The Zurich agency Publicis has come out on top in a competitive presentation for a new umbrella campaign for Terre des hommes. The children's charity would like to present its work to a wider public and increase awareness in German-speaking Switzerland with a strong presence, according to a press release. The first works will be on display in the fall.

The free newspaper "20 Minuten" is devoting itself entirely to football during the World Cup: in order to keep fans informed about the latest events on the pitch at the weekend, the paper will exceptionally be available in the blue boxes on the next four Saturdays. "The special editions are all about football," said 20 Minuten Managing Director Marcel Kohler when asked by Werbewoche. Other topics will have to wait until the start of the week. According to Kohler, the sports team will fill 20 to 24 pages with World Cup topics for the Saturday edition. A circulation of 150,000 copies is planned, which will be distributed in the cities of Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne and St. Gallen. The World Cup will also be the focus of "20 Minuten" on weekdays. According to the Friday edition, a multi-page special will provide information every day. The web center will also be entirely dedicated to King Football over the next few weeks.

According to the results of the Viscom survey, the earnings situation in the printing industry is not yet on the upswing in the 1st quarter of 2006. The optimistic expectations that were evident in the economic survey for the 4th quarter of 2005 were therefore disappointed. 30.1 percent of respondents reported a negative development in earnings compared to the previous quarter. Only 8.6 percent of the evaluated responses reported an increase, while 51.2% described the situation as unchanged. Poor results were reported for January and February of this year in particular, but a clear trend reversal was measurable in March. The data also shows significantly more optimistic expectations for the coming months. Companies are more neutral in their assessment of their competitive position compared to the previous quarter. 23% of responses described this as negative, while 65.3% of companies expect their position in the domestic market to remain unchanged. With regard to the business situation, it is clear that the graphic arts industry, which has been lagging behind the economy as a whole so far this year, will now also be able to improve over the next six months. The persistently strong competitive pressure has led to lower sales prices than in the previous quarter for 40% of those surveyed. However, compared to the previous quarter's figure, which was only half as high, this corresponds to increased price pressure. Capacity utilization in the companies remained unchanged.
In cooperation with KOF/ETH, Viscom surveyed a total of 94 companies with a total of 5,007 employees during the month of May as part of the economic survey for the graphic arts industry for the 1st quarter of 2006.

Swiss Television (SF) is launching a World Cup blog on the Football World Cup and a film blog on the film and series program. The authors are commentators and correspondents for the World Cup and Michel Bodmer, editorial director of "Film und Serien". The blogs with background information on the programs are intended to create a direct exchange between SF journalists and the audience, according to a press release.

The closing date for the casting as the new presenter for "Joya rennt" and Seat-Ambassador/Ambassadrice is over. Over 400 applications from young men and women from all over Switzerland have been received. The best 30 candidates will take part in an initial audition in Bern on June 12. The overall level of applications was high, with women making up almost 70 percent of those interested, according to a press release. A TV jury consisting of Björn Hering, Hannes Britschgi and Nina Havel will evaluate the candidates in three casting shows in July.

The Swiss industrial group Gurit-Heberlein has split into two companies: Gurit (composite materials) and Medisize (dental and medical products). Eclat positioned Gurit, developed the brand architecture and visual identity and created the most important communication media. Based on three levels (idea, product, brand values), the communications agency has created a unique brand personality and the corporate design over the last six weeks. The first trade fair appearance of the new Gurit has already taken place during a project in Paris.

Swiss Television (SF) is working on a knowledge and education platform: it is to be called "SF Bildungspilot" and will go online as early as 2007. The new site will be based on current programs and the film archive of Swiss Television, which will be opened up gradually and selectively. As SF announced in a press release, there is a lack of a knowledge and learning platform on the Internet that provides qualified content simply, quickly and securely. That's why they want to close this gap. "We are creating a hub for all those who want or need to deal with educational and knowledge content," says project manager Barbara Krieger. In order to realize the "SF Education Pilot", SF will work with various partners - the first being the Swiss Foundation for Audiovisual Education (SSAB).

The agency for digital media and print in Zurich, Gyselroth, has been commissioned by RohnerChem to design a new corporate identity. The chemical company in Pratteln was founded in 1906 by Joseph Rohner as a paint factory and has developed over the years into an outsourcing partner for chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The company belonged to the French Groupe Novasep and was acquired by the German Arques Industries on March 9, 2006. Since then, RohnerChem has acted as an independent company in the market, which is to be underpinned and consolidated with the new corporate design, according to a press release.

On Friday, the Federal Council instructed the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to review Article 293 of the Swiss Criminal Code. This threatens media professionals who publish secret or confidential information with imprisonment or a fine. As reported by the SDA news agency, according to Blocher, the FDJP will investigate whether the article should be deleted without replacement or replaced by a more restrictive version. It will also be clarified whether Articles 267 and 329 - which punish diplomatic treason and the violation of military secrets - will suffice if Article 293 is deleted. 

Ringier's free business newspaper Cash daily is launching with a circulation of 75,000 copies. However, the media company announced on Friday that it will be distributed exclusively at over 1100 Valora kiosks instead of in boxes. Press spokeswoman Prisca Wolfensberger did not wish to provide the SDA news agency with any information on the distribution conditions and costs of the cooperation.Cash daily will also be available as an electronic newspaper on the Internet. The multimedia offering will range from integrated video and audio applications to downloads for the iPod and various services for cell phones. Ringier hopes to reach a total of one million interested readers from September 2006.

Beverage manufacturer Coca-Cola is the number one World Cup sponsor. In a study by British market researcher ICM Research, 18% of respondents immediately named the brand as a World Cup partner. This was followed by Budweiser and Adidas with nine percent each, reports Pressetext.ch. Only six percent of the study participants could remember the fast food chain McDonald's. It is amusing that around eight percent of respondents named Nike - even though the sports brand is not one of the official World Cup sponsors. ICM Research surveyed 1000 Britons for the study.

Swisscom Fixnet is launching the interactive television service Betty TV just in time for the World Cup. To this end, the telecoms company has founded Betty TV (Switzerland), based in Zurich. The new subsidiary with 25 employees is building up the business with the new Betty interactive remote control in Switzerland, according to a press release. Swisscom Fixnet has already been testing the Betty interactive remote control in around 4,000 households with the TV channels SF zwei, RTL, Sat.1, Pro7, Star TV and Tele Bärn since the spring. The device has its own display and buttons for direct participation in television. In close cooperation with the TV stations, the content of the so-called Betty events is compiled, which includes competitions, quizzes, polls, surveys, information and advertising offers. Betty TV can be received throughout Switzerland, but will initially only be communicated in German. We are working with the relevant TV stations to extend the service to the national languages Italian and French.