During the pandemic, the time of searching and maturing became an even greater challenge for young people. During this time, many set out to find their purpose in life and suddenly found themselves faced with a choice: Friendship or political affiliation.

The half-hour short film "Sandcastles" is about the development of a friendship during the Covid pandemic and was written and realized by up-and-coming Swiss director Hannah Dobbertin. It was co-produced by Blue Entertainment as client together with the Zurich production company Shining Film.

In the film, the two leading actresses devote themselves to their very different roles. Emily is the daughter of a single doctor and has a hard time deciding what to do after graduating from high school, while Chris often feels misunderstood in her conservative family with her acting dream.

At 18 to 30 years old, the comparatively young filming crew filmed "Sandschlösser" in Muri and other locations in Aargau and the canton of Zurich. After an internal preview in Zurich and a public premiere on November 25 in Muri, "Sandschlösser" will be shown as an exclusive streaming premiere on Blue TV from Friday, November 25.

Responsible at Blue Entertainment: Patrick Gantner (Head of Co-Productions), Malte Probst (CPO Fiction). Responsible at Shining Film: Hannah Dobbertin (script and direction), Lia Bayon Porter, Mariska van Lavieren, Miriam Japp, René Schnoz (main actors), Jon Guyer (production management), Kevin Walt (1st assistant director), Elia Grund (camera), Simon Schmalz (sound engineer), Jan Hänggi (head lighting), Nicola Oberholzer (production design). Elia Grunder (camera), Simon Schmalz (sound engineer), Jan Hänggi (head lighting), Nicola Oberholzer (production design), Isabela Gygax (costume), Moritz Bütler (make-up), Nicolas Bechtel (editing), Piero Niggli (music), Bardo Eicher (sound design and mixing), Simon Hardegger (color grading), Nino Ubezio (VFX), Stefan Bircher (co-producer).

For its winter campaign, the SRC Aargau-Solothurn Blood Donation Foundation wanted a fresh and witty approach to what is in itself a serious topic. Young people in particular were to be encouraged to donate blood. The aim was also to allay any fears they might have about donating blood.

Büro A+O from Aarau, together with its network, has implemented this brief under the title "My first time?" in a playful, gaudy and tongue-in-cheek way. In the campaign, younger and older people talk about their first time experiences. For example, Samira: "That was out of full conviction. And that hasn't changed to this day."

In addition to posters, e-panels and cinema spots, the campaign runs specifically on various social media channels. The Stiftung Blutspende SRK Aargau-Solothurn deliberately produced the campaign with partners and amateur models from the region.

Responsible at Stiftung Blutspende SRK Aargau-Solothurn: Nadja Hänni and Fabienne Schurter (marketing managers) Responsible at Büro A+O (idea, creation, implementation and project management): Andreas Ott, Aurelia Zihlmann, Janiva Wittmer. Idea, creation, copywriting: Moor.text (René Moor). Production (director, cinematography, editing)Storyflow (Florian Schindler, Roger Gloor); Photography: Cornelius Fischer.

Besides the daily newspaper Corriere del Ticino, the Sunday title La Domenica and the weekly magazine Illustrazione Ticinese from 2023 onwards, the luxury and lifestyle magazine Z extended from Falkenstrasse to Ticino once a quarter and the Saturday edition of the Corriere enclosed.

Together with the mandate for Le Temps the NZZ marketing organizations Audienzz and NZZone are thus now offering a national range of premium publications, according to their own statements: Corriere del Ticino in Ticino, Le Temps in French-speaking Switzerland and all titles of the parent company NZZ in German-speaking Switzerland and the entire German-speaking region.

Francesco Parisi, Sales Director of the MediaTi marketing agency, which is part of the Corriere del Ticino Group, adds: "After we decided in 2019 to work with Audienzz for the marketing of our digital portfolio, this is now the next step in further developing our joint vision. We are convinced that advertisers and agencies will benefit from this extended partnership."

Lena Berger starts on March 1, 2023 at the Observer as online page maker and deputy editor-in-chief. Currently, the 36-year-old is the editorial director of the online magazine Centralplus ing. Previously, she served for five years as head of the regional association and deputy head of the overall edition of the Central Switzerland on Sunday and for two years at the New Lucerne Newspaper as an editor.

Berger went into journalism at the free newspaper 20 minutes as an intern. Over a period of six years, she worked in various departments and was most recently jointly responsible for the Lucerne edition of the title as deputy editorial director. For the past two years, she has been passing on her practical know-how to colleagues as an MAZ lecturer. She studied psychology at the University of Bern and continued her education at the Swiss School of Journalism MAZ.

For Sven Broder, who will take over as print page maker and deputy editor-in-chief on April 1, 2023, it is a return to the Observer. From 2007 to 2010 he worked as a writer, editor and deputy head of production at the magazine. In addition, he shared with the readership of the Observers for years his "Father's Delights" in the column of the same name. For the last 11 years, the 47-year-old Broder wrote and worked for the magazine Annabelle, most recently as a member of the editorial board, head of reports and production. He started his journalistic career over twenty years ago at the Limmattaler Tagblatt and made stops at the Weltwoche and 20 minutes. The book author studied German language and literature, social pedagogy and philosophy at the University of Zurich.

Zürich Tourism brings Sarah Hofer, a tourism expert, on board and into the organization's management. Until recently, she was involved in tourism development in the canton of Graubünden. Before that, she was head of guest information in the Engadine at Tourismus Engadin Scuol Samnaun Val Müstair.

The athletically versatile Sarah Hofer, who holds a bachelor's degree in tourism from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, will take over a team of around 25 guest advisors in mid-January 2023. The team serves international and national customers 365 days a year. In addition, the Tourist Information with almost 50 tour guides in Zurich offers public and private tours on various topics.

Zürich Tourism is responsible for destination marketing and thus for the tourism brand profiling of the city and region of Zürich as a diverse tourism destination. The tourism organization currently employs over 60 people and is active in the markets of Switzerland, Germany, the UK, North America, Italy, France and Spain, as well as in the growth markets of Brazil, Russia, India, China, the Gulf States and Southeast Asia.

Around 160,000 users in German- and French-speaking Switzerland receive the Migros Magazine newsletter every Sunday. The tips and hacks - from food to household to health - that make everyday life a little less mundane are particularly popular.

The image campaign by Pop Creative Services compresses the content into cheerful, striking visuals that can be used in a modular way, expanded, and combined in ever new ways. The campaign can be seen in banners, on print ads and in the Migros app as well as on social media.

Responsible at the Federation of Migros Cooperatives: Katharina Seckel (project management), Philipp Glauser (overall responsibility), Steve Gaspoz (text French/language adaptation). Responsible at Pop Creative Services (conception, creation and realization:): Roli Hofer, Michi Benz.

Since 2019, the IMM has been offering the "CAS Marketing Technology" and, building on this, has successively expanded its activities in this area. In addition to the CAS, since 2021 the module of the same name has also been available for students in the master's program "Master in Business Administration - Major Marketing". In addition, the study "Swiss MarTech Study 2021" was published in 2021. 

Overview missing

With the founding of the MarTech Lab, the IMM is now going one step further. The results of the study and previous experience with the training participants and students had shown that companies need support in the area of MarTech. After all, marketing technologies are changing rapidly, and the number of possible tools is growing exponentially. Today, marketers can use 9,932 different tools - not counting proprietary, low-code and no-code tools - to launch marketing initiatives. Companies, on the other hand, face the challenge of increasingly dynamic and complex markets. "This and the answer to the question of whether small, specialized solutions or all-in-one solutions should be preferred is now almost impossible for companies to answer," says Marcel Hüttermann, head of the MarTech Lab.

Independent consultants as a success factor

On the one hand, wrong decisions in the use of marketing technologies result in a large financial outlay, but on the other hand, the tools used have a high relevance for the satisfaction of employees and consumers.

Interestingly, most companies today nevertheless try their hand at developing a MarTech strategy themselves (43.9 percent), although decision-making, strategic thinking and goal focus are usually lacking among companies, according to the results of the 2021 study mentioned above. Companies also hardly ever use independent consultants such as universities (4.2 percent).

The MarTech Lab as a solution

Scientifically sound and neutral to all tech vendors, IMM's MarTech Lab aims to help companies reach the next level in terms of MarTech. "It is obvious that the foundation comes at an opportune time, as the study reveals that 78.9 percent of experts believe that the use of marketing technologies continues to rise. In contrast, only 2.82 percent believe that Switzerland is a leader in this field," Hüttermann concludes.

Christmas is the best time to reflect on the essentials and to show your fellow human beings that you care about them. With this in mind, Coop is sending out a message in this year's Christmas ad for more attention and compassion in everyday life, focusing the claim "For me and you." on the importance of being there for each other.

In order to make the immediate effect of this attitude tangible, director Tobias Fueter, together with TBWA\Zürich, has created a film that tells a chain reaction of loving favors. The round dance is triggered by a saleswoman who spontaneously helps a customer in the parking lot load his groceries. Various small gestures follow, passed on from person to person - and even dog. The circle of good deeds closes again with the saleswoman, who is finally also given a moment of happiness by an attentive passerby.

The film was musically accompanied by a dynamic song by Hitmill and will be broadcast on TV in a long version as well as online in several cutdowns from mid-November.

Responsible at Coop: Thomas Schwetje (Head of Marketing / Digital Services), Sacha Zuberbühler (Head of Marketing Communications), Vanessa Finzer (Head of Advertising), Simon Flatt (Head of Media), Luca Schwarz (Head of Advertising Image / Own Brands), Florian Lanovic (Head of Social Media / Campaigning), Anja Nowak (Social Media / Campaigning), Oliver Pursell (Social Media Manager), Kathrin Wullschleger (Advertising POS), Karin Rieth (Head of Media Classic), Lukas Schmid (Senior Project Manager Digital Media). Responsible at TBWA\ Zurich: Manuel Wenzel, Susanne Weeber, Jan Krohn, Susanna Fill, Naomi Gulla, Severin Miszkiewicz, Maude Mahrer, Stefan Orian, Nico Hediger, Massimo Dalla Palma (creation), Esther Ortega, Marija Suvajdzic, Verena Rainer (consulting). Responsible at OnfilmXStories: Tobias Fueter (Director), Michèle Seligmann (Executive Producer), Nicole Spring (Producer), Heike Schreyer (Production), Jerome Lauber (Coordinator Talent/Cast Coordinator), Sandro Rothmund (Production Assistant), Tobias Dengler (DoP), Reto Trösch (Art Director), Patrizia Jäger (Styling), Claudia Mai (Casting CH), DeeBee Phunky (Casting International), Belinda Norcliffe (Casting London), Marko Strihic (Editor), The Frank Barton Company (Postproduction), Maurizio Bergmann (Sound Design), Rémy De Vlieger (Grading), Edoardo Moruzzi (Head of Postproduction). Responsible for HitMill: Georg Schlunegger (Composition, Songwriting, Producer), Fred Herrmann (Mix, Co-Producer), Roman Camenzind (Executive Producer), Noemi Mathis (Project Management). Responsible at TWmedia: Stephan Küng (Overall Responsibility), Manuela Brunner (Media Planning), Pearl Kathriner (Senior TV Planner), Damiano Vitali (Head of TV), Sven Däschner (Head of Online), Miriam Küng (Digital Campaign Manager), Madeleine Huber-Tröndle (Online Media Planner). Responsible at Cover Media: Angelina Belintani (production, casting), Baschi Thommen (scoring).

With Maximilian Baumann, a familiar voice will be starting at Radio 24 in 2023. The 31-year-old Zurich native had already hosted various formats at the private radio station for around five years in the past, most recently the "Abig Show".

The radio and TV presenter, TV producer and trained cameraman has been on air repeatedly with CH Media Entertainment in recent years. As part of the presenter trio of the TV24 show "Ninja Warrior Switzerland" or as presenter and host of the Oneplus original "First Dates". In early 2023, Baumann will take over Friday mornings from 5 to 10 a.m. with a new show that he will produce himself right away. Further details are to follow soon, according to CH Media.

Miriam Marco will also join the Radio 24 team in January 2023. The 39-year-old from Zurich will take over the management of program planning in job-sharing with Pia Gerteis. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts ZHF in journalism and organizational communication, Marco brings broad radio experience. In her radio career to date, she has worked as a presenter, producer and inputter, as well as a morning show producer and news editor at two Zurich radio stations.

The Zurich radio team is also joined by Lea Hilff and Jessica Spescha. Both successfully completed the CH Media Academy. During their year-and-a-half of trimedial training at CH Media Entertainment's talent factory, they learned the journalistic craft and diligently gathered radio experience. Starting in December, 21-year-old Hilff will work as a presenter on weekends and daytime programs as well as a TeleZüri VJ. 27-year-old Spescha already started as a producer last September.

How do you communicate change so that anticipation arises? And how do you communicate innovation so that everyone helps to ignite the rocket? These are the questions the June Corporate Communications agency together with their customers.

"June is the month with new beginnings in the air. And thus also the month in which you can still turn the wheel to make the year successful. That's what we stand for," Nathalie Eggen and Yvonne Samaritani, who lead June as Managing Directors, explain the name. Accordingly, June focuses on companies that want to strengthen their innovative power or are facing a change process.

"Especially in the most innovative country in the world, innovation can be told much better," Eggen and Samaritani are convinced. "Business and science have so many more success stories to tell. That's where we want to support and enable - and, of course, harness the power of the Jung von Matt ecosystem."

The two also want to find answers for internal and external communication issues in change matters. "We live in a world where the only constant is change. Therein lie enormous communication opportunities," says Samaritani. "Corporate communications has become massively more complex in recent years. Also because companies themselves are undergoing a cultural change," adds Eggen. "We bring together all our experience from journalism, the corporate world and the consulting world to provide optimal communications support for change - both internal and external."

June's range of services essentially comprises the fields of media & public relations, corporate publishing, CEO & expert positioning and change & crisis communication. In these fields, June provides strategic consulting as well as concrete support in implementation.

This is what the new Twitter owner Elon Musk wrote in a tweet on Sunday night. He did not provide any further details, for example on how the system is to be better protected against deceptively genuine-looking fake accounts.

Twitter had only on Wednesday implemented the new order announced by Musk in the awarding of the checkmarks. Previously, they were granted to celebrities, politicians and companies after a review by Twitter.

Under the new model, the checkmark is given to anyone who pays eight dollars a month. There is no identity check. The checkmark looks the same in both cases. Whether you are dealing with a previous, actually verified account or a new, purchased checkmark is only clear from a text after clicking on the icon.

Some users created credible fake accounts with the purchased checkmarks - for example, for basketball star LeBron James, the gaming company Nintendo and former President Donald Trump. The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly apologized to Twitter users who were led to believe by a fake account that insulin would be distributed free of charge in the future. An allegedly verified fake account of Chiquita announced that it had overthrown the Brazilian government.

Musk bought Twitter two weeks ago for around 44 billion dollars. Since then, the company has had to contend with the reluctance of large advertising customers, among other things. Advertising revenue recently accounted for around 90 percent of Twitter's income. (SDA)

A parasocial interaction describes a one-way relationship in which a person develops an emotional bond with another person. This is typically a celebrity, an influencer, or a popular fictional character.

This type of relationship could increase the persuasive power of influencers, according to a study by Babeș-Bolyai University.

Collaboration with Influencer

According to study leader Delia Christina Balaban, there are similarities between traditional celebrities and influencers. These are significant, she said, because social media influencers themselves are the shapers and managers of their followings. "We focused on the parasocial relationship between influencers and their followers and the role that relationship plays in advertising outcomes," the study leader said.

For the study, the experts worked with an influencer from Romania who has 12,000 followers on Instagram. The participants saw a screenshot from her profile page and an Instagram story in which she showed how to use the hairstyling product of a particular brand. 190 women participated in the study. 106 of them followed the influencer. According to the study, followers did not report a stronger parasocial relationship than non-followers.

Products increase parasocial relationship

As the study shows, higher product involvement goes hand in hand with a stronger parasocial relationship with the influencer. Followers who agree with statements like "I'm very interested in hairstyling products" and "Hairstyling plays an important role in my daily routine" are also more likely to agree with statements like "If the influencer felt good in the story, then I felt good too." Thus, according to study leader Balaban, social media users who are interested in the posted topic will also build a strong parasocial relationship with the influencer.

More intense parasocial relationships with the influencer are associated with perceived greater credibility - that is, trustworthiness and competence, it is said. Greater perceived credibility, in turn, is often associated with increased intentions to buy the advertised product. Balaban says the advantage of this study is that it was conducted in conjunction with an influencer. "Research that deals with influencers should be conducted in real-life situations." (pte)