Sven Forster joined the company as a news journalist in 2018 20 minutes. In 2021, he moved to the sports department. At the beginning of 2024, he was promoted to deputy head of department and also works as a page editor. Before that, the graduate of the Ringier School of Journalism worked at the View and as part of his training as a trainee for ZDF in New York.

Forster impresses with both his professional and social skills and has the "ambition to further develop 20 Minuten's sports reporting and strengthen it with targeted personal contributions", according to a press release from 20 Minuten.

Distribution desk established

Because distribution channels such as social media, SEO, DOOH and digital distribution marketing are becoming increasingly important, the 20 minutes established a distribution desk. This is intended to ensure the coordinated distribution of content on these channels. The aim is to increasingly reach target groups outside of the print and online offerings of 20 minutes to reach.

Lucas Orellano will take over as Head of the new desk on September 1. Lea Sulzberger, who will continue to head the Social Media Distribution team within the new distribution desk, will become Deputy Head of the Distribution Desk.

Lucas Orellano has been with the company since September 2020 20 minutes. He initially worked as an editor on the newsdesk. From October 2021 to April 2024, he was head of the Bern department, and in the meantime also interim head of the Lucerne department. Since April 2024, he has been working as a journalist. Before his work at 20 minutes was Lucas Orellano, who has a Master's degree in English and German studies, at the news portal Nau as a journalist.

Lea Sulzberger joined the company as Social Media Manager in mid-2022 20 minuteswhere she was promoted to Deputy Head after just one year and to Head at the beginning of 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Media Engineering with a specialization in Digital Communications Management. Prior to this, Lea Sulzberger worked as a social media manager at Ringier and in online marketing at Homegate.

In its evening information program "Forum", Radio RTS held a debate with four of the six candidates standing for election ten days before the second round of voting on November 12. One candidate from the "Liberté - Le Peuple d'abord" list who was not considered complained.

The UBI found that the exclusion gave the impression that there were only four candidates. The two candidates on the "Liberté" list were not mentioned at all. This violated the information principles of program law, according to which increased journalistic due diligence must apply in the sensitive period before elections.

According to the UBI, the fact that the two candidates were mentioned elsewhere in the radio program did not change this. The UBI reached its decision unanimously. It rejected four other complaints. UBI decisions can be appealed to the Federal Supreme Court. (SDA)

Wealth management is a highly individualized offering that is difficult to communicate. This is mainly because many people believe that wealth management is out of the question for them due to their financial situation. The task that Glarner Kantonalbank GLKB set Ammarkt was to dispel these prejudices and open the door to everyone.

Not all rings are the same

To achieve this, the agency chose an implementation that picks up potential customers in their personal situation. Associating everyday objects are used to communicate quickly and clearly. "Whether someone can afford a cheap costume jewelry ring or a high-end ring in the upper price range is irrelevant for our wealth management," explains Philippe Haller, Head of Marketing at Glarner Kantonalbank.

A theme was also designed for the varying security needs of investors and their current life situation. "Glarner Kantonalbank has been pursuing the approach of 'democratizing' its product portfolio for years in order to allow as many of its customers as possible to participate in services for which the entry hurdle at other banks is sometimes much higher. This campaign communicates this message perfectly and with a little smile," says Haller.

Client: Glarner Kantonalbank. Conception and realization: Amarket.

There will be a personnel change in the editorial management team at CH Media's reach portals division. In addition to his role as Editorial Director of PilatusToday, Raffaele Wiler will assume disciplinary responsibility for around 30 employees at the other five locations of the Today portals in St. Gallen, Aarau, Zurich, Bern and Solothurn at the beginning of July 2024. The previous editor-in-chief Dr. Christian Ortner is leaving CH Media.

"After nine exciting years, first as the initiator of the Today idea and then in various management positions, the time has come to tackle something new. From zero to seven million monthly visits with now six regional news portals is something I am very proud of," says Dr. Christian Ortner, Editor-in-Chief of the Today portals.

CH Media's reach portals division generates around 80 million page views per month and comprises Watson in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland, FM1Today in St. Gallen, PilatusToday in Lucerne, ArgoviaToday in Aarau, ZüriToday in Zurich, BärnToday in Berne and 32Today in Solothurn.

The two long-standing media and communications experts Ahmad Hoteit and Ben Moser have founded an agency in Zurich together with the Pilot agency group. Pilot Suisse aims to optimize the impact of budgets with creative media ideas and individual support, thus giving advertisers an advantage over the competition. The agency primarily targets "Swiss challenger brands", as it is called, and relies on "innovative approaches in areas such as geomarketing, retail media, integrated moving image advertising and creative optimization". The agency has access to the full range of services offered by the Pilot agency group.

Pilot Suisse also acts as the Swiss location of "Local Planet", it continues. In this international network, independent media agencies work together to develop solutions for complex tasks relating to international media planning.

The media agency's launch clients include the jewelry store Graff Diamonds and the manufacturer of large household appliances Haier.

Experienced managing directors

The two managing partners Ahmad Hoteit and Ben Moser have been active in the Swiss market for many years and have an excellent network in the industry as a well-established team: Ahmad Hoteit has worked in various global media networks since 2007 - most recently at MediaCom Switzerland as Managing Partner. "For me, expertise, leadership, credibility and effective communication are the essential foundations for a trusting and long-term collaboration," explains Hoteit. "We are determined to bring brands to the top with the courage to break new ground, passion and innovation. Advertisers in Switzerland often lack appreciation and creative solutions - we are changing that! Because the modern media landscape offers immense opportunities for growth, both in digital and traditional media. We make this potential visible with a determined challenger mentality. Even with a small budget, a dedicated team can achieve great things. And because this is our aspiration, our customers always speak to experienced professionals."

Ben Moser also comes from MediaCom Switzerland, where he was CEO for many years. In total, he can look back on over ten years of experience in the Swiss marketing and media industry. "As an owner-managed agency, we understand the specific challenges and concerns that our clients face in the Swiss market," says Moser. That's why our collaboration begins long before the media briefing - holistically, in partnership and with a broad marketing perspective. This is the only way we can develop solutions together with our clients that lead to the best possible results."

Fewer and fewer FM receivers are still in use in Switzerland. The remaining, pure FM usage is stagnating at less than ten percent. This confirms the forecast that DAB+ will become the new radio standard, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) continued. According to the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), the share of digital radio usage in spring 2023 was 81%.

In addition, the maintenance of FM antennas and investment in their renewal are expensive and disproportionate, SRG also announced. In view of SRG's strained financial situation due to declining advertising revenues and inflation, further investment in outdated broadcasting technology is therefore no longer justifiable.

With DAB+ and the Internet, there are two digital reception options that offer better sound quality and a larger selection of programs, are more energy and cost efficient and can provide additional information in text and images.

New cars with DAB+ as standard

To be able to receive DAB+, you need a corresponding device or an adapter. New cars have been equipped with digital technology as standard for several years. In addition, the Federal Roads Office Astra will upgrade all tunnels on the national road network for digital radio reception by the end of the year and also switch off the FM antennas.

However, there is also a solution for older FM models in cars: most old FM car radios have an AUX/IN connection. The radios can be equipped with a simple adapter via this port, which allows you to receive DAB+.

The same applies to old stereo systems. The latter also usually have an AUX/IN connection. With small household radios, however, it is usually no longer worth buying an adapter. DAB+ radios, which are now not too expensive, are also an alternative here.

Either way, you have a choice when buying a new radio for your home: some radios only receive DAB+, while others can also be used as an internet radio. Internet radios can be connected to your own router or LAN cable via cable or WLAN. The advantage of Internet radio: Compared to DAB+, there is a much larger selection of stations that can be received.

In October 2023, the Federal Council extended the FM radio licenses for the radio industry for the last time - until the end of 2026. After that, radio stations in Switzerland can no longer be broadcast via FM and only digitally. Originally, FM was to be switched off throughout Switzerland by the end of 2024. With the last extension, the radio industry will have the desired flexibility to successfully complete the migration process from analog to digital radio, Bakom announced at the time. (SDA/swi)

Mandranova is an estate in Sicily that has been run for six generations. On the hills of Palma di Montechiaro in the province of Agrigento, the Di Vincenzo family cultivates an almond plantation and produces high-quality olive oil. Their activities as a farm and boutique hotel focus on respectful treatment of people, animals and nature. Investments are made in innovative and resource-saving olive oil production processes.

As part of its social commitment, Mandranova launched the "Artist in Residence" project over 20 years ago. For two weeks, contemporary artists enjoy hospitality at Mandranova. This year, Swiss artist Beat Zoderer is taking part in the project. His works created on site will be on display at Mandranova until the end of 2024. The exhibition is curated by Rachel Schilirò, who looks after clients in the area of corporate responsibility at Flowcube. In Switzerland, Beat Zoderer is represented by Galerie lange + pult.

The expert jury, consisting of 14 personalities from advertising, culture and design, examined and evaluated the 163 competition entries. The shortlist of 30 nominated campaigns has now been finalized. They were selected in five categories for their originality of idea, novelty, striking implementation of the advertising message, communicative sustainability and graphic and design execution.

The shortlist shows different clients and areas of application for OOH media and ranges - just to name a few examples - from an eye-catching image concept that invites sighted people to immerse themselves in the sensory world of blind people, to a vegan condom brand that literally advertises with sausages, to the tongue-in-cheek security shots of a construction company that addresses night-time thieves on building sites as new employees.

The sixth category, "Out of Home Innovations", recognizes work that rethinks outdoor advertising, including in international competition. In 2024, none of the submissions met the high requirements. "This is why the jury is not presenting an award for innovation this year," explains Christian Brändle, jury president and director of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich.

Award show on September 19, 2024

The final winner of the gold, silver and bronze awards as well as the overall prize across all categories for the "Campaign of the Year" will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Woohw! event on September 19, 2024 in Zurich.

SOOHA shortlist 2024

Once again, Switzerland Tourism was the big winner with two Gold, one Silver and a Grand Award, the highest award, for the spot "Grand Train Tour of Switzerland. The Ride of a Lifetime", produced by Wirz and Tuna Production. The film follows brand ambassador Roger Federer and comedian Trevor Noah, who are supposed to be filming a commercial for rail travel in Switzerland, but then get on the wrong train (Werbewoche.ch reported). "A clever use of star power to promote a country in a meaningful way. The on-camera chemistry between the two is outstanding," said the jury, praising the duo Roger Federer and Trevor Noah.

However, other film productions were also extremely successful. Seed Audio-Visual Communication won three silver awards, Guave Motion two silver awards and Maybaum Film and Swiss Life one silver award each.

In the short term, "SRF 4.0" aims to cut jobs in order to ensure a balanced budget from 2025 onwards. Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) went on to say that the move was not connected to the supra-regional cost-cutting measures within SRG that would become necessary as a result of the political processes.

This was triggered by a further decline in commercial revenues and inflation: "The partial discontinuation of the inflation adjustment as early as next year and the reduction in fees from 2027 will further reduce our financial framework," said Director Nathalie Wappler in the press release. At the same time, SRF will have to adapt to changes in media usage.

Eliminate duplication

Savings are planned within both the audio/digital and video editorial departments. The aim of the adjustments is to exploit synergies between audio, video and digital. A slight reduction in management and assistant positions is also planned.

Following the division of Production and Technology into two independent departments, SRF is also aiming to achieve efficiency gains in processes in both organizational units. This will lead to a reduction in individual positions - including at management level.

Further savings within the Production department could be achieved by reducing orders for third parties and more efficient studio planning. The relocation of further broadcasts to the News and Sports Center (NSC) is also planned.

In addition, a few jobs will be cut across the company in order to eliminate duplication in the organization. In addition, individual formats will be discontinued at low-usage times in the summer, at weekends and outside primetime. There will also be job cuts in the Distribution, Sport and Entertainment departments.

There will also be changes to the offering for under 35-year-olds: In order to reach this age group in an even more targeted way, SRF will produce fewer formats in future, but will provide the remaining ones with more financial and human resources. The overall budget will remain unchanged.

Social plan planned

Natural fluctuation and regular and early retirements are expected to reduce the number of redundancies, the SRF added. A social plan will be implemented for affected employees.

The planned job cuts are subject to the results of the upcoming consultation process, which will be carried out by a staff delegation from the SSM trade union in August.

In addition to stabilizing the staffing and financial framework in the short term, "SRF 4.0" also aims to continue SRF's digital transformation in the medium and long term. To this end, the project team is working on various scenarios for the offering and the future organization until the end of the year. These scenarios take into account the uncertain development that SRF and SRG are facing due to the political processes.

Media associations are concerned

The Swiss Media Union (SSM) and the Impressum association expressed their concern about the announced job cuts on Thursday. Impressum demanded detailed information from SRG on the redundancy plans.

The continuous restructuring and the reduction in programming and personnel must be stopped, the SSM announced. This is particularly important now that the Federal Council's decision to partially revise the Radio and Television Ordinance (RTVO) means that further budget cuts are imminent in the coming years.

Media Minister Albert Rösti recently proposed gradually reducing the radio and television levy (Serafe) for households to CHF 300 per year by 2029. On the other hand, around 80 percent of companies subject to VAT are to be exempt from the levy from 2027.

According to SRG, it is the largest electronic media company in Switzerland with around 5700 full-time employees and an annual turnover of CHF 1.54 billion. (SDA/swi)

Alongside celebrities such as David Beckham and Jean Dujardin, the tennis player from Vaud has also been a "Friend of the Brand" since this year. To celebrate this new collaboration, the Havas Switzerland agency is launching a campaign with "Stan the man" at the center.

Stan x Vertuo as a mini-series

The result is a mini-series in three episodes in which Wawrinka always has to choose between his passion for tennis and Nespresso's Vertuo coffee. The episodes are structured in Nespresso's typical, slightly humorous way and are intended to convey the message: Despite his pronounced love for his sport, he chooses Vertuo over and over again.

Latte art master as guest

The guest in the mini-series is Dario Pieber, Swiss master of latte art and also a "Friend of the Brand". This is his second collaboration with Nespresso and Havas: last year, he helped to create the "Nespresso Vertuo Window" in Zurich.

Responsible at Nespresso: Sandrine Boers-Felder (Brand Content & Sustainability Manager), Irene Balascas (Marketing Director), Dominique Niederhauser (Coffee Ambassador), Lisa Poma (Brand Content Specialist). Responsible at Havas Creative Switzerland: Gabriel Mauron (Chief Creative Officer), Emilie D'Amico (Associate Creative Director), Laura Cros (Art Director), Solenn Laurent (Account Director), Marion Vossen (Account Manager), Camille Delesalle (Managing Director). Production: Raise Up: Joaquim Bayle (Director), Anne Jammet (Producer), Rudolf Mizzi (Associate Producer), Adam Taieb (Associate Producer), Visual Eyes: Guillaume Mégevand (Photographer).

Kernbrand stands for communication with fire. To creatively draw attention to its full range of services, the agency designed and produced its own ginger shot in collaboration with Swiss Production. The core message: "Take a creative shot with Kernbrand."

Execute shots with core fire instead of asking chat GPT

But why a shot? "We wanted to invest this year's marketing budget in an unusual self-promotion. The creative shot is like our agency. Compact, fiery, likeable and inspiring. And provides sparkling ideas - including a dash of rock 'n' roll," explains Oliver Fehr, Managing Director of Kernbrand.

Creativity booster in liquid form

On the new landing page Kreativshot.ch there is inspiration for interested parties in the form of creative tips and information about the agency's services. The shots can also be "ordered" there directly, together with a toast with the core brand team.