Newspapers The expected loss of their airline copies catches the publishers on the wrong foot before certification. "The stands at the gates, where all Swiss passengers, but especially those in economy class (around 80 percent of passengers) were allowed to help themselves, will disappear by the middle of the year at the latest." What this sentence from the precautionary termination letter from Customer Ground Service (CGS) to the affected Swiss publishers means is summarized dryly by Wemf certification expert Christel Plöger as "four-digit losses". On the Wemf forms due soon, this share of circulation - which had already fallen substantially during the transition from Swissair to Swiss - will be listed under the collective heading "Additional sales at special prices". According to CGS manager Rolf Kohler, however, the range would have shrunk further anyway when the flight schedule changed at the end of March: 100 fewer flights a week from Zurich, Berne, Basel and Geneva would have caused orders from publishers to plummet by 20 to 30 percent anyway. Now, however, it's all or nothing. At least that's how the disgruntled Weltwoche publishing director interprets the CGS letter. "Due to our positive circulation development, we can afford to cancel the entire Swiss item retroactively to 2002," explains Uli Rubner when asked by Werbewoche.
Her NZZ colleague Tobias Trevisan is (still) reluctant to make such a radical cut. Reason: "Circulation figures reflect market developments, and that is dynamic." How many of the approximately 4,000 daily and Sunday editions of the NZZ that Swiss still circulates today are no longer reported to Wemf is currently the subject of "internal discussions". However, as airline copies are "only generously distributed rather than actually read", the "quite understandable decision" in view of 700 further Swiss redundancies does not hurt him in the long term.
Economy victims Tagi and Blick
The other two major Zurich publishers are far less relaxed - no wonder, as their titles are much more "economy" oriented than the NZZ. While the Tages-Anzeiger has said no more than an eloquent "No comment", SoBli and Blick man Bruno Blaser is "not amused", to put it mildly. He speaks of a "fundamentally wrong signal" and puts the expected Ringier losses at "several thousand copies per title". In fact, the expected decline - Swiss has still left a back door open - is likely to be in the low five-digit range for the tabloids. So it makes sense to put out feelers in the direction of Lufthansa, Air France and other well-off Swiss airlines. Which Blaser is said to have wisely done some time ago.
Oliver Classen

The Swiss out-of-home advertising company Clear Channel Plakanda (CCP) achieved net sales of 93 million Swiss francs in 2002. This represents a decline of 3.6 percent compared to the previous year, meaning that CCP fared better than its competitors: the domestic revenue of industry leader Affichage/APG fell by 7.5 percent in 2002. However, Media Focus reported a 4.8 percent increase in gross advertising expenditure for posters. According to CCP CEO Beat Roeschlin, the previous year's result was maintained in the roadside, POS and airport segments.

Zurich's new local TV station Züri Plus is jumping on the talent show bandwagon. The first episode of "ZüriStar" will be broadcast on April 6, and the first round will feature six music clips that Züri Plus has previously produced at castings with up-and-coming singers. For 24 weeks, the audience will select two winners who will go through to the next round and also record a joint song to be released at Christmas. Only the final on February 29, 2004 is planned as a live show.

Lifestyle In the midst of the crisis, a new magazine from Wallach AG is trying to strengthen the self-esteem of Mr. and Mrs. Swiss - with a return to the beauty and integrity of our country. "Best of Switzerland", as the magazine is appropriately titled, is published four times a year by the company "Fullsize Neue Medien". The two-person company consists of the owners André and Monika Schudel. The glossy magazine sees itself as a lifestyle title "at a high level", with a well-heeled readership in its sights. The magazine, which has a print run of 20,000 copies, can be found in four- and five-star hotels, as a supplement in luxurious new cars, in selected stores and clubs, as well as at 600 newsstands (CHF 12).

Christoph Bürge has been Client Service Director and a member of the management team at Jung von Matt/Limmat since January.Christoph Bürge loves snow. In the past winter months, however, the ski and snowboard freak has rarely been able to shovel time off to go to the mountains. Since the beginning of January, his absolute priority has been Jung von Matt/Limmat. Bürge works here as Client Service Director and member of the Executive Board. His enthusiasm about moving into the agency is certainly at least as great as his enjoyment of freshly snow-covered slopes: "The local philosophy of advertising, symbolized by a Trojan horse with explosive content, convinces me," explains the former Exxtra consulting manager. He is absolutely certain that "with today's sensory overload, communication can only stand out if it comes across as surprising". As a result, the 36-year-old believes that "guerrilla advertising" - an unconventional, cunning and at the same time fun way of advertising - is the ideal way to bring campaigns to life. "After the pioneering work of setting up an advertising unit for a single brand, I am now attracted by the precision work of helping an established agency with a diverse brand portfolio to achieve success," explains Bürge. At JvM, he can fully live out his flair for integrated communication and creativity. Bürge wants to be a contact person for employees and customers who recognizes effective ideas and implements them in the market.
Zurich has almost always been the hub of Christoph Bürge's life. He attended commercial high school in the Hottingen district, where Jung von Matt set up shop around a year ago. He wanted to go into advertising to avoid the daily routine of his job. So the current advertising manager trained as a specialist at Sawi. He spent his apprenticeship and traveling years at Grendene+Lanz, Metzger Blatter Partner and Lintas.
Bürge later experienced what it means to assert oneself in a new market as Account Director when setting up Ammirati Puris Lintas in Shanghai. In the up-and-coming Chinese metropolis, he was entrusted with the introduction of European brands such as Aspirin, which meant that he had to communicate the function of an effervescent tablet, among other things. The experience of having to find his way in the jungle of a foreign culture left its mark on him. In addition to inspiration and everyday Chinese, Bürge brought home the work attitude "Anything is possible". He later relied on this not only at Advico Young & Rubicam and Exxtra, but also today at JvM.
Budget holes have not yet opened up at Wolfbachstrasse: "The mood in the office is good, we have a lot to do and the ADC and AME awards of the last few weeks confirm our creative work," explains the Client Service Director. He now wants to help the agency achieve growth, primarily in terms of quality, but also in terms of quantity. "And even if the next adventures don't take place in the snow, they certainly won't be long in coming," laughs Bürge.
Christoph Bürge, Client Service Director at Jung von Matt/Limmat, likes to seek out adventure, both in his private and professional life.
Carole Koch

The Zurich media house Tamedia has lifted the veil on its planned commuter newspaper: a ten-page presentation and advertising documentation are available for download on the website of the Zürich Express, which will be transformed into the Express on March 24. The front page of a zero number and two news double pages with dummy text are shown. The direct link to the documentation: www.express.ch/nwo1.html

The dispute between the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) and Tele 24 over the accounting documents of the discontinued broadcaster has been settled: OFCOM had documents confiscated in order to clarify irregularities in the declaration of advertising income. Former station boss Roger Schawinski then had the documents sealed and lodged an appeal with the Federal Supreme Court. The parties have now reached an agreement, as Tele-24 lawyer Armin Zucker confirmed in press reports. The sealing has been lifted and Bakom is allowed to study the documents for five weeks. Tele 24 is withdrawing its appeal.

Print Gravity Theory in honor, but aging bodies are not the best examples for illustrating the force of gravity. It's nice when "Mr. and Mrs. Senior with a zest for life" enjoy their own bodies, but do we really have to see what's coming? On the other hand, there's probably no better reason to sign up for the Fitness Aerobics Jane Fonda stretching program right away. Maybe it's not too late to save a piece of your eternal youth. Why on earth all this excitement? Because this photo series kicks off the current trendy lifestyle magazine Massiv. A publication that promotes fashion and design under the motto "The Swiss Inspiration: Lifestyle Tank". Target group: toned bodies of all colors and genders. The meaning and purpose of this black and white photo series, which is probably more baffling than fascinating, is unclear. And I can only repeat: eroticism has nothing to do with nudity, any more than gravity has anything to do with senior lust. (ck)

Shopping center It is slowly becoming fashionable to advertise fashion without fashion, and the Shoppi&Tivoli shopping center is using an exercise bike on the F12 poster instead of chic clothes to promote the new spring fashions. "Maybe it's necessary to work off the winter fat quickly for spring," says Ruedi Wyler.Trendy exercise bike by Wyler.

What is right for consultants and creatives, marketing specialists, photographers, media experts, advertising clients or journalists, is more than just cheap for exhibition designers and event makers.They too have their own navel-gazing, called the Xaver Award. For the second time these awards for expo and event marketing were presented last week. The organizers from the Association of Swiss Expo and Event Makers chose the "Deep" musical hall on the Maag site as the location and didn't show any merit. Apparently they had learned from the (few) mishaps at the Kick-Off event in 2002: There was no crowding in the entrance area (where last year one had to exercise a lot of patience because the conditions were similar to a pop concert). Food was available right from the start, and there was enough space for all visitors. Only the start of the award show block was somewhat delayed, but Vox presenter Andrea Kempten handled it all the more confidently. There is, however, one point of criticism: The distribution procedure was a bit lengthy after all.
However, this temporary extension caused zero problemo, because one could fortify oneself immediately after the one and a half hour dry break with appetizers passed around and at various bars. Christian "Bossi" Bosshard, Lord of the Bars at the Xaver event, had international celebrities flown in for the occasion. Thomas Costal, the Austrian and European bartending champion, stood behind the most prominently positioned bar. His skillful compositions of sweet fruit juices in combination with high-proof additions caused the brightest enthusiasm and actually deserved an extra Xaver.
The prizes will be awarded in two main categories, exhibition stand construction and event, each with three subcategories, one of which is reserved for budgets of less than 75,000 Swiss francs. This gives even smaller projects a fair chance of winning. The fact that 20 of the 46 submissions were nominated for an award may seem like a lot to some of the attendees at the fete - but this apparent inflation of possible award winners is quite acceptable, considering that the Xaver Award was held for only the second time. In the future, it would certainly not be detrimental to the reputation of the award to set the bar a little higher here. By the way, the award winners can all be seen at www.xaver award.ch.
Last week, the advertising agency FCB Leutenegger Krüll (FCBLK) surprised its guests not with event theater, but with a theater event. The venue was the Theater Neumarkt - incidentally a client of FCBLK. The reason for the celebration was the tenth anniversary of the partnership between Peter Leutenegger and Mike Krüll. A decade ago, the two creatives started out under the name Werbeagentur Dubach, before the company became Bozell Leutenegger Krüll when it joined an international network.
The agency got its current name after the True North advertising holding company decided to merge its Bozell and FCB networks at the end of 1999. The former communications group then even made a takeover bid for the communications holding company Cordiant, but was itself swallowed up by its competitor IPG within a year. And FCB, by the way, is called Foote Cone Belding - even though the management has often been asked whether Basel Football Club has now bought its own agency, as media director Christoph Meier reported with a smile. Which would not have been a bad investment at all, given the current standings in the current championship and the Champions League participation.
The historic rooms of the Altstadthaus diagonally opposite the "Kantorei", which also serve the venerable Hottingen guild as dining and drinking rooms, filled up quickly. And for once, it was an advantage that the customer was constantly making a fuss. After the aperitif riche, the play "Stabat Mater/Unimpressible Change" was shown, directed by theater director Otto Kukla, with co-director Crescentia Dünsser on stage. Although not entirely light fare, the performance was able to inspire - as measured by the applause of the guests.
It was not a theater play in the classical sense (which is not necessarily expected in Neumarkt - according to reliable sources, the Pfauenbühne is responsible for that). The play of the actors, video projection and live music merged into each other without simply ending up in a multimedia stage show. Rather, one saw a kind of laconic, self-contained chamber play. The most appropriate expression would be animated installation with real action.
To indulge in the lighter fare again, there was the subsequent "Absackete" at the theater bar. One could once again romp around in the crowd, because the guests of FCBLK didn't want to go home right away.
Masters of the Bardesk: Mixer Tommie Svensson, Barchef Bossi and European Bartender Champion Thomas Costal (from left) from Austria.
Attention, power women action: Kimberly Leemann, Josy Fernando and Annette Weisskopf (from left) from the event agency Action Agency.
"Public law" peacefully united: Bettina Bussey (l.) of Popfilm with Jürg T. Käser and Astrid von Reding of the TPC.
In Basel, the office on Zürcherstrasse: agency owner Jan Tanner, Tanner Communications, with Katrin Glitsch.
Formerly encountered in the Flumserberge: Susanna Sieber Gerber and ex-hotelier Beat Gerber, now with Roth Events.
Winning prizes at business events: Anita Villiger, Catapult, Tarzis Bono and Silvan Wyser (r.), Head of Communications at Swisscom IT.
From FAF, Freestyle.ch organizer: Erwin Flury (l.) and Celine Korzepa with Sebastian Walz from Rufener Events.
Came almost privately to the event: Conny and Cinecom marketing manager Jean-Claude Bruhin.
The charmer in his element: Sacha Goldstein of All Access with promoters Virna (l.) and Carol.
They get along very well: Euro-RSCG CEO Frank Bodin (l.) and TV advertising uncle Claudio Zuccolini.
Celebrating the Xaver party in the Palm Corner: singer "Roaring" Eve Gallagher with Andreas Lehner, Action Agency.
Winning Xaver thanks to Al Capone: Sibylle Prestel and Joko Vogel of Vogel Szenemarketing, inventors of the Zurich Mafia parties.
They've been together for ten years: CEO Peter Leutenegger (r.) and CD Mike Krüll, FCB Leutenegger Krüll.
Halfway to her sabbatical: Barbara Kohler, Head of Marketing at Publisuisse, with architect Daniel Racine.
Lost on the big Neumarkt steps after the performance: Nadia Salazar (l.) and Sonja Gross.
SW press officer Piero Schäfer (l.) and SW managing director Monika Luck with FCBLK media director Christoph Meier.
Print in the theater: Bruno Blaser, SonntagsBlick, Daniel Strobel, Publimedia, and Hansjürg Klöti, Tamedia (from left).
Kurt Schärer, FCBLK Board of Directors and former BSW Managing Director, with wife Susanna and Helen Gysi (l.) of FCBLK.
Enjoying the extended aperitif riche together: Sibylle Nerz (l.) from Beiersdorf and Kathrin Leder, FCBLK.
Europay advertising manager Dave Jäger came to the theater in Zurich's old town with girlfriend Simone Schäfer, cR DDB Basel.
Convinced the advertising guests with her performance: Neumarkt director Crescentia Dünsser.
Not exactly a spawn of beauty, but still a prestigious award: Xaver glitter ball.
Beat Fritsch under observation. The two beautiful eyes on the left and right could be admired at Xaver'02, the award event of the trade fair and event industry. There was theater with the agency FCB Leutenegger Krüll. To celebrate the ten-year partnership of the two owners, sophisticated culture was offered in addition to a sophisticated aperitif.
in front of us. Where the communications, media or publishing industry meets for its events, we locate at the most diverse events on the scene. Do you already have something to report? Pick up the phone (01 296 97 98) or hit the keys ([email protected]). Event tips and occasionally more shortlist pictures are available online at www.werbewoche.ch.

Women's magazines With a slight wink, Alex Schmid advertises Edelweiss The Zolliker advertising agency Alex Schmid created print and poster motifs on the topics of relationships, lifestyle and career. According to Edelweiss publishing director Daniela Bahnmüller, the target group for the campaign, which also includes cinema and TV commercials, is "urban-living, 25 to 40-year-old women with a high income and good education". The magazine, which was published for the first time on February 26 with a circulation of 60,000 copies, finds itself in a nasty environment: Swiss-German women's and fashion magazines acquired just 155 advertising pages in January - 134 fewer than in the previous year. (sk)

Service When you say CD, you don't always mean music. It could also be an advertiser. Creative director is the name of this advertising term, and what is a claim? For the friends of Scholz & Friends, this idiom peculiar to advertisers has now given rise to a new dictionary. "Werbisch" is the title of this witty reference book for clients and laypeople, which allows advertisers to poke fun at themselves.