Electronics Although several major national football teams are getting into World Cup shape in Switzerland, none are generating as much enthusiasm as Brazil. On Tuesday, the hysteria reached another peak: the Seleçao met FC Luzern in the almost sold-out St. Jakob-Park in Basel. Everyone wants to see Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Adriano. And Ronaldinho, of course. A good opportunity, thought the creatives at Jung von Matt/Limmat, to draw attention to Panasonic's new wide-angle digital camera.

The organizers of the 53rd Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival announced on Tuesday that a total of 24,862 projects from 81 countries entered the race for the coveted prizes. This is 12.5 percent more entries than last year. The increase in entries is partly due to the new Promo Lions category. However, excluding the new category, in which 622 works will compete, the increase compared to last year is still 9.67 percent. Switzerland is represented with 454 entries, 83 in the Film category, 139 in the Press category, 121 in the Outdoor category, 30 in the Media category and 65 in the Direct category. Only 7 entries want to compete internationally in the Cyber category, 6 in the Promo category and 3 in the Titanium category. There are no entries from Switzerland in the Radio category.

In view of the slump in its core business, the Burda Group intends to massively expand its Internet activities. Within two years, Burda wants to double its Internet sales and thus repeat the success of the last two years. To achieve this, the Group would not shy away from major investments, even if this meant up to 500 million euros. Candidates abroad are more likely to be considered, as the domestic market is largely spread out. Jürgen Todenhöfer, Vice President of the publishing house, said on Tuesday in Munich that Hubert Burda Media was ideally positioned for the Internet age. Magazine brands have great potential in the digital media world. However, the core business continues to be highly interesting as it generates good returns.

Starting next Saturday, June 3, 2006, "Finanz und Wirtschaft" (FuW) will be published in a soft redesign. The soft redesign is intended to enhance the appeal of the leading stock market newspaper, the publisher announced on Tuesday evening. The redesign is essentially limited to design optimizations. In editorial terms, only the reporting on structured investment products will be expanded. As a design novelty, color will be used in the editorial section for price charts, graphics and price tables. The company also announced that reader guidance will also be improved - with clear navigation aids on the front page and in the table of contents. In addition, a new font is used throughout, which is calmer and easier to read. However, the visual and content-related appearance of FuW will remain restrained in order to emphasize the seriousness and quality of the title, the press release continues.

The Web2com Index for internet advertising rose by 1.1 points in April compared to the previous month, closing at 101.2 points. Following a very weak February, investment in internet advertising has thus picked up again - by 3.2 points from February (98 points) to the end of April (102.2 points). Bluewin's figures have also been missing from the Web2com Index since January. This also has an impact on the Web2com Index, as the data is based on the Media Focus figures, among others, Web2com announced on Tuesday.

In order to investigate new forms of dialogue between suppliers and buyers about customizable products, the University of Art and Design Zurich HGKZ is carrying out a co-design study. The Zurich agency for integrated web applications MitLinks developed and visualized interactive, web-based prototypes (configurators) for research on test subjects. The aim of the study is to develop a catalog of questions and topics relevant to the development of co-design dialogues. The result of the study should be a guideline that enables companies to develop and evaluate co-design systems. The findings of the study and the guidelines are to be presented in October 2006.

Editor-in-chief Hanspeter Spörri is to leave the "Bund". For the time being, he will continue in his current role until a successor has been found. In recent months, the Board of Directors of Bund Verlag AG and the Editor-in-Chief have had differing views on the management and further development of the newspaper. Nevertheless, the separation is by mutual agreement. The Board of Directors expressly thanks Spörri for his commitment to maintaining the high quality of the newspaper under difficult circumstances. No comment was available. On Radio DRS's Regionaljournal, Chairman of the Board of Directors Hans Lauri said that it is not enough for a newspaper "only" to be well positioned journalistically, it must also be able to survive in an economically difficult environment. The "Bund" may also have to be able to cope with further cost-cutting efforts in the future. However, further job cuts are not currently in sight.
Spörri has headed the editorial team since January 2001, during which time he has redesigned the newspaper and championed the publishing cooperation with Espace Media Groupe, the publisher of the Berner Zeitung BZ. This cooperation, which became known as the "Bern model" - two newspapers, each with independent editorial teams under one publishing umbrella - has succeeded in bringing the "Bund" close to the black, enabling the continuation of the traditional quality title and thus preserving a piece of press diversity in Bern, according to the "Bund" press release. Spörri's departure does not jeopardize the "Bern model". The "Bund" posted a deficit of CHF 0.7 million in 2004 and CHF 2 million in 2005. A deficit of CHF 0.2 million is budgeted for the current year, as announced at the Espace Media Groupe's annual media conference on Tuesday.

Bern-based Espace Media intends to maintain its "traditional aggressiveness" and continue to grow, it announced at its annual media conference in Bern on Tuesday. Chairman of the Board of Directors Charles von Gaffenried told the media that the newspaper's big trump card is its high level of credibility. And this must remain the case under all circumstances. Von Gaffenried is pleased with the stable consolidated result of the Espace Media Groupe. In 2005, the group result amounted to CHF 18.8 million (previous year CHF 21.5 million). The slight decline was due to one-off special costs and higher depreciation in connection with the commissioning of the new printing center. Espace Media Groupe generated operating revenues of CHF 261.9 million in 2005 (previous year: CHF 260.9 million). The operating profit before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to CHF 32.5 (34.7) million. Shareholders' equity increased by 9.2 percent to CHF 200.1 million and reached a ratio of 57.5 (53.3) percent. The number of employees at the end of the year was 1038 (1034 in the previous year).
Less pleasing was the loss of Anzeiger Region Bern at Bund Verlag AG, which resulted in the loss of 17 jobs in prepress. The resulting social plan costs were partly responsible for the renewed deficit of CHF 2 million (previous year: CHF 0.7 million) at the "Bund". However, Albert P. Stäheli, Chairman of the Executive Board, was confident that the "Bund" could be brought back on track this year. Stäheli also found it annoying that the Competition Commission "reportedly" intends to appeal the decision regarding Espace Media Groupe's stake in "20 Minuten" to the Federal Supreme Court. Stäheli went on to explain that Espace Media Groupe would like to operate a multimedia center based on the Danish model on Dammweg in Berne from 2009. The idea is for print, radio, TV and online editorial teams to work much more closely together.

On Tuesday, former "Das Magazin" editor-in-chief Roger Köppel and illustrator Lorenz Meier were acquitted by the Zurich District Court of the charge of depicting violence. On May 19, 2001, the weekend supplement "Das Magazin" of the "Tages-Anzeiger" had published an article by author James Hamilton-Paterson on exotic dishes such as "Dog vomit with coriander". Illustrator Lorenz Meier had illustrated these. The Swiss Society for Animal Welfare/Pro Tier then filed a lawsuit against Tamedia AG for incitement to cruelty to animals. The SGT/Pro Tier justified this step by saying that the many years of educational work on eating habits carried out by the animal welfare organization had been nullified. According to Köppel, it was simply a matter of presenting reality. He sees this as a basic journalistic task. He denied a vivid depiction of violence. The defense lawyer also invoked freedom of opinion and freedom of the press. The court held the freedom of the press in higher esteem, denied that there was a vivid depiction of violence and acquitted the two defendants.

(pr) Xongress '06, the congress for marketing, communication and brand experience, shows where the future is headed. Emotion, innovation and more creativity are in demand.
In the wake of the economic and social changes of recent decades, the pampered consumer has become a radical prosumer with a totally emancipatory attitude toward markets and products. He no longer sees himself as a target group, but as a proactive market participant, as it were as a development aid worker.
Postmodern marketing is therefore moving ever more strongly away from the former mass marketing and is oriented toward ever more individual mass individualization. In this context, emotion, innovation and creativity are becoming key terms for every marketer. Also at Xongress'06.
At the 9th Xongress, congress for marketing, communication and brand experience from August 22 - 24, 2006 at the Zurich Exhibition Center, international and national top speakers such as Andrew Wilkie of Saatchi & Saatchi London, will show ways out of the dead end of the cheap trend. Their recipes are based on experience of how their clients will survive global competition even in saturated markets.
The six themed half-days will focus on consumer trends, brand experience, dialog marketing, innovative marketing, emotion in communication and globalization in marketing.
The Xongress and the accompanying Academy are the trend forums for the marketing and communications trade fair X '06. Numerous other speakers from Switzerland and Europe stand for a dense, top-class program that leaves no marketer cold. Together, Xongress and X-Messe are regarded as Switzerland's marketing and communications summit. Xongress'06 will be held for the 9th time at the Zurich Exhibition Center. The organization is in the hands of ESB Marketing Consult AG in St.Gallen and Künzler-Bachmann Verlag AG, St. Gallen.
Tuesday 22 August 06
Consumer trends and brand experience
Those who think into the future avoid the pitfall of a lack of new ideas and thus gain innovative strength. This is just one of the theses of the opening presentation by Georges T. Roos, thought leader and head of his owner-managed Zukunftsinstitut. Traditionally, the first half-day is devoted to consumer trends. Other luminaries from theory and practice, such as Nicola Austin, Head of Marketing at the renowned London-based institute The Future Foundation, provide a precise diagnosis of how to conduct marketing communications that reach consumers today.
What formula for success do Hollywood's most famous producers and directors follow in order to succeed with their shows? They are clear, stringent rules of dramaturgy. They can also be used for brand experience, at customer events or trade fairs. Steve Mapes, CEO of the American-Swiss Impact Unlimited promises another highlight with his presentation "All the World's a Stage - what marketers can learn from Hollywood's master directors".
Wednesday 23 August
Dialog Marketing and Innovative Marketing
In recent years, direct and dialog marketing has proven to be a powerful tool on the threshold between online and offline. Not least because you can reach your target groups with pinpoint accuracy. Keynote speakers on Wednesday, August 23, the Dialog Marketing theme morning, will be Andre Parsic and Andreas Widmer from the leading dialog agency Wundermann and Prof. Heinrich Holland from Mainz University of Applied Sciences.
The multitude of communication channels increases the need to differentiate messages to consumers. Instead of buying advertising breaks in the content of other media, clever advertisers have therefore started to produce content themselves. In the case of TV programs, games for young target groups or online entertainment, this is referred to as branded content, a niche trend that is gaining in importance. Keynotes include Andrew Wilkie, CEO of the "Gum" department of the renowned London agency Saatchi & Saatchi, which was one of the first English agencies to create a department for branded content. Christian Gartmann from Sat1 will show the advantages of branded content for companies such as Pespi, Nissan, Swisscom and many others over conventional forms of advertising.
Thursday 24 August
Emotion in communication and globalization
The integrated approach of the various advertising instruments is what counts today, and emotional communication is the common denominator in cross-media campaigns.
Bernd M. Michael, independent consultant and long-time CEO of Grey sheds light on when and how innovative, creative and emotional marketing and communication concepts are born. Sebastian Turner from Scholz + Friends, perhaps Germany's most renowned advertising agency, will also speak on the subject of orchestrated campaigns.
Strongly emotional and not without controversy is the advertising campaign of Verzinkerei Zug with tennis player Martina Hingis. Head of Marketing Rolf Heinrich brings the success parameters of this campaign and the reason why V-ZUG AG will continue to advertise with Hingis.
Loyalty is the consumer's sharpest weapon, making it the business challenge of the future. When global offers become more and more numerous, it is all the more important to retain and cultivate customers. Anne Schüller, internationally recognized entrepreneur and speaker, specializes in this topic.
Contact:
Secretariat Xongress
Kornhausstr. 3/PO Box 519
CH-9001 St. Gallen
Fax:+ 41 (0)71 223 78 87
http://www.xongress.ch

From the end of May, readers of the free newspaper in French-speaking Switzerland will be able to find a TV dinner recipe from "Cuisine de Saison", the French edition of the Swiss cooking magazine "Saisonküche", on Thursdays. According to the press release, "Le Matin Bleu" is thus offering an additional service for the young target group and "Saisonküche" is strengthening its presence in French-speaking Switzerland. It is also interested in introducing younger target groups to home cooking. According to its own figures, "Le Matin Bleu" has over 244,000 regular readers, the majority of whom are aged between 15 and 34.

Martin Spieler, Editor-in-Chief of Handelszeitung, becomes a member of the Board of Directors of "Elevator TV". Spieler was presenter and editor-in-chief of the Tele24 stock market program "Money" and COO of Roger Schawinski's Belcom Group until 2001. The new national channel "Elevator TV" plans to launch at the end of the summer, as reported by the TV magazine TV2. The company has share capital of 350,000 Swiss francs.