The ZHAW School of Engineering and its lecturers, most of whom come from industry, offer a highly topical and practical course of study.

Karling conceives, films and realizes a series of films for the School of Engineering that focus on graduates and highlight the advantages of the degree programs in everyday working life.

Two films have already been made, with two more to follow. Karling has also created a film to draw the attention of interested parties to the information events on the Bachelor's degree course.

The films can be viewed in various lengths on social media, YouTube and on the ZHAW website.

During the spring awakening, not only do the flowers blossom, but allergic reactions do too. In Switzerland, around one in five people suffer from such symptoms. The initiative "Your pharmacy. The direct route to recovery." initiative from the health retail sector aims to raise awareness among the population to visit the pharmacy as their first port of call for health issues.

Since March the eye-catching green campaignThe campaign, which was implemented by Andfrank together with the Bündnis Gesundheitsfachhandel association, can once again be seen on prominent advertising spaces throughout Switzerland. The recognizable design and concise claims characterize the visual identity of the campaign and get to the heart of the message: the pharmacy, the direct route to recovery.

With a media mix of offline and online, the campaign will be broadcast throughout Switzerland with a wide reach. Via traditional media such as TV, OOH and DOOH in prominent locations in Switzerland, advertisements, selected influencers, social media ads and banner ads. There is also a strong presence at the POS of participating pharmacies.

Campaign management: Association Bündnis Gesundheitsfachhandel GFH. Responsible at Andfrank (implementation/ concept/ design): Kathrin Summerauer (overall responsibility), Amelie Teufel (consulting), Tatjana Joos (consulting), Vivian Darges (graphic design), Stefanie Hagemeister (media).

Nils Fiechter, member of the Oberwil SVP council, wanted to know from the government how the high costs, in his view, were compatible with the principles of efficiency and economy.

In its answer to the simple question, the government council informed Fiechter that the costs were divided into three blocks. One third was spent on the groundwork, i.e. the strategy and concept.

A second third of the costs were spent on the composition, production and implementation of the audio brand in different variations. The music library contains around 50 files. A final third was spent on licenses to ensure that the audio brand belongs exclusively to the Canton of Bern in the long term and that it is also legally protected.

Overall, the government has always made a conscious effort to ensure that the costs are within a reasonable and normal market range.

The canton's public image is governed by design guidelines. These specify, for example, what the logo looks like, which fonts the canton uses, which colors or which imagery.

These guidelines support the cantonal administration when it comes to the uniform design of brochures, presentations, flyers, posters or the lettering on buildings. The Canton of Bern should be clearly recognizable as the sender at first glance.

In the age of digital communication, audio-visual media products are also increasingly being used. This is why the segment has been expanded. The canton's multimedia content should also have a uniform design and the sender should be recognizable. (SDA)

The TX Group, which is known to the general public primarily for its media brands such as Tages-Anzeiger or 20 minutes which is also known for its Jobs, Riccardo, Homegate and Scout24 marketplaces, increased its turnover by 6.2% to CHF 982.5 million last year. This growth is primarily attributable to the out-of-home advertising company Clear Channel Switzerland, which has been consolidated since April. In organic terms, however, Group sales fell slightly by 1.9 percent, as the TX Group reported in its press release on Thursday.

Increased profitability

The profit figures are significantly better than in the previous year. EBIT multiplied to CHF 71.0 million after CHF 5.9 million in the previous year. The adjusted operating result emphasized by TX management improved by 43.4 percent to CHF 143.6 million, bringing the corresponding margin to 14.6 percent (previous year: 10.9 percent). The SMG Swiss Marketplace Group made a significant contribution to this improvement. In addition, operating costs were kept at the previous year's level despite the Clear Channel takeover.

The bottom line was a net profit of 60.4 million after a loss of 4.0 million in the previous year. "The development in the 2023 financial year is pleasing," said publisher and Chairman of the Board of Directors Pietro Supino.

Shareholders can look forward to a regular dividend increased by 1.70 francs to 2.00 francs. In addition, there will be another special distribution of CHF 4.20 from the cash inflow following the establishment of the Swiss Marketplace Group. A total of CHF 6.20 per share will therefore be distributed.

Marketplaces develop very positively

TX Markets again made the largest contribution to earnings in 2023. The marketplaces and platforms combined in the segment increased adjusted operating profit by just under 16% to 108.0 million on slightly lower revenue. The adjusted EBIT margin of 80.7% shows just how profitable these businesses are. The SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, in which TX holds a 30.75% stake, performed particularly well. Revenue here rose by 12 percent and earnings (EBITDA) more than doubled. JobCloud also performed well again and achieved the second-best result in its history.

Thanks to the integration of Clear Channel Switzerland, the advertising sales company Goldbach grew strongly. Despite integration costs, adjusted operating profit increased. According to the press release, the foundations are now in place for promising and profitable growth in the out-of-home advertising market. Christoph Marty, currently CEO of Goldbach Neo OOH, will take over the management of Goldbach. The long-standing CEO Michi Frank will hand over responsibility in summer 2024 (Werbewoche.ch reported).

Journalistic sectors continue to struggle

The 20 Minuten business segment with commuter media grew slightly. However, margins fell again from an already depressed level. One-off costs for the social plan in connection with the adjustment of the cost structure had a particularly negative impact. The structural change continues to pose major challenges for the company, writes the TX Group.

Tamedia, the business division with the highest revenues, is also continuing to suffer from the consequences of the digital transformation of traditional media. At 3.3 per cent, the adjusted earnings margin (EBIT) is significantly higher than in the previous year, but remains at a low level in absolute terms. Tamedia was able to reduce overall costs through targeted savings and thus improve the result.

With regard to the outlook for the current year, the TX management is being cagey as usual and is refraining from giving a concrete outlook. According to CEO Supino, the starting position for the future has been strengthened in the individual activities. (SDA)

In the three companies, the CEOs and their management teams will now be responsible for the results and will report directly to the Board of Directors of TX Group in future. To support them, as a link to the Board of Directors and to ease its workload, the role of Group COO will also be realigned and is expected to be filled in the second quarter of 2024, the statement added.

Publisher and Chairman of the Board of Directors Pietro Supino will concentrate on these tasks as part of the organizational development that has been initiated and will relinquish the position of Chairman of the Group Executive Board, which he previously also held.

Marty becomes Goldbach CEO

There are also a number of departures from the TX Group's Executive Management: Sandro Macciacchini, member of the Executive Management and Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for Group Services Finance, HR, Legal, IT and Real Estate, has decided to leave the Group, the company announced. He will hand over his function as soon as his position can be filled.

Finally, Michi Frank has also decided to hand over operational responsibility for the Goldbach Group. He will hand over his role to Christoph Marty, currently CEO of Goldbach Neo OOH, in summer 2024. Frank will reorient himself, but will remain at Marty's side in an advisory capacity. (SDA/swi)

The Rhaetian Railway has launched a selection process for the development of its upcoming experience campaign. With their concept TheGuys finally prevailed in the pitch. In addition to the railroad company the still young agency responsible for the communication of Swiss Post's ePost app and other brands.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be able to ride this adventure route with the RhB team. With our upcoming campaign, we want to raise awareness of the leisure offers in the various segments with the aim of increasing the use of the offer in the long term," comments Johnny Grubenmann, Creative Director and co-founder of TheGuys.

The first works will be on display throughout Switzerland from summer 2024.

Anna Kohler: Jung von Matt won the Grand Effie at the Effie Awards 2022 for the Zweifel campaign "Sixth Sense". How Did the agency and the client benefit from this gain?

Roman Hirsbrunner: First of all, it's obvious that the team's joy at winning a prize like this is huge - both on the award night itself and far beyond. The award provides motivation, but also confirmation of the appreciation and involvement of consumers. At the same time, it pushes the intensive collaboration between agency and client even further and, in the case of Zweifel, has further increased the brand's dynamism and paved the way for further, surprising ideas. For the follow-up projects to "Sixth Sense", we have learned a few lessons and gained a lot of self-confidence. Experiencing that creative ideas also have an above-average impact is something like the elixir of life for a creative agency.

For this year's edition, the Effie sponsors have Focus on relevant twelve categories decided. With what considerations were these categories chosen?

We have taken another close look at the work submitted in previous years. The categorization must lead to a better comparison of works in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. The selected categories not only reflect a large number of works from previous years, they should also make it easier for submitters to select the appropriate category and provide specific information on the required criteria.

The Effie Awards have a special position among the awards in the industry, as they focus on the effectiveness of communication and its value contribution to corporate success. Is this still relevant in today's fast-moving times?

The demand for effective communication is timeless. What is constantly changing, however, are the framework conditions. How do I reach consumers in the flood of information? How do I keep them close to my brand? Today's "fast pace" increases the demands on communication - but also constantly creates new opportunities. Those who succeed in this game, not only in attracting attention in the short term and driven by effects, but also in translating the attention gained over time into emotional closeness and transactions, create a real value contribution to the company's success. And wins an Effie. (laughs)

Your personal tip for a successful Effie submission?

Take part in a submission workshop organized by the LSA! And in general: show credibly and comprehensibly in which context - market, competition, previous periods - the work was created, what goals were set and how these were achieved or exceeded. And provide the jury with information as to why the achievement of the objectives can be attributed to the effectiveness of the communication. For example, show that the 100 percent increase in ice cream sales compared to the previous year is not due to a better summer, but also to the campaign.

This was primarily due to an increase in digital subscriptions and represents a new high, as the company announced on Tuesday. The same increase was recorded in the reader market. The company sees this as confirmation of its focus on quality journalism of a liberal nature.

NZZ attributed the growth to investments in the editorial offices in Switzerland and Germany as well as further developments. The NZZ Connect event business closed the financial year with a "very good result", as the statement continued.

Increased sales in advertising

Advertising sales grew by twelve percent to CHF 105.9 million. In the printing business, cooperations and a higher frequency of publication bucked the trend and led to a ten percent increase in income.

Revenue from digital advertising rose by 22%. This is explained by the growth of the digital advertiser Audienzz, which acquired the German online marketer Netpoint Media and the associated digital agency TripleDoubleU at the beginning of 2023 (Werbewoche.ch reported). Audienzz also grew organically in Switzerland. Income from advertising partnerships rose by ten percent, mainly due to the expansion of Sustainable Switzerland.

In publishing, the company maintained its result at the previous year's level and thus at its highest level for ten years, despite a decline in the printing business, inflation, the loss of synergies with CH Media and investments.

The result for the company as a whole amounted to CHF 19.8 million. The significant decline of 6.2 million compared to the previous year is mainly due to the slump at CH Media. This reduced the NZZ company result by 11.8 million francs.

The investment result could not fully compensate for this. In March 2023, NZZ reduced its stake in CH Media from 50 to 35 percent. The Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting the distribution of an ordinary dividend of CHF 200 per share. (SDA/swi)

However, according to the press release, the increase in turnover to CHF 445 million was the result of acquisitions. In addition to the structural decline in the traditional printing business, a slump in advertising in the second half of the year had a negative impact on business.

Additional costs for new business areas, investments in its own IT structure, restructuring costs and costs for cyber attacks also weighed on the result. CH Media therefore had to take cost-cutting measures. Following the consultation process, these led to the reduction of 140 full-time positions. In 2022, CH Media had still generated a profit of CHF 20.7 million.

CH Media expects the revenue situation to remain tight in the current year. According to the company, however, the cost-cutting measures should stabilize the result and allow long-term investments in digitization and journalistic offerings. (SDA)

After a record number of discrimination cases in 2022, 132 cases were reported last year, an increase of four percent, as the Federation of the Deaf wrote in a press release on Tuesday. A high number of unreported cases must also be assumed. Most cases were reported in the areas of work, education, health and the financing of aids.

Deaf people depend on being able to communicate in sign language. Unambiguous communication between doctor and patient is particularly important in the healthcare sector. Misunderstandings could lead to health risks, the report continued.

Deaf people are still too often excluded and denied equal rights and opportunities. However, the protection and guarantee of human rights and fundamental freedoms of people with disabilities are guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. (SDA)

Lena Martschenko, born in 1977, will take over as Head of Marketing & Sponsoring at LUKB on June 1, 2024. She holds a doctorate in business administration from the University of St. Gallen and has extensive experience in all areas of marketing, with a focus on brand management, digital transformation and data-driven marketing. Martschenko brings with her many years of professional experience from marketing management positions at Hilti, Microsoft and Swisscom.

Antoinette Stocker has held various positions at LUKB for over 30 years, including several years as Head of Basic Services & Product Management. She has been Head of Marketing & Sponsoring since 2016 and will take early retirement in mid-2024 once her successor has been trained.

This is the US company's response to criticism from the EU Commission and affected developers, who are demanding that Apple open up the software market for the iPhone even further.

In the past, iPhone users could only install applications from Apple's App Store. However, according to the legal requirements of the new EU Digital Markets Act, large and dominant providers, so-called gatekeepers, must now allow app stores from other providers. This includes Apple. The company approved other marketplaces at the beginning of February, but refused to allow direct installation from the web.

Risks for users

With the new web option, however, Apple is not completely freeing up software distribution. Apple emphasized that all apps must meet certain criteria and commit to ongoing requirements that serve to protect users. At the same time, the company reiterated that it takes a critical view of the DMA's requirements. Compared to alternative marketplaces, distribution via the internet exposes users to even more risks that need to be eliminated.

While the new installation option will be introduced later this spring, two other changes are effective immediately. Firstly, Apple is loosening its control over how developers are allowed to advertise alternative payment methods and special promotions within the app. Previously, Apple had provided sample wording and design templates, which many developers found to be off-putting warnings. In future, app providers would be able to adapt the language and design of the links for promotions and offers to their own requirements.

Alternative marketplaces

A minor change to the app guidelines also stipulates that alternative marketplaces can offer a catalog of apps that originate exclusively from the marketplace developer. This was previously not possible.

Last week, Apple allowed developers to switch from the new conditions with more options back to the previous model with distribution only via the company's own App Store. However, this is only possible once - and only as long as the developers are not yet distributing their apps via alternative marketplaces. (SDA/swi)