The cover of the Observer will now have a calmer design and at the same time be eye-catching. The new structure of the magazine is emphasized by three leading colors: white for background stories, green for advice texts and blue for the various engagements of the Observers such as the Prix Courage or SOS Observer and issue-specific campaigns. In the future, too, the Observer contribute to making Switzerland fairer, more equitable and more solidary, according to a statement.

The first magazine section is dedicated to researched stories, which are given more space and rest. In the middle of the Observers are followed by special topics, such as health or living & building. The third section is reserved for advice texts. A prelude page offers quick utility value. The final section is a fresh and more densely structured advice section on law and health. Tips from the consumer world are also offered as a new feature: for example, a warning list that points out the latest scam tricks, and a short checklist that helps avoid legal mistakes.

Four new columns are intended to shed light on life from different perspectives: Michel Huissoud, who as former director of the Swiss Federal Audit Office knows federal politics better than almost anyone else; Lisa Christ, who as a cabaret artist and satirist takes a different look at everyday life; Shqipe Sulejmani, who as a seconda also sees Switzerland from the outside; comedian Karpi criticizes consumerism with "Five Star Karpi".

The first issue of the new Observers was published in a large print run on Friday.

In the sports news market, Sky has many offerings in the TV sector. Now the platform is trying to gain a firmer foothold in the Swiss market. In this country, the Bundesliga and Premier League can be seen almost exclusively on Sky. At the same time, Sky has positioned itself as a strong news site in both Germany and England. The same is now to happen with Sky Sport Switzerland, especially since the Blue Sport and MySports channels can also be received via the app. Since recently, the website Sky-sport.ch online.

In order to increasingly report on content with Swiss aspects in addition to sports news from around the world, Sky Sport is now working with Viva. With Andy Maschek, Sascha Rhyner and Jürg A. Stettler, Viva has editors who can look back on many years of experience as sports journalists.

For ten years, art transport specialist Welti-Furrer has relied on Ruf Lanz's pointed communication. "We have received a lot of positive feedback from the art scene on Ruf Lanz's previous campaigns," says Markus Maushart, Managing Director Fine Art at Welti-Furrer. "In addition, we have been allowed to transport numerous awards, which has drawn the attention of further art-savvy circles to us. The fact that the campaigns have even been included in museum collections also fits the picture."

In the 2023 art season, Ruf Lanz is now sending art on a journey. Based on the contents of three carefully packed suitcases, art lovers can see which iconic work is setting off for a new destination.

The campaign appears on posters in the vicinity of museums and galleries and during important art fairs such as Art Basel, on its own advertising spaces such as the mega-poster on the Welti-Furrer site on Zurich's Pfingstweidstrasse, on advertisements in art magazines as well as in an art card edition and on the web. Because of the international orientation of the art market in English.

Responsible at Welti-Furrer Fine Art: Markus Maushart (Managing Director). Responsible at Ruf Lanz: Mario Moosbrugger (Art Direction), Markus Ruf, Danielle Knecht Lanz (Creative Direction), Gian Marco Juon (Head of Consulting), Kevin Meier (Consulting Assistance), Armin Arnold (DTP). External partners: Aschmann Klauser, Michèle Aschmann (image editing & post production).

Every year, thousands of young people leave their parents' home and look for their own place in the world. In seven episodes, the new series "Ok Bye" tells the story of seven young people who dare to take the step into a life of their own. Far away from home, without the protective hand of their parents and with a backpack full of dreams and a thirst for action.

From Tarasp to Lausanne, from Lachen to Zurich: the seven short episodes provide an insight into the fears and ideas, future plans and challenges of the young protagonists and thus want to impart valuable knowledge to the next generation and also a way to deal constructively and reflectively with what lies ahead for most of them.

In mid-January, the first short episode was broadcast on the new SRF YouTube channel "SRF Mood". At the same time, the episodes were released online on the Play SRF, Play RTS, Play RSI and Play RTR platforms. In addition, all episodes are available on the streaming platform Play Suisse.

The short reports of the format conceived in spring 2022 were produced and edited by Witwinkel, while Mediafisch was responsible for casting, story and realization.

Responsible at SRF: Karin Zweidler, Manuel Thalmann. Responsible at Mediafisch: Franziska Michel (direction & realization), Matthias Hämmerly (direction), Björn Hering (idea), Bettina Zbinden (realization), Rosa Zimmermann (realization), Miguel Kratzer (realization). Responsible at Witwinkel: Tim Vogt (idea), Lara Hanselmann (direction), Sara Hirner (realization & direction), Valerie Gervik (camera), Florian Hillner (sound), Armon Ruetz (sound), Severin Wirth (camera & editing), Damian Ruchti (camera & editing), Timon Graber (editing), Lena Krieg (editing).

The Goldbach study on the subject from 2022 already showed that advanced TV has arrived in living rooms in the DACH region. (Werbewoche.ch reported). Further insights into the living room and which devices are used how were provided by Aurelie Brunet de Courssou with the pan-European study "The New Life of the Living Room" by RTL AdAlliance. The study showed what opportunities brands have when they position themselves via advanced TV.

Because Dr. Bernd Riefler, founder and CEO of Veed Analytics, was unable to attend for family reasons, Goldbach CTO Jochen Witte presented the users' perspective. He showed how they use the media offering and how content providers can manage this diversity.

And finally, Johannes Paysen, Managing Director of the sell-side advertising platform Magnite, focused on Connected TV in his presentation. He compared the adaptation in different countries, viewing habits and brand perception on Connected TV.

At the subsequent aperitif riche, the guests were able to exchange ideas and network about what they had heard.

"Until now, Online Advertising Day has always taken place at the end of the year. By holding it in February, we now want to mark the start of the digital event year. With today's Online Advertising Day, we have succeeded very well," sums up Stefan Wagner, Managing Director of Goldbach Audience.

This is what the Federal Council wrote in its negative statement on a postulate by National Councilor Gerhard Pfister (center/ZG) published on Thursday. It would make more sense to examine the extent to which private companies could also provide the SRG's services in order to increase the leeway and keep the fee as low as possible.

The Federal Council argues that a second publicly financed information service could not be financed without a significant reduction in the existing share of the levy for the SRG and for the licensed local radio stations and regional television stations. A higher fee for radio and television would hardly be accepted politically.

The Federal Council further states that a new linear radio and TV offering would run counter to the trend toward online and social media offerings. A free online portal would also distort competition.

In the postulate, Pfister wants clarification of whether a second license could be awarded alongside the SRG for a public service mission of radio and television programs and with online contributions in the information sector. The Federal Council should comment on the feasibility of such a service and the financial consequences.

The National Council will now decide on the postulate. (SDA)

The motion entitled "Ensuring freedom of the press in financial center matters" was passed by the National Council's Economic Committee WAK-N by 13 votes to 11. Representatives of the center and SVP were against. The motion calls for exemption from punishment for media work in good faith.

The motion requires the Federal Council to propose an amendment to the Banking Act, if necessary. This is to ensure that the article in question cannot affect media work either through deterrence or criminal sanctions if the journalist:s proceed in good faith.

The freedom of the media guaranteed in the Federal Constitution is important to the Federal Council, as it wrote in its approving response published on Thursday. It declared itself ready to propose any necessary amendments to the law.

The WAK-N had submitted its motion in the course of the debate on two parliamentary initiatives of the SP parliamentary group and Raphaël Mahaim (Greens/VD) on the topic. The WAK-N considered both to be too narrowly defined. However, the majority saw a need for clarification - hence the commission motion. The initiatives were withdrawn.

No collaboration with "Suisse Secrets

Because of a provision in the banking law, Tamedia newspapers, for example, were not able to cooperate in the international research network that uncovered the "Suisse Secrets" a year ago. In the reports, the major bank CS was accused of having accepted autocrats, drug dealers and suspected war criminals and human traffickers as clients for years.

According to Irene Khan, UN Rapporteur on Freedom of the Press, the article in question in the Banking Act violates human rights and freedom of the press. In an interview with the Tages-Anzeiger in May 2022, Khan spoke of an example of criminalization of journalism. Even the disclosure of certain bank data is punishable by heavy fines or even imprisonment.

Next, the National Council will decide on the proposal. (SDA)

In the course of the brand transformation, SportXX already in the fall with a 360-degree image campaign showed how it is helping to shape the future of sports as a sports retailer: with training for the body and training for the mind. "Strong Body. Strong Mind. Strong Me." Now the new positioning is also to be transported into the winter context. Therefore, for the cold season, the communication was moved into a wintry look and associated with this, the activities that take place in the snow were highlighted.

Käslin as a returning ambassador

In addition to seasonal winter images in the TVC, selected digital advertising materials and measures at the POS, Ariella Käslin is also involved again. As an ambassador, she underpins the importance of holistic training. In order to meet the challenges of everyday life, one should train body and mind. This message runs through all channels. Accordingly, not only typical action scenes but also moments full of mindfulness can be seen in the campaign.

Responsible at SportXX: Beat Kronenberg (Head of Marketing and E-Commerce), Simona Maiolo (Group Brand Manager SportXX), Stephanie Tschopp (Manager Media Excellence), Ester Grau Garcia (Head of Online Shop SportXX and Bike World).Responsible at Team Connect: Deborah Buccarella, Franziska Saxer (project management), Gabriel Schuster (concept, art direction), Jehmsei Keo (concept, text), Julia Fuchs, Dilay Bön (graphics), Benjamin Franken (executive creative direction), Sandro Tschuor (overall responsibility SportXX), Peter Petermann, Swen Morath (overall responsibility).

Content marketing and storytelling have been on everyone's lips for some time now. But how does a company get "good" content? What is "good" content anyway - and how can stories be told that stay in people's minds for a long time, strengthen the company's brand and ultimately also sell?

The next Brown Bag Talk of the HWZ Academy will show how content marketing and storytelling can strengthen the branding of one's own company and what it takes to turn buzzwords into successful concepts. This time, Anna Kohler, Co-Editor-in-Chief of m&k advertisingweek.chHeiko Stegmaier from Swissmilk and Stefan Vogler, Head of Studies at the HWZ, moderated by Esther-Mirjam de Boer, CEO of GetDiversity.

The live talk will take place online, Feb. 28, 2023, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Panel information

Free registration

Mario Irminger, 57, has been CEO of Migros subsidiary Denner since 2011 and, according to MGB, has successfully developed the Swiss discounter during this time. Prior to that, he first worked as an auditor at EY for around eight years, then spent twelve years as Chief Financial Officer at Heineken Switzerland. In 2010, Mario Irminger joined Denner as Chief Financial Officer and was appointed CEO a year later.

"We are very pleased that we have been able to appoint a profound connoisseur of the Swiss retail trade with a keen sense of customer needs as the new President of the General Management MGB, who is also very familiar with the Migros culture," says Ursula Nold, President of the Migros Management Board. "We are convinced that Mario Irminger will be able to give additional impetus to Migros' core business with his proactive personality and high level of goal orientation, and that he will be able to move the entire Migros Group forward." Irminger brings extensive, long-standing experience from retail, industry and finance and has successfully expanded Denner's leading position in the highly competitive discount business, Nold added.
Mario Irminger will assume his new role as President of the General Management on May 1, 2023. He succeeds Fabrice Zumbrunnen, who has decided to step down as President of the General Management of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives at the end of April 2023 (Werbewoche.ch reported). The search for Mario Irminger's successor as CEO of Denner is to begin promptly, according to the statement.

The priority task of the new President of the General Management MGB will be to continue to successfully develop the Migros Group and to strengthen and more effectively organize Migros' supermarket business together with the ten regional cooperatives.

Meta also ramped up share buybacks by $40 billion and founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg held out the prospect of further cost cuts.

Zuckerberg said 2023 should be a "year of efficiency" for the Group. The focus is on being "stronger and more nimble," he said. Meta will remove layers in middle management so decisions are made faster, he said. Projects that don't produce the desired results will be stopped more quickly, he said.

11,000 jobs eliminated

Meta had already announced last fall that it would cut around 11,000 jobs. The Group now recorded restructuring costs of $4.2 billion for the quarter. In the current year, expenses are also expected to be lower than previously estimated, among other things due to lower investments in data centers.

Mt business pillars Facebook and Instagram, Meta had already been hit by the cooling of the online advertising market in previous quarters. Now, it said, there have been signs of recovery in travel and healthcare ads. Bottom line, quarterly profit fell 55 percent to $4.65 billion.

Huge loss

Meanwhile, user numbers continue to grow. Facebook now has two billion daily active users - an increase of 16 million within three months. At least one app from Meta was used by 2.96 billion users per day, up from 2.93 billion three months earlier.

Despite the new austerity, the Group continues to let the controversial development of digital worlds under the buzzword "Metaverse" cost a lot of money. The Reality Labs division, which bundles the virtual reality business, posted an operating loss of around $4.3 billion in the past quarter.

This also included restructuring costs, said Chief Financial Officer Susan Li. For the full year 2022, the operating loss added up to $13.7 billion - on sales of just $2.16 billion.

Chief Financial Officer Li reiterated earlier projections that the Reality Labs loss would be even higher this year. Zuckerberg had declared the Metaverse the future of the company and changed the corporate name from Facebook to Meta (Werbewoche.ch reported).

Artificial language intelligence

Zuckerberg now also highlighted artificial intelligence software such as ChatGPT, which can mimic human speech or independently generate images from text descriptions, as an "exciting area." Meta is aiming for a leading role in such technologies, he said. At the same time, the aim is to reduce the currently high costs of computing power for such applications through greater efficiency.

For the current quarter, Meta forecast sales of between $26 billion and $28.5 billion. At least closer to the upper end of the range, this is above analysts' expectations of a good 27 billion. And the Group could thus manage an increase in revenue even after several quarters of shrinking revenue - the comparable figure from the first quarter of 2022 is $27.9 billion. (SDA)

In the course of this, the VSM General Meeting will be held immediately before the SwissMediaForum on May 11 in the KKL Luzern, according to a statement. In addition, the VSM - along with TX Group, Ringier, CH Media, NZZ and SRG - will be hosting the media dinner on the evening of the SwissMediaForum. And as in previous years, the VSM is again organizing a break-out session as a program element of the SwissMediaForum.

Registrations for the VSM General Meeting and for the SwissMediaForum are now possible. VSM members benefit from special conditions.