 
Second Life as a presentation platform  
In addition to renowned brand companies, numerous European media, journalists and PR specialists are settling in Second Life. According to a press release from Trimedia, The Trimedia World offers media-interested avatars and Trimedia customers an interactive presentation platform.
 
A central Second Life kiosk with all relevant publications that report within the online world is also being planned on the European island. The avatars also have the opportunity to post related news on pinboards and link to their own blogs and websites.
 
 

A new product has emerged from the collaboration between Maxomedia and Auto Scout 24: The online game "Hot Cars Quartet". Car enthusiasts and gamblers challenge each other to a quartet game via e-mail. The card with the better value wins. The aim is to collect as many quartets as possible. Whoever is among the top 100 players at the end has the chance to win a Dodge Caliber 1.8S as the main prize. 
According to Maxomedia's press release, Züritel and Migrol have also been won as partners for the "Hot Cars Quartet" alongside Dodge. The game is based on Flash, Net, Remoting and SQL Server 2005 technologies.

"For you - the voice of women." The magazine was launched 50 years ago with this slogan. To mark the anniversary, there is a special edition and a prize for the most beautiful congratulatory advertisement. With the anniversary issue 6/07, Für Sie is being published as an attractive package: the magazine comes in a golden bag, together with a 68-page feel-good extra and a CD with music for a good time. According to SDA, the most beautiful fashion styles of the last 50 years are celebrated, combined with cutting-edge retro looks and the biggest beauty hits, influenced by style icons of that period and now back in fashion in a modern version. The anniversary edition will be accompanied by a comprehensive advertising campaign on TV, radio and in print. Advertising manager Ilona Kelemen-Rehm thanks the advertisers for their enormous participation in the anniversary issue with a gesture: "The partners in the media industry and our readers can award a prize for the most beautiful congratulatory advertisement!" Information will be available from March 6 at the links below.

Ringier's KonsumTV program will have two new faces: Reto Peritz will take over as host of the magazine from March 18. Former Radio 24 boss Peter Brun will be the new editorial director from May 1.  
The 34-year-old Peritz will succeed Marc Caprez on screen, as Ringier announced on Sunday. Peritz earned his presenting spurs at Tele 24, TV3 and Telescoop and is currently still the voice of Energy Züri's morning show.
 
Ex-Radio 24 man Peter Brun will take over as editorial director in May 2007. He has been in charge of the communications department for the travel company Kuoni for one and a half years now.