The partnership between Transports publics de la région lausannoise, abbreviated TL, and APG|SGA now covers the entire exterior and interior of TL's more than 220 vehicles, as well as the Lausanne-Echallens-Bercher-Bahn LEB, for which TL is also responsible.

This includes around 620 digital TrafficMediaScreens, 2800 hanging boxes, more than 3800 window banners and all analog outdoor surfaces. Previously, the outdoor area had been marketed by TP Pub and the indoor area by APG|SGA.

The new overall contract for all areas is valid for a period of five years. The monetary aspects were weighted at 60 percent; in addition, various qualitative and sustainability criteria were decisive for the evaluation.

Independent media are an important foundation of direct democracy and therefore indispensable in Switzerland, the committee said. The population must be able to form a free opinion and receive reliable and balanced information. There is therefore a need for diverse, well-founded and also critical reporting.

The diversity of the media is also important, especially at the cantonal and municipal level. According to the committee, local and regional media contribute to debates and cohesion in Switzerland with their reporting. This is an important public service.

"A 2018 study by the University of Zurich shows: The less the media report on local politics, the lower the voter turnout in the municipalities," Bernese SP National Councilor Matthias Aebischer told the media in Bern. The decline of the media threatens democracy, he said.

The poster for the referendum campaign shows the national hero William Tell, with a newspaper in his hand as a weapon, fighting for freedom of speech and against "fake news.

Switzerland mired in media crisis

However, the committee is convinced that this function, which is relevant to democracy, is acutely endangered. Falling advertising revenues and the digital transformation pose major challenges for the Swiss media. "While 20 years ago the press was still earning almost two billion Swiss francs a year from advertising, today it is just one fifth of that, around 400 million a year," said Aebischer.

Internet giants such as Facebook, Google and TikTok are on the rise and are competing with Swiss media, the report continued. The Corona pandemic has further aggravated the situation. Quality journalism is lacking money, the number of media titles is declining and media diversity is decreasing. In short, Switzerland is in the midst of a media crisis.

That's why, according to the committee, there is a need for some kind of bridge financing that would allow investments in new business models. "The support in the media package is manageable, limited in time and proportionally supports the small, regional and local media companies much more," said Martina Gammeter, publisher and corporate director of the Engadine Post. The law helps to secure the journalistic offer in the regions.

State and media separated

The committee further argues that the media package does not impose any conditions or performance mandates on publishers. The state and the media remain clearly separated. Moreover, media "from the left to the right" and radio stations would be supported, as would online media. Press subsidies have been a tried-and-tested instrument for decades and have existed since 1849.

"No money is going into the coffers of the publishers, but to the post office and other delivery companies, making the delivery of newspapers and magazines to households cheaper," said Roland Fischer, a member of the Lucerne GLP National Council. For Josef Dittli, member of the Uri FDP, the media package is "a liberal solution" because it is based on how the companies exist in the market.

The "Yes" committee for media funding "Freedom of Expression" includes the Swiss Media Publishers Association VSM, around 90 parliamentarians from all parliamentary groups with the exception of the SVP, and 20 organizations, such as the Maz School of Journalism, the Consumer Forum and the Foundation for Media Diversity.

Parliament approved the media subsidy in the summer session. Over seven years, the media in Switzerland will receive direct and indirect funding of CHF 123 million more than before.

In addition, contributions to private radio and television stations are to be increased by up to CHF 28 million a year. This would bring the support contribution up to 151 million francs a year. This would benefit print media, the member and foundation press, online media, news agencies such as Keystone-SDA, and media training.

The "No to state-funded media" committee has lodged a referendum against the parliamentary decision. On February 13, 2022, voters will therefore decide whether the federal government should provide additional funding for the media in Switzerland. (SDA)

The decentralized structure of TX Group introduced at the beginning of 2020 has proven its worth, the group wrote in a statement on Monday. A further significant step was taken in November 2021 with the merger of the Swiss marketplaces into the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group. (Werbewoche.ch reported). The TX Group now wants to shorten decision-making paths, reduce interfaces and focus even more consistently on the needs of its companies and investments, according to the statement.

Hügli leaves the Group Management, Mönch and Nötzli join him

In the course of this reorganization, Samuel Hügli, previously responsible for the group-wide "Technology & Ventures", will leave the Group Management. He will "concentrate on entrepreneurial activities again in the future," according to the statement. In organizational terms, Technology & Ventures will be restructured and merged with Operations and Development. Hügli will remain Chairman of the Board of Directors of Doodle and Zattoo, in which TX Group holds a majority stake.

As of January 1, 2022, Daniel Mönch and Ursula Nötzli will be appointed members of Group Management. The Group Management, under the leadership of Publisher and President Pietro Supino, will in future be composed of Sandro Macciacchini, who will be responsible for Group Operations, Ursula Nötzli, who will be responsible for Group Communications & Sustainability, and Daniel Mönch, who will be responsible for Group Development.

The proposed revision is basically a step in the right direction, according to the statement to the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) published on Monday. It makes sense to provide for coverage areas along cantonal borders. However, the cantonal borders ignore the cohesion of regions.

The canton of Solothurn is in a "field of tension" here. On the one hand, in the view of the government council, a new concession should cover the canton as a whole. Thus, the districts of Dorneck and Thierstein would also be included in the "Solothurn" coverage area and not in the Basel coverage area as planned in the proposal.

No money for regional overlaps

At the same time, overlaps should be possible, especially for the canton of Solothurn. As an example, the government council mentions the Schwarzbubenland region with the Basel area or the western part of the canton between Solothurn and Grenchen with the Biel region.

In the current draft, private radio stations are free to broadcast outside the coverage area. However, no money is available to them from the federal government for this. From the point of view of the canton of Solothurn, an appropriate share of the costs would be desirable here - provided that the journalistic requirements are also met in the "overlapping area", according to the statement.

Wait for the result of the referendum

In addition, the timing of the consultation seems "somewhat awkwardly chosen," the government council notes. From the government council's point of view, the upcoming vote on the referendum on the media law in February should be awaited. Only then can work continue with a clear framework.

In the future, there will be more coverage areas for local radio and TV stations in Switzerland - twenty for radio stations instead of the current twelve. In each area, there will be a provider with a public service mandate who will receive money from the radio and TV levy in return.

Government misses competition from the media

The government council also expressed "a few fundamental considerations" in its statement to the federal government. In a democratic system that depends on the active participation of the population in decisions and processes, a media landscape that is as diverse as possible, with media companies that are committed to quality journalism, is of great importance. This is essential for the independent formation of opinion by each and every individual and thus for the functioning of the state.

Unfortunately, however, the trend in recent years has been in a completely different direction. The number of newspaper subscribers is steadily declining, he said, and revenues from advertisements are plummeting. "Uniform head sheets characterize the print landscape and the associated online platforms. Savings are also being made on regional editorial offices, and there is an increasing lack of resources and know-how: quality journalism is no longer guaranteed in every case," writes the government council.

The same picture is seen in the private radio stations, which are often integrated into large media companies. "Due to the concentration in the media market, there is hardly any journalistic competition, especially in the canton of Solothurn - as far as cantonal and regional topics are concerned. In the print sector, this is completely lacking." (SDA)

In an emotional Christmas video, nine Red Cross ambassadors thank those who support the Zurich Red Cross and thus make Red Cross work possible in the first place. All nine have experienced or provided help through the Red Cross in various ways and tell their personal stories in the three-minute short film. With their enthusiasm and gratitude, they are meant to authentically and emotionally convey the principles of the Red Cross - humanity, impartiality and voluntarism.

The filming locations were deliberately chosen from the own and natural living environments of the colorfully assembled portrayed - from schoolchildren to 82-year-old contemporary witnesses. For the colorful video, project manager Susanne Zihlmann and the Corpmedia team therefore visited the protagonists at home or at their places of work.

"Through the modular approach could be shot in two days of shooting, two main films with various snacks, which care and account for these great people and can now be played out year-round as evergreen content. In this way, the content library that has been built up continues to grow strategically and continuously," explains Timo Wäschle, the person who came up with the idea at Corpmedia.

The video is distributed via all online channels and is part of the annual communication mix, which is implemented with real protagonists - people from the everyday life of the Zurich Red Cross.

Responsible at the Zurich Red Cross: Susanne Zihlmann (Project Management). Responsible at Corpmedia: Timo Wäschle (idea, production management, coaching), Lars Badertscher (direction), Gianluca Giantieni (camera, editing), Michael Nyfenegger (animation), Claudia D'Urso (administration).

On both days of the fair, trade visitors can experience keynotes, deepen their knowledge and network extensively. The exchange at eye level is promoted with formats and special areas such as the "Logistics Talks", a real "Workbench" zone and many other networking areas where the Swiss industry competence for packaging, intralogistics, distribution and transport comes together.

Already at the official "kick-off" event at the end of October, around 100 industry insiders met in the Umweltarena in Spreitenbach to get detailed information about the new trade fair concept 2022 and to deepen existing contacts according to the motto "Discover - Learn - Connect".

"Logistics & Automation" networks Swiss logistics experts

Logistics & Automation" is the largest trade fair in Switzerland. At the industry event for intralogistics and distribution experts, the latest solutions, services and offers relating to automated warehouse and materials handling technology, from infrastructure to the most modern and sustainable picking and packing solutions, are presented for this purpose in Bern. For this purpose, national decision-makers, suppliers and interested parties who are interested in the innovations, products or services on display will come together. For this purpose, the well-known "Logistics Talks" will again be held in cooperation with the GS1 trade association: Here, expert knowledge will be brought to the point in condensed presentations and contribute to networking within the industry.

The new special feature "Transport & Delivery", which is supported by the trade fair's association partners, the commercial vehicle association Astag and the association Spedlogswiss, will also be held alternately at the Bern and Zurich locations at "Logistics & Automation". Transport companies, CEP service providers and providers of combined transport solutions - they all come together here, where the focus is on transport over land, water and rail. Forwarding companies from all over Switzerland present their range of services and showcase the latest solutions for freight transport.

With the "Transport & Delivery" area, the trade fair duo rounds off the entire value chain. The exhibition areas include courier, express, mail and parcel services (CEP), transport companies (road & rail), freight forwarders, IT systems for transport (route planning, transport management software, freight booking systems, fleet management software, GPS/Track &Trace) and combined transport companies. Among the companies registered are Galliker Transport, TNT Swiss Post, Rhenus Logistics, Schneider & Cie. Internationale Transporte, 7 Days Media Service or Gebrüder Weiss.

"Empack 2022" - meeting place for packaging specialists

The event for the Swiss packaging industry Empack maps the entire packaging part of the value chain in Bern, from the creative packaging development phase to the technical packaging and filling process with packaging machines. Empack is the largest packaging trade fair in Switzerland - this is where exhibitors presenting their innovations, products or services to an expert audience also meet national decision-makers.

At "Empack 2022", in addition to the diverse supporting program, there will also be the tried-and-tested specialist lectures of the "Packaging Talks" in cooperation with the competence partner Swiss Packaging Institute SVI. For example, on January 26, 2022, the event will kick off with the topic "Packed in Bio, but how?!" with Niklas Voss from FKuR Kunststoff, Nadine Rüegg from ZHAW will speak on the topic of "Bio-based materials for the production of plastics - a market overview", and Urs Stillhart from Saropack and Ottavio Scatà from Myclimate will show how "Sustainable packaging solutions and climate protection" are compatible. All details can be found on the website, which is continuously updated.

In the special "Workbenches" area, there will be a special area with real workbenches and real packaging productions to examine diverse materials for modern packaging with experts on site and experience them live. Here, visitors will discover how a wide variety of packaging is created, what challenges and requirements exist when dealing with materials, and what haptic options are available. All questions can be addressed to the experts of the participating exhibitors NYCO Flexible Packaging, ZHAW Campus Reidbach, Swiss Recycling or Redilo.

New Marketing and Content Manager: Kristina Nadjarian

Kristina Nadjarian joined Easyfairs Switzerland as the new Marketing and Content Manager on October 1, 2021. For her, one thing is certain: "Live events like trade fairs create unique, personal encounters - no other marketing tool can do that in this form. In my opinion, participation in trade shows/B2B fairs such as Empack and Logistics & Automation in particular is extremely important for the players in the respective industries. Due to their complexity, the products and services of these companies often require explanation or must be examined on site with all the senses. The face-to-face encounter between exhibitors and visitors thus offers enormous added value for both sides." As part of her responsibility for "Marketing and Content," she would like to focus particularly on "further expanding our partnerships with relevant visitor associations from the logistics and packaging industry and working more closely with them. This will enable us to better consider and define the needs and important topics of visitors in the future," Nadjarian adds. This input will also be given the appropriate weighting when defining the supporting program, so that Easyfairs creates an optimal link between industry, research and customers.

The "Empack" will be held at Bernexpo from January 26 to 27, 2022. The meeting place of the packaging industry in Switzerland returns with a new concept, a new location and a new date. Interested parties can use the code "2508" to secure their free trade fair entry worth CHF 30.

The case concerns eleven articles published in the major Zurich daily newspaper about a possible tax optimization and the trips to Russia of the finance director, who considers himself the victim of a smear campaign (Werbewoche.ch reported). The author of these articles, which are incriminating from Broulis' point of view, is the West Switzerland correspondent of the Zurich daily newspaper.

The preparatory and highly technical hearing on Friday afternoon at the Montbenon District Court in Lausanne lasted less than an hour and took place in the presence of Broulis and his lawyer, as well as the journalist and his three lawyers. It consisted mainly of settling procedural issues, witness hearings, and new evidence and documents to be included in the file.

Previous attempts at mediation already failed

The civil proceedings, which were opened in March 2019, are directed against the former Tamedia Group (now TX Group), the journalist and the former editor-in-chief of the Zurich-based medium. A conciliation between the two parties had not been reached in April 2019. The lawsuit was subsequently filed in September of the same year.

On Friday, Judge Stéphane Coletta asked both parties if there was a last chance for mediation, even going so far as to encourage them to resume negotiations on an agreement. Lawyers for the two parties, however, were less than optimistic about that option, recalling previous attempts that had failed.

When questioned as they left the court, both parties did not formally close the door on a final mediation attempt, but considered it "complicated." The trial is expected to begin next spring with the real issue, the content of the articles.

Exonerated in investigation

Broulis had always denied the accusation of tax optimization. The media had denounced the fact that he lived mainly in Lausanne but paid his taxes in Sainte-Croix in the Vaud Jura region, which has favorable tax conditions. Also disputed were the deductions of 15,000 francs for travel expenses for the distance between home and work. An independent investigation finally exonerated the Vaudois finance director in May 2018. However, the report criticized the canton's current tax practice.

However, the affair did not end there. The journalist then published articles about trips to Russia by personalities, including Broulis, accompanied by billionaire Frederik Paulsen, who was then president of the Ferring Group in St-Prex VD and benefited from a lump-sum tax.

After completing preliminary investigations, the attorney general concluded in October 2018 that no crime had been committed and that Broulis had not enjoyed an advantage incompatible with his office.

Proceedings discontinued

In another case, in April 2020, the public prosecutor's office of the Canton of Zurich discontinued charges of libel and defamation Broulis had brought against another German-language journalist from Tamedia at the end of 2018. In the opinion of the public prosecutor's office, the article in question did not constitute defamation in the criminal law sense. (SDA)

From the silken thread to the common strand

A business novel about the 7 steps to becoming a dream team.

• Author: Eberhard Schmidt and Steffen Karneth
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH, 2021
• Pages: 245
• ISBN: 9783527510757

The authors believe in the power of stories. That's why they present the Growth River Operating System they advocate in novel form. They explain the seven steps of the system and fill their explanations with life. They succeed amazingly well. The system becomes vivid and comprehensible, and the book - unlike many other attempts to present business topics narratively - is downright entertaining and exciting to read. On the other hand, it fails to provide evidence for the effectiveness of the Growth River System - its success is simply invented.

No objections

This enables you to achieve outstanding closing rates even with skeptical customers.

• Author: Jeb Blount
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH, 2021
• Pages: 208
• ISBN: 9783527510818

Selling is an unnatural profession: You deliberately put yourself in situations where you are met with rejection again and again. Jeb Blount has a whole cornucopia of practical tips and examples of formulations at the ready for the reader to use. However, the author does not provide a rigid script, nor a magic formula for 100 percent closing rates. Because every sales situation is different. But anyone who wants food for thought, examples and background information on the psychology of selling will certainly find what they are looking for here.

Modern reputation management

The good reputation as the key to success.

• Author: Florian Müller and Ulrich Bihler (Eds.)
• Publisher: Springer Gabler, 2021
• Pages: 180
• ISBN: 9783658326395

Today, a company's reputation is its greatest intangible asset. Top investors are increasingly basing their decisions on how companies are perceived by the public. The authors of this book show how companies can influence this perception. In doing so, however, they remain quite abstract. Concrete examples are largely missing. However, the book also explicitly sees itself as a general guide. As such, it competently deals with the challenges of modern reputation management and the use of digital technologies.

Virtual Selling

The definitive guide to using video-based technology and virtual communication channels for successful selling.

• Author: Jeb Blount
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH, 2021
• Pages: 304
• ISBN: 9783527510627

The corona pandemic also hit sellers hard: For a long time, they had to stay at home just like buyers, and face-to-face interactions were impossible. Sales professionals must therefore expand their skills to include virtual selling. Jeb Blount explains what intelligent virtual selling requires and how to effectively use a variety of virtual channels. He discusses how to combine virtual sales activities with traditional face-to-face selling to maximize sales, commissions, and customer service. Required reading for salespeople!

For the first time, the Basel-based jeweler, whose online store contains around 7,000 jewelry creations and watches, is communicating with a broad-based multichannel campaign implemented by Yuni Kommunikation and Steigertext.

The campaign celebrates the individuality of Seiler Juwelier's loyal customers: inspiring quotes are intended to express joie de vivre - and encourage them to show it. The measures are accompanied by the new corporate claim "Desirably different.

The campaign can currently be seen on various OOH surfaces in and around Basel, in selected print media, and digitally on various Swiss news portals. POS activities and posts on internal social media channels round off the communication mix.

Responsible at Seiler Jewelers: Alexander Seiler (Owner), Bianca Sawas (Marketing Manager). Responsible at yuni kommunikation: Carmen Baumgärtner (Creative Director) and Leila Merkofer (Art Director). Responsible at Steigertext: Tanja Steiger (Text & Concept).

In 2008, at the beginning of its transformation into a digital, diversified, internationally active media group, Ringier purchased the e-commerce company Geschenkidee.ch, which had been founded six years earlier. Through continuous investments, further development of the online store as well as the range of products and logistics, Geschenkidee.ch has become the largest online provider of gifts, home accessories and lifestyle products in Switzerland over the last thirteen years, writes the media group in a communiqué.

Now a group of investors advised by SME Equity Partners is taking over the online gift platform. CEO Maud Hoffmann, who has been in office since 2015, will closely accompany the handover process until spring 2022 and then turn her attention to new challenges.

The change of ownership would create new opportunities for Geschenkidee.ch, as Ringier CEO Marc Walder notes in the release: "The strategy of the Swiss investor group has convinced us."

"We are convinced of the good foundation as well as the impressive development of Geschenkidee.ch under the leadership of Maud Hoffmann," adds Christoph Weber, Chairman of the Board of SME. "With Thomas Herbert, the former CEO Globus and, among other things, today's VRP Mode Bayard, we were able to gain a proven expert for the further development of Geschenkidee.ch."

Thomas Herbert will take over as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Geschenkidee.ch.

Christian Studer founded Bright Entertainment almost two decades ago. Today, the owner-managed agency focuses on three pillars: Private and corporate events, as well as workshops in which companies of all types and sizes can face the challenges of live communication.

Together with his partner and co-managing director Markus Walder, Studer had actively used the last few months to revise the company's appearance in collaboration with Evolve Advertising under creative director Lianel Spengler. The result is a comprehensive rebranding under the name "Bright" - and the new website Brightlive.ch.

Under the claim "Shine with us," the company shows its customers and partners in compact form what it means by modern, creative, boldly passionate and holistic live communication. Concise text and image elements are rounded off by numerous success stories.

Currently, Bright is working on projects for TCS, Aveniq, Baloise, Volvo and Swiss Marketplace Group, among others. Since international companies are also among its customers, the new website is available in both German and English. It is designed to quickly provide interested parties with a good overview of today's live communication possibilities.

Due to the pandemic situation, Swiss Marketing held last year's ceremony digitally. This year, the newly graduated leaders were once again able to receive their diplomas live and on site. Around 330 people attended the diploma ceremony. There were around 30 graduates in the graduating class of 2020.

The two TV personalities Annina Campell and Salar Bahrampoori led through the evening.

High success rate among marketing managersn

The diploma students of the year 2021 can show a good quota overall. In the case of marketing managers, 61 ladies and gentlemen were examined. 51 persons (83.6%) could graduate with success.

222 aspirants took the sales manager* exam, 133 of them (59.9%) passed.

Three people tested their knowledge on the Key Account Manager exam, where one person (33.3%) was successful.

Awards for the best of the year

A total of 185 diplomas were awarded on Saturday evening. Lara Zurmühle was the best marketing manager of the year with an overall average grade of 5.075. Romain Rochat was the best sales manager of the year with an overall average grade of 5.33. Both received the Swiss Marketing Award. Both were honored with the Swiss Marketing Award.