The universities of applied sciences FHS St. Gallen, HSR Rapperswil and NTB Buchs are now united under the name OST - Ostschweizer Fachhochschule. Keim Identity had developed a new overall appearance for the merger. (Werbewoche.ch reported).

For the launch of OST, Inhalt und Form realized a campaign that shows in a casual way students from different fields of study who have chosen the right direction. With the motivating call "Go OST", students are encouraged to head towards Eastern Switzerland for their studies or further education. With the aim of attracting as many students as possible to Eastern Switzerland.

The campaign has been running since the beginning of September in the form of posters, advertisements, online spots, display ads and digital outdoor advertising.

IKEA Switzerland introduced a six-week leave for expectant fathers in 2017 and has had the best experience with it. The company has recognized that those employees who are now in the family planning phase cultivate different life plans and set priorities differently than the generations before them.

Positive experience

IKEA set out to move with the times and meet changing needs between work and family life. As a result, the extended paternity leave not only gives employees the chance to build important bonds with their newborn children and organize themselves together with their partners within their new roles and responsibilities, but they also return to work more motivated, relaxed and creative.

IKEA Switzerland does not want to withhold its experience with extended paternity leave from Swiss voters ahead of the referendum on September 27. The effects of extended parental leave on the well-being of employees but also on the attractiveness and thus competitiveness of a company are too clearly positive, IKEA said in a statement on Monday.

Advantages on the market

Aurel Hosennen, Head of Communications at IKEA Switzerland: "Our experience with our leave model for fathers has been very good. Of course, motivated employees and, as a result, more satisfied customers thank us for it. But the longer paternity leave also gives us as a company decisive advantages on the market. Namely, when it comes to remaining innovative and recruiting the best people for the job. Companies that want to play a leading role in their industry depend on this."

The campaign for more paternity leave launched by IKEA aims to explain to voters, in typical IKEA fashion, how easy it is to make an important, society-shaping decision in favor of more family time, more equal opportunities and ultimately more job satisfaction. In the style of IKEA's well-known assembly instructions, voters are told how they can help make the country more family-friendly. The campaign was created by Rod Kommunikation.

At the beginning of the new millennium, just under 40 percent of the Swiss population surfed the web. Today, more than 90 percent are regularly online. Currently, eight out of ten use the Internet daily or several times a day; in 1999, only 14 percent were heavy users. Among digital natives (14- to 29-year-olds), the Internet is used almost without exception - only 1 percent of this age group lives offline. 20 years ago, this proportion was much higher at 39 percent. Even though most offliners are still to be found among seniors aged 70 and over, they have discovered the Internet for themselves in recent years: today, 63 percent of this age group are online users, compared with just 2 percent in 1999.

There are now around 6.3 million Internet users aged 14 and over in Switzerland. The proportion of offline users has fallen: 538,000 Swiss people (8 %) still do not use the Internet.

Internet penetration is steadily increasing for both gender categories: Overall, 118 thousand more men than women still use the Internet in Switzerland.

Internet penetration among 14- to 29-year-olds will soon reach 100 percent. Less than one-fifth of the over-50s still live offline.

As before, the proportion of offliners is highest in the group with compulsory schooling: around one in five is not on the web.

Ubiquitous smartphone

The smartphone is now the most widely used device for surfing the Internet, with 5.4 million users, while in 2013 it was in third place behind the desktop and laptop, with 3.4 million users. The intensity of use has also increased: Eight out of ten Swiss online users surf on their smartphone every day, compared with five out of ten in 2013. WLAN is now standard: 42 percent surf with their cell phone primarily via this connection. 29 percent say they primarily use the mobile network (4G, etc.) and 29 percent surf via WLAN and the mobile network in roughly equal measure.

Smartphone use is still growing steadily among Internet users: the number of smartphone users has increased by around 288 thousand people within a year.

Boom in online messaging services

The activities of obtaining information via search engines, e-mail and daily news are still the most popular. But the greatest increase has been in the number of users of online messaging and telephony services: Whereas 37 percent of respondents said they used these services in 2013, the figure is now 59 percent. Social media are also being used more frequently today: 66 percent regularly romp around on Facebook, Instagram and the like - in 2013, this figure was only 46 percent.

Social networks are the most frequently used, with more than 3.7 million users aged 14 and over.

An Internet phenomenon is inspiring people all over the world to join in: Children's photos recreated in great detail using the original as a model are among the most popular images on the Internet today. They combine humor, nostalgia, affection and a pinch of "weirdness" to create an inspiring form of Internet art. However, people with disabilities are rarely seen in such pictures.

Then as now

With the #WieDuUndI campaign, which can be seen throughout Switzerland from Monday, September 7, 2020, Pro Infirmis is once again demonstrating that people with disabilities must be represented and seen everywhere as a natural part of our society. That's why: when adults voluntarily put on rainbow-colored water wings or throw on a self-knitted sweater in 70s chic, there is only one good reason: they are revisiting their childhood in a funny way. It doesn't matter whether the people have a disability or not, everyone is equal here. For the new Pro-Infirmis campaign, people with disabilities rummaged through their childhood photo albums and show childhood photos that mean something to them and that they wanted to recreate. In doing so, they give a self-determined insight into personal moments from their childhood: This is me. Then and now.

Eight subjects were recreated in a professional photo shoot; partly at the location where the photo was once taken, partly in the photo studio with elaborately recreated backdrops - and always with props that were as detailed as possible.

Those affected don't let it get them down

The new awareness campaign celebrates life. This includes beautiful and less beautiful moments - and the range of all moments in between. At the same time, the photos are contemporary witnesses of our society and are seen by the protagonists in their respective contexts: "People used to hide my arms with a T-shirt," recalls Lorenz Vinzens as he takes stock of his very personal then and now. Or: "With several travelers in wheelchairs, we were sometimes put into freight wagons," says Jasmin Rechsteiner. For the people affected, disability is a life-long reality that demands a lot from them, but they don't let it get them down. This is shown by the subjects of the new Pro Infirmis campaign. They focus entirely on the humanity of their protagonists, on their development and the changes they go through in the course of their lives, just like all other people.

Social media campaign calls for solidarity

From September 7, 2020, the posters will be hanging throughout Switzerland. Other protagonists with disabilities will be posting their then-today pictures on social media and all the pictures, as well as making-of films and interviews with the protagonists, can be found on the Pro-Infirmis website.

Parallel to the poster campaign, Pro Infirmis is launching a solidarity campaign on social media: With the hashtag #WieDuUndI, users can decorate their Facebook and Instagram profile picture and show their solidarity with people with disabilities. The aim is for the inclusion of people with disabilities to become a matter of course everywhere, offline and online. Because it concerns us all.

As in the previous year, Pro Infirmis worked with the CRK agency for the 2020 campaign. In 2019, popular advertising subjects were recreated to show that people with disabilities are not usually featured in advertising (Werbewoche.ch reported).

The goal of the award is to give women and their exciting initiatives more reach and to emphasize the importance of them internationally as well.

"Making the great women and their projects visible is a big step towards more diversity," says Tijen Onaran, award initiator and founder of Global Digital Women. "It's not just the nominees who benefit from the award. As role models, they encourage others to follow their path and realize their ideas."

Together with business journalist Patrizia Laeri, Tijen Onaran led the evening. They spoke with host Anette Bronder, Group Chief Operating Officer of Swiss Re, about current diversity developments in the Swiss digital and technology industry. Before the winners were crowned, Kenza Ait Si Abbou, winner of the 2018 Digital Female Leader Award, encouraged the nominees in her keynote speech on "Lucky or Not?" not to downplay the hard work behind their success.

Award winners

LeadershipBettina Hirsig, CEO Powecoders
Innovation: Nadia Fischer and Valérie Vuillerat, founders of Witty Works
CommunicationLea Hungerbühler, President and Founder of AsyLex

Finalists

Leadership: Arijana Walcott and Sophie Lamparter, Co-Founder Dart Labs; Nadja Perroulaz, Co-Founder Liip.
Innovation: Melanie Gabriel, Co-Founder & CMO Yokoy; Sophie Achermann and Kathrin Bertschy, CEO alliance F
Communication: Gabrielle Lang, CEO Frontwerks and Pointcast.io; Sylvie Reinhard, President of the Board Republik

The magazine will be recognizable on the websites and apps of Tamedia's daily newspapers as a separate section with a special label. Articles will increasingly be published during the week, while a magazine section will be displayed on the front pages of the websites and apps from Friday to Sunday.

Previously, the full magazine could only be accessed via a dedicated website, where subscribers had to log in separately. Now the website leads Themagazine.ch directly to the section The Magazine at the Tages-Anzeiger. Also the subscribers of the Country Messenger, of the Zürcher Unterländers and the Zurichsee-Zeitung as well as the Bernese Oberländers and of the Thuner Tagblattwho do not receive the print edition have access to all articles via their newspaper's websites and apps. The magazine thus reaches a significantly larger audience than before. For subscribers to Tages-Anzeiger, BZ Bernese Newspaper, BZ Langenthaler Tagblatt, The Covenant and Basel Newspaper is The magazine included in both digital and print subscriptions.

The ambassadors prepared the complex content of the public consultation on the structure plan in such a way that all population groups are integrated into the political process and are able to give their personal opinion, whether digitally or analog.

A leaflet based on the storytelling approach and the digital "e-participation" solution were used. This offers the population a simple, digital opportunity to participate in the development process at an early stage and enter into dialog with the municipality.

The e-participation portal of the municipality of Goldach is a flagship project for digital participation. E-Government Switzerland supported the project with a grant.

Although a considerable proportion of mothers and fathers experience a mental crisis after the birth of their children, far too few people talk about it. Those affected often don't dare to talk about their feelings - out of shame, disappointment in themselves and because they want to conform to the image of the perfect young parent: successful, balanced, fit and capable.

They often don't realize that they are suffering from a treatable illness for which they can do absolutely nothing. They have done nothing wrong, on the contrary: those affected usually want to do particularly well. They want the best for their children. The Swiss Postpartum Depression Association has been observing the ever-increasing demand for online information on the subject of postpartum depression for some time now. Every month the site Postpartum-depression.ch visited around 5,000 times by patients, relatives and specialists.

Two thirds access the web via a mobile device, usually a cell phone. The association has therefore decided to offer even more support to those affected in future and is now launching the first German-language app to accompany those affected in a postpartum crisis and help guide them through postpartum depression.

The free "PPD Crisis App" offers the following functions:

• The self-test EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) can be carried out regularly and the results can be saved on your cell phone. The app creates a graph that visualizes personal development during the crisis.
• The diary function also helps to make the good days visually recognizable.
• The possibility of adding menstrual days allows mood swings and hormonal fluctuations to be compared.
• The medication reminder, which creates an entry in the calendar, is particularly practical.
• All addresses of specialists, mother-child facilities or self-help groups are integrated.
• All contact options for the association are listed.
• The app is stored locally on the smartphone. No personal data is passed on to third parties.

The app is available in the Google Play Store and App Store, but can also be downloaded as a PWA app (Progressive Web App) at App.postpartum-depression.ch can be downloaded.

The ZHAW University Library offers a wide range of media and learning resources at the Wädenswil, Winterthur and Zurich locations. The employees support students in all questions concerning research and the acquisition of media. Nevertheless, libraries are considered dusty, especially by new students. With the film, the ZHAW University Library wants to encourage its students, with a wink of the eye, to nevertheless take a closer look at what it has to offer.

The film will be shown at information events and online.

According to figures published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on Friday, 3.36 million overnight stays in hotels were recorded across Switzerland in July. Three quarters of these guests came from Switzerland. The number of overnight stays by Swiss nationals rose by 31% compared to the previous year.

In contrast, the number of overnight stays by foreign guests fell by 69 percent. Guests from overseas in particular stayed away from Switzerland. There were virtually no more travelers to Switzerland from the USA, China and other Asian countries. The decline in guest numbers from these countries amounted to well over 90 percent.

Although there was also a reluctance to travel to Switzerland in the larger European markets of origin, tourists still came. The number of hotel guests from Germany and the Netherlands only fell by around a third in July, while the number of guests from France fell by a quarter. The decline in Belgian hotel guests was as low as 16 percent.

Destinations in Bünder and Ticino benefit

Stronger domestic demand and the continued demand from neighboring countries despite coronavirus meant that hotels in some destinations registered more overnight stays this summer than last year. This was particularly the case in destinations in the canton of Graubünden, which are heavily geared towards domestic tourism, but also in Ticino.

Specifically, in the months of June and July - figures for August are not yet available - there was an increase of around 50% in Flims and Lenzerheide and 27% in Arosa. And in the municipalities on Lake Maggiore, such as Locarno and Ascona, around the same number of tourists were registered in the two months combined as in 2019, with around 15 percent more in July alone.

Hotels in cities remain empty

However, the situation is not so rosy in the cities and destinations that have geared their offers and marketing heavily towards foreign tourists: In Zurich and Geneva, for example, the number of overnight hotel stays in the summer months fell by around 80 percent, in Basel by 70 percent.

In the Bernese Oberland, where many tourists from overseas usually come to marvel at the mountains, many hotel beds remain empty. In Interlaken and the surrounding villages, the number of overnight stays fell by between 50 and 65 percent in June and July. In Lucerne, which traditionally attracts many Asian tourists, and in Engelberg at the foot of the Titlis, 71 percent fewer overnight stays were recorded.

43 percent fewer overnight stays

Overall, the trend towards summer vacations in one's own country only helped certain hotel businesses. In terms of the industry as a whole, the higher demand from the domestic market was in no way able to compensate for the absence of tourists from overseas, the cancellation of numerous congresses and trade fairs and the sharp decline in business travel.

At 13.2 million, the total number of overnight hotel stays from January to July was almost 44 percent down on the previous year. The start of the year was still promising for hotels. However, from mid-March, when the measures to contain the coronavirus were imposed, demand plummeted. Since May, however, there has been a gradual recovery.

ST reacts with offer marketing, more drastic measures are necessary

The tourism organization Switzerland Tourism recognized early on that it is necessary to trigger bookings quickly and on a massive scale and is therefore now marketing offers with maximum booking convenience and price attractiveness. Especially for the cities and the fall season, ST and its partners are responding to the need for short-term and package bookings.

ST and Wirz recently launched the "SwissSwap" campaign to attract German guests to Switzerland (Werbewoche.ch reported). The campaign would meet with a great response in Germany, according to a press release from Switzerland Tourism.

However, special marketing measures are no longer enough in this crisis. Switzerland Tourism is therefore calling for the revitalization of city centres as tourist zones - finally also on Sundays. Not only restaurants, but also retailers should be open on Sundays in the inner-city tourist zones. "Our guests want to experience lively city centers. In winter, the tourist experience increasingly shifts inwards. This means that the cozy city experience of 'Lädele' becomes more important. And this must also be possible on Sundays. Otherwise, I don't see any prospects for city hotels," explains Martin Nydegger, Director of Switzerland Tourism. (SDA/swi)

(Image: Youtube.com)

The former Zug cantonal councilor Spiess-Hegglin justified her application for a ban by saying that she wanted to prevent the author and Tages-Anzeiger journalist Binswanger from writing about her in a way that violated her personality. Binswanger had already written about her in a hurtful way in the past.

Binswanger is working on a book project about the Landammann celebration. Spiess-Hegglin has made a credible case for the measures she requested, the court writes. It was to be expected that the book would concern Spiess-Hegglin's intimate and secret sphere without her will and would thus violate her personality. The court also relied on a tweet that Binswanger had sent.

However, the last word has not yet been spoken. Tamedia, Binswanger's employer, said it would appeal the ruling. The Zug Cantonal Court forbade the journalist from writing about a topic in advance. Such a far-reaching restriction of media freedom is "highly questionable".

Unresolved incidents

What exactly happened at the party almost six years ago remains unclear. From a criminal law perspective, the incidents, which involved a possible sexual offense, are closed. The case grew into a media affair, with Spiess-Hegglin at its center.

According to the ruling, Binswanger is not allowed to publish anything about the reported actions of Spiess-Hegglin at the Landammann celebration. As a sanction, the journalist is threatened with a fine.
Binswanger had opposed the ban, arguing that it would effectively prohibit her from writing about the topic. A ban would be disproportionate, would prohibit her to a certain extent from practicing her profession and would violate her economic freedom.

Contested public interest

Binswanger also claimed that the events at the Landammann celebration had been discussed in detail in the media, also with the participation of Spiess-Hegglin. A publication ban would be censorship against an individual journalist and would not be compatible with freedom of opinion. Binswanger also claimed a public interest in the topic.

However, the court wrote that it was questionable whether Spiess-Hegglin could still be considered a public figure. In addition, violations of personality would not be blunted by repetition. From Spiess-Hegglin's behavior in the aftermath of the Landammann celebration, it should not be concluded that she agreed to a further and more profound "screening of this matter".

The cantonal court did not accept Binswanger's arguments about censorship and disbarment. The journalist could find enough other topics and was not dependent on reporting on the Landammann celebration. Moreover, it was possible for her to write about other topics related to the Landammann celebration - such as the role of the media, the judiciary and politics - but with due respect for Spiess-Hegglin's personal rights.

According to the verdict, Binswanger is to pay the court costs of CHF 10,000 and Spiess-Hegglin a party fee. (SDA)

Senior citizens are discovering the opportunities offered by digital services and are increasingly taking a liking to the virtual world. The study shows that the proportion of internet users over 65 has almost doubled from 38 to 74 percent within a decade. Mobile use of the internet has even more than doubled since 2015 - from 31 to 68 percent. Ten years after the first survey, the usage figures of younger seniors are almost identical to those of the working population.

However, the digital divide between young and old has not disappeared - it has only shifted. Extrapolated, there are still around 400,000 seniors in Switzerland who do not use the Internet. In 2010, there were still over 820,000. Older people who are offline are now clearly in the minority and predominantly over 80 years old. The "onliners" among seniors are decreasing with increasing age: while 95 percent of 65 to 69 year-olds use the Internet, the figure is 54 percent for 80 to 84 year-olds and 35 percent for the over 85s.
New digital offerings on the rise

The curiosity of older people about new digital offerings and apps is growing. Whereas five years ago it was mainly the potential of e-mails and online schedules that was discovered, today instant messengers and gradually health apps and fitness wristbands are moving into the consciousness of senior citizens.

The third national survey also identifies a clear trend in smartphones: In recent years, it has become an important everyday mobile device for information searches and communication. In the meantime, 69 percent of the seniors surveyed use a smartphone, 81 percent of them on a daily basis. Despite this development, television (93 percent) and radio (89 percent) remain the most important sources of information for the 65+ generation. Younger seniors aged 65 to 75 even watch TV slightly more often than people over 80.

Training and assistance remain important

Especially in times of digital transformation, when online services and self-service technologies are developing rapidly, learning and using these achievements in old age is more relevant than ever. "As an organization for the elderly, it is important for us to familiarize seniors with the digital world and open up the possibilities of digitization to them with courses and concrete support," says Alain Huber, Director of Pro Senectute Switzerland. However, there are still older people who have no access to the Internet and digital offerings. "We have to make sure that these seniors are not excluded and lose touch with society," says Huber.

Overcoming social distancing thanks to digital offerings

The importance of digital communication channels for social participation was demonstrated during the Corona pandemic: Many families practiced using apps such as Facetime, Zoom or WhatsApp with their grandparents to stay in touch visually in times of physical distance. "Our experience shows that older people have intensified their use of digital offerings as a result of the Corona crisis and have increased their digital skills," confirms Huber. However, digital aids not only promote the social participation of older people, they also increase their autonomy and mobility. For example, the study makes it clear that seniors feel more independent and self-reliant thanks to the Internet.