The subject of two complaints was the handling of comment columns on online articles by the community editorial team of Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen SRF. The editorial team had not published two comments by the same user due to violations of the company's own netiquette. The community editorial team justified this in one case with "personal attacks" and in the other case with a lack of relevance to the topic. As part of the public consultations, the UBI had to assess whether the conditions for a corresponding interference with the freedom of expression of the user in question were met. In the case of the comment with the "personal attacks", it came to the conclusion that there were relevant reasons for a rejection. The user's comment contained several derogatory statements against the SRF News editorial team.

In the case of the other unpublished comment, in which the user criticized the many Anglicisms and the associated "mangling of the written language in SRF news", the UBI did not consider the conditions for an interference with freedom of expression to be met. The justification of the lack of reference to the topic was not valid, as the online article to which the comment referred contained an Anglicism ("overtourism") in the title and other users were able to comment on this aspect. While the UBI therefore rejected the first complaint by five votes to two, it upheld the second by the same proportion of votes.

Forum: Insufficient information about election results

Radio Télévision Suisse RTS reports on the day's news every evening in its "Forum" radio program. In the edition of 12 February 2023, the broadcaster included a longer report on the results of the government and cantonal council elections in Zurich.

In the popular complaint lodged against the broadcast, it was complained that the listeners had been inaccurately informed about the election results. In particular, the complainant criticized the selection of the people heard and the airtime given to them.

However, due to the essentially correct and transparent information provided on the election results, the UBI considered these complaints to be unfounded. The increased due diligence obligations for election-related broadcasts to ensure equal opportunities apply exclusively in the sensitive period before the ballot. The complaint was unanimously rejected.

The German diet product manufacturer Precon and the Archhöfe City-Mall Winterthur will be relying on the expertise of Zimmermann Communications in the coming year. At the end of 2023, the agency also began work on the launch of the Domaine Les Dryades winery in spring 2024.

These new additions complement the diverse portfolio ranging from local SMEs and start-ups to large, national clients and mandates from the DACH region. "We can look back on an entertaining and successful 2023 and can also be somewhat proud of the very interdisciplinary output across all clients and channels," says Dominik Mätzener, Managing Director Consulting.

The agency also owes its successful start to the new year to the expansion of its expertise in digital storytelling and social media. For creative director Christoff Strukamp, the fact that Precon has also transferred its social media account to the agency on Lake Zurich is proof "that we have not only put together a fantastic and highly competent team in terms of personnel, but that our philosophy of 'create, tackle, implement and finish' is extremely well received in the fast-moving social media sector."

Zimmermann Communications has been pursuing a hybrid working model since it was founded in 2018. The eight employees choose independently when to work from the office in Zollikon, when to work from home and when to work from the global home office. According to owner Rolf Zimmermann, this working model has more than proved its worth. "It is fully accepted by customers and actively practiced by the team. Last year alone, we had temporary branches in Cape Town, Siesta Key, Mallorca, Marseille, Dortmund, Bamberg and New York. The personal responsibility of each individual is impressive."

The successful start to the agency's sixth year is more than just an internal motivation boost, says Rolf Zimmermann. "As an agency, we live from successful clients. My biggest wish for this year is therefore the same as every year: mutual success. For client and agency."

The government of St. Gallen is in favor of a gradual reduction in radio and television fees from the current CHF 335 per year to CHF 300 per year, as it wrote on Friday. However, it is crucial that there are no cuts to regional reporting.

The government of the canton of Thurgau fears precisely such cuts and therefore rejects the partial revision of radio and television fees, as it recently announced.

In November 2023, the Federal Council announced its intention to reduce the fees. The Federal Council's proposal is based on the federal popular initiative "200 francs is enough! (SRG initiative)". It calls for a maximum of CHF 200 per year in radio and television fees. (SDA)

Thanks to the collaboration with FC Aarau and the digital partnership with FC Schaffhausen, Nau Media's sports editorial team will be even closer to the clubs in future and will also report on their youth divisions, according to a press release.

New talk formats with the associations

In addition to increased reporting, Nau.ch is planning to introduce two new talk formats in collaboration with the two clubs: The "FCA Talk" and the "FCS Talk". These monthly discussion rounds will be hosted by Mischi Wettstein, Nau.ch's chief football reporter. The first "FCA Talk" is already online and has Alex Frei, coach of FC Aarau, as a guest.

"FC Thun is already a partner, and now we are also working closely with FC Schaffhausen and FC Aarau. This further strengthens our commitment to the region. Nau's regional pages are becoming increasingly popular and already reach an audience of millions," said Yves Kilchenmann, CEO of Nau Media, in the press release.

With their Lucerne looks" project the city wants to shed light on the number of unreported cases of sexual and anti-queer assaults and harassment. At a media conference on Friday, city mayor Beat Züsli (SP) said that little is known about what really happens. Much is based on assumptions.

The city intends to evaluate the information from the reports on a regular basis. The tool will provide the city with information to develop prevention measures, said city security manager Christian Wandeler.

Need identified

For its "Luzern schaut hin" project, the city adopted a reporting form that is already used in Zurich and Bern, and took the basis of the campaign from Geneva. Lena Greber, Co-Head of the Gender Equality Office, said that in Zurich and Bern there are an average of two to 2.5 reports per day. This shows that there is a need.

In Zurich and Bern, it is mainly hostility related to gender or sexual orientation that is reported. Most incidents occur on the street or on public transport. These tend to be "annoying things" rather than criminal incidents, said Greber.

Anonymity is guaranteed

The form can be completed by both victims and witnesses. According to the city, they remain anonymous. The form records what happened, who harassed the person and when and where the incident took place. The purpose of the harassment is also recorded.

Reporting an incident is not the same as reporting it to the police. However, the reporters receive information on where they can get help or make a report.

Promoting civil courage

According to the city's press release, the campaign aims to bring about social change so that sexist, queer-hostile and sexualized violence as well as border crossings in public spaces are recognized and not tolerated. The promotion of civil courage is also part of the project, it said.

The city works with various organizations to ensure that the "Luzern schaut hin" campaign is broadly supported and well known. One of them is the Bar and Club Commission. (SDA)

The foundation manages the vested benefits and pension fund assets of around 1.5 million people on behalf of the Swiss Confederation. To make it easier for these and other users to find their way around, the Zurich agency Bühler & Bühler worked with the foundation to redesign the website. Designs were renewed, texts revised, content reorganized and areas expanded. The existing online services are now clearly structured and easy to find in the navigation. "The fresh digital face shows what we are: a modern pension fund with a wide range of tasks," explains Claudia Imhasly, Head of Communications at the LOB Substitute Occupational Benefit Institution Foundation.

The core element of the new website is the career portal. It conveys to jobseekers what they can expect from the foundation: modern, centralized workplaces, lively team spirit, exciting activities and flexibility. This makes the portal an important tool for employer branding. "Positioning ourselves as an attractive employer on the website is crucial in times of a shortage of skilled workers," says Isabel Diaz, Head of HR.

The desired image transfer has been achieved with the new website and imagery: "We have succeeded in designing an open, clear and attractive online presence for the foundation. This gives it a completely new public image," says Salvatore Viola, Digital AD at Bühler & Bühler.

Responsible at the BVG Substitute Occupational Benefit InstitutionClaudia Imhasly (Head of Communications), Isabel Diaz (Head of Human Resources), Marco Spescha (Team Leader IT Application Development). Responsible at Bühler & Bühler: Vasco Bickel, Salvatore Viola (Art Direction), Doris Bühler (Creative Direction), Raffaela von Gunten (Account Direction), Sarah Loosman (Design), Laura Weiss (Text), Luca Zwyssig (Consultant). Responsible at Webpresso (programming): Roland Liechti (Managing Director), Jens-Uwe Eschenbach (Full-Stack Developer), Michael Wüthrich (CMS system).

The Superocean Heritage '57 Highlands Capsule collection is all about style and function. In a four-part video series, an atmospheric image film and a series of images, Marty-Trezzini places the four watches in the collection at the center of the storytelling. Playful, dreamy shots are intended to inspire viewers to rediscover their own curiosity and thirst for adventure with Breitling.

"From the moment you set off in a tweed jacket and wool sweater, to a day on windswept cliffs, to returning home to a warm fire, the dog by your side. The Highlands Capsule collection is made to accompany you every step of the way," says Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling.

Responsible at Breitling: Natacha Matter (Brand Communication Project Lead), Aileen Doan (Brand Communication Manager), Laura Amarelle (Head of Brand Communication), Julia Hülmbauer (Social Media Manager). Responsible at Marty-Trezzini: Yves Marty (Producer & Director), Alix Gerber (Art Direction), Jonas Steinbacher (DoP), Yves Bachmann (Photography), Tim Rüegg (1st AC), Jennifer Tschugmell (Styling), Claire Boutellier (Hair & Make-up), Letizia Abbatiello (Hair & Make-up), Francesca Kleinstück (Coordination), Leon Frielingsdorf (Best Boy), Emil Maeder (Photography Assistance), Joel Plattner (Lighting).

Before young people can change certain parameters on Instagram, they will in future have to obtain their parents' consent via the app, the US company explained on Thursday. In future, underage users will have to have their parents' explicit permission to switch their account from private to public, among other things.

The Meta Group includes Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, among others. The company has been heavily criticized for not protecting its users enough, especially children. With the changes that have now been announced, Meta wants to "better protect adolescents against unwanted contact", the company explained. In addition, parents should "be able to influence their children's internet experiences more easily".

For years, critics have accused Meta of making it too easy for pedophile users in particular to use its online networks and messenger services to distribute child pornography. More than 40 US states have already sued Meta for what they see as the company's inadequate protection of children in particular. The EU Commission has also opened an investigation into the child protection measures of Meta and other digital companies. (SDA)

Advertisingweek.chFranz Bittmann, you have this week with their study "Swiss children and their outdoor time" and the accompanying campaign triggered a major discussion about outdoor time for Swiss children. How did this come about?  

Franz Bittmann: The mental health of children and young people has been the subject of much discussion since the pandemic, as there is cause for concern. Most of the reporting focuses on the increase in screen time, even at a young age. As a manufacturer of outdoor clothing for children, we have always been irritated by the fact that we almost only talk about screen time, social media or gaming in society. That we all wish it would all become less. But what if society didn't just talk about what children should do less of, but instead talked about what they could, should or should do more of? Outdoor time! Because we firmly believe that a child who spends a lot of time outdoors is simply busier and happier when playing, exploring, climbing and so on - which automatically pushes screen time, for example, into the background or at least reduces it.

What were the most exciting findings of the study?

For me personally, the fact that children in Switzerland only spend around 1.5 hours a day outside in the fresh air was surprising - surprisingly little. This is a figure given by parents of 0 to 12-year-old children throughout Switzerland, an annual average. The 1.5 hours include the journey to school, breaks, the walk to nursery and free play. Not much, is it? The parents themselves also state that they spent much more time outside as children.

What else did you find out?

Two findings: Firstly, that parents are clearly convinced that children who spend a lot of time outdoors are happier, more resilient and more in touch with nature. That they sleep better and spend less time in front of screens. So parents clearly know how valuable time outside is for their children.

And secondly?

That parents name themselves as the most important factor in getting children to go outside more! In other words, you used to go outside a lot more yourself, you know how good it would be for your own child and you know that as a parent you have a big influence on your children's outdoor time. The question is: how do we change this?

Namely?

I therefore believe it is time that we discuss, prioritize and tackle the issue of outdoor time in society. We live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world and have nature practically on our doorstep. Let's make the most of it! Young children clearly need their parents to do this. Older children and teenagers need a group of friends who also enjoy being outdoors. Either way, for me the study is a wake-up call to us all that we need to talk about outdoor time and prioritize it again.

How do you communicate this to people?

By launching the study, we have deliberately started a discussion and have noticed how strongly the topic has affected people in the comment columns of 20 minutes, View, Watson, the Aargauer newspaper and "10 to 10" keeps people busy and moves them. On our Website we have put together various resources that parents can use - books that inspire, tips and tricks on what you can do outside. Many people sometimes lack ideas, which is why parents often have problems motivating their children to go outside.

And what else does the campaign include?

We work with family platforms such as Fritz & Fränzi, Any Working Mom and We parents together to reach as many parents as possible. We are also addressing the topic on our own social media channels, and many topic leaders and influencers have picked up the thread and are taking it further, contributing their own ideas and tips. We are also supporting the campaign with an emotional film that dramatizes how much time our children spend indoors and where they would rather be, created by Tasty Films.

Who is behind the campaign?

We came up with the idea for this mental health campaign ourselves; we had wanted to address this topic for a long time. During implementation, we worked closely with an internal team and external specialists. As a start-up, we have to look at every franc, and we believe that we have found a great solution and maximized the impact. We are really super happy with the campaign.

What happens now?

The discussion about more outdoor time for children is obviously of interest not only to parents but also to many professionals who contact us. We want to continue to motivate these target groups with simple tips and tricks for more outdoor time in everyday life and offer them ideas and inspiration. And yes, if someone realizes that the right outdoor clothing makes it easier to get children out into the fresh air more quickly and that it's more fun outside when their daughter or son is wrapped up nice and warm and there are no chafing seams, then we're happy to point these parents in the right direction. Namuk.com can equip. Because we are experts in this.

Responsible for the campaign: Lena Hering, Melanie Gath, Noemi Andres, Simon Bertschinger, Andreas Huber, Clément Flaux, Tina Birbaum, Franz Bittmann (Namuk); Regula Bührer Fecker (Farner), Marianne Altgeld, Manuel Cariappa-Schwaninger (Link); Lea Fee & Sean Fee (Tasty Pictures).

All findings of the study are on the landing page from Namuk viewable.

The challenging economic conditions, rising production costs and the inadequate profitability of the two weekly newspapers in Lucerne and Olten have become even more acute, CH Media announced on Thursday. A social plan will be implemented for the three employees.

According to the media company, the other eight official publications in CH Media's weekly newspaper division are "currently on a solid economic footing and are not affected by the consolidation".

The City Gazette Olten is currently published on Thursdays and has a circulation of around 35,000 copies. The Anzeiger is the official publication of the city of Olten. (SDA/swi)

The online research for which Mediapulse is responsible surveys the use of Swiss online media on the basis of a continuous measurement system and thus forms the basis for comparability among the participating websites and apps. Twice a year, Mediapulse summarizes the online research data and publishes it in a semi-annual report.

In the past semester, this research recorded the use of 100 web offerings with a total of 238 websites and apps. Cumulatively, these offerings reach 2.7 million people every day, which corresponds to a daily reach of just under 33% of the population aged 3 and over. Over the course of an average week, the number of users rises to just under 4 million and to 4.8 million per month.

The usage data of the recorded offers can be broken down and compared according to various aspects with the help of online audience data. With a monthly reach of 58.4%, men show a slightly higher affinity for the measured offers than women (57.5%). In the 50 to 59 age group, the monthly reach of 71% is significantly higher than in the 15 to 29 age group (50%).

The number of users is stable across the different days of the week. When looking at the average course of the day, it can be observed that online media are present throughout the day, with clear peaks in usage in the early morning at 7 a.m., at midday and in the evening at 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Looking at the last six months on a daily basis, the highest daily values correspond to the late heatwave at the end of August with values of over 3 million users on August 23 and 24, as well as the two political events, the National Council election on October 22 and the Federal Council election on December 13, each with 2.9 million users per day, who spent around 27 and 28 minutes respectively on the respective platforms.

The Mediapulse Online Research records the personal use of the online offerings (websites and apps) participating in the research with the help of a hybrid measurement system, in which the access figures from a traffic measurement are combined with the user data from a standing household panel. The usage of the resident population aged 3 and over is recorded across all end devices (PC, tablet, smartphone) and regardless of the respective usage location (in- and out-of-home). The continuously recorded usage data is published monthly in corresponding market tools and summarized twice a year in the form of a semi-annual report.

On Monday, Jan Waltenbauer took over the marketing management and thus the 16-strong marketing team at Bexio. He succeeds Daniel List.

Previously, Waltenbauer worked for the Swiss Marketplace Group and Swisscom Directories, among others. He was also responsible for Brand, Strategy & Content at eBay in Zurich as Director Marketing Europe and was responsible for various brands in Western Europe in Brand Management, Sales and Media at Procter & Gamble for many years.

According to Bexio, Waltenbauer joins the company as "an experienced leader with many years of extensive marketing experience and a focus on the management and development of brands and products".