With the 2023 Christmas campaign "Let's give each other a smile", Coop showed that a small gesture can make a big difference. The protagonist, an empathetic Coop employee, wrote loving and encouraging messages on small pieces of paper and gave them to customers to put the proverbial smile on their faces at Christmas time. Due to the exceptionally good response to the campaign and its activation measures, which included real note messages in the sales outlets, Coop is continuing with the existing concept this Christmas season.

Once again directed by Tobias Fueter, the film focuses on a Christmas skeptic who initially doesn't feel like smiling. However, through an emotional written exchange with a Coop employee, he regains access to his own fond memories. Without further ado, he writes them down on a piece of paper that a warm-hearted customer finds while shopping. A sensitive exchange ensues, which connects the two and ultimately even leads to a spontaneous Christmas party together.

The film can be seen as a full version and in cut-downs on TV. The accompanying, multi-faceted 360-degree campaign was once again implemented by TBWA\ Zurich and, in addition to various online and social media channels, also uses special formats such as the Teads Display Carousel to bring the motivating messages to people in an even more innovative and targeted way. However, physical messages will also once again try to brighten up people's everyday lives during the darker months of the year.

Client: Coop Cooperative. Campaign conception and implementation: TBWA\Zurich. Moving image production: Onfilm x Stories. Media Planning: TWmedia. Music: HitMill.

The new website is based on clear, structured navigation that should lead users effortlessly to the information they need. The campus map shows which rooms are suitable for different types of events and how they can be combined with just one click. Whether intimate meetings or large events - users can find their way around quickly and intuitively and discover the right setup for their event.

Clear identity

A key aim of the new website was to create a clear identity. Previously, visitors to the JED Events website often asked themselves: "Is JED an event agency?" Therefore, clarity was created by communicating that JED Events is first and foremost an event location.

"With the new website, we are showing what makes JED Events so special: as one of Switzerland's leading event locations, we not only offer a spectacular setting in the former NZZ printing works, but also a wide range of multifunctional spaces - from the impressive event hall to the exclusive vaulted cellar," explains Nicolai Squarra, founder and partner of JED Events. The digital relaunch has created a platform that "brings our vision of unforgettable experiences to life online and makes planning easier and more exciting than ever for our customers," Squarra continues.

Transport of emotions

Large-scale images and atmospheric videos are intended to convey the special atmosphere of the JED Events rooms. Exemplary event examples also make the possibilities of the locations tangible.

This year's ADCE Awards were presented on Friday as part of the ADCE European Creativity Festival in Barcelona. A total of 375 projects were honored from 924 submissions from 24 countries. Projects from Switzerland also impressed the jury, which was made up of 58 leading creatives from all over Europe.

There was also an ADCE Student Award: The team from Graubünden University of Applied Sciences received bronze for their project Starrk. for Rosannis in the Interactive category.

The city of Zurich is growing and becoming more densely built-up. This densification requires more green spaces and meeting zones. Politicians and urban society are also calling for neighborhoods to be freed from through traffic and for pilot projects for so-called neighborhood blocks to be implemented. A neighborhood block consists of groups of houses, intersections, neighborhood streets and squares. Street spaces are redesigned through temporary and permanent measures. This creates more space for communal neighborhood life.

Freundliche Grüsse developed the design concept for the pilot project together with the City of Zurich's Civil Engineering Department and created and implemented an accompanying campaign and explanatory video. The neighborhood blocks will be implemented in stages from 2024 to 2027. They will be developed together with residents, businesses, urban society, institutions and stakeholders. There will also be a comprehensive participation process with the urban community. The first forum events on the topic will be held in November 2024.

Responsible at TAZ: Kugelmeier Nicola (Project Manager Basics + Strategies), Celi Diana (Project Manager Basics + Strategies), Mächler Sabina (Project Manager Communications). Responsible at Friendly regards: Samuel Textor, Pascal Deville, Fabian Biedermann (overall responsibility), David Elmiger, (text/concept), Kevin Zysset (art direction), Eva Brun, Kathy Känzig (consulting), Daniela Benedix (animation explainer video). Branding: TBS Brands Partner.

"We test new things for ourselves and our customers." This is one of the guiding principles at Manifestland to which the team at the St.Gallen agency Festland is committed. This is put into practice at the Lab Sessions, for example. The latest edition focused on employer branding. In the agency's Wave Space in St.Gallen, guests were treated to three guest contributions on the topic.

A Tinder for digital talents

Michael Bernasconi, Matchd Project Manager at rockt!, shared his insights from the networking platform for companies and IT talent. He knows from experience what to look out for in order to achieve the perfect match with Generation Z. He has a clear recommendation for employers as an effective way to combat the shortage of skilled workers in the IT sector: Offer internships. The short-term effort involved in providing support more than pays off in terms of the long-term advantage on the personnel market.

Please do not play company

Nadja Schnetzler, teamwork coach and purpose expert, gave an insight into her recently published practical guide "Collaboration in Flow". The book, co-authored with Laurent Burst, provides tried-and-tested tools for a successful team culture. The concept of flow proves to be a life hack for creating a balance between I, we and work. Because too many teams are still "playing company" instead of creating meaning and getting work done.

Employer branding with heart

Reto Geiger, Managing Director of Liebenau Switzerland, spoke about employer branding in the world of retirement and nursing homes. The audience learned first-hand how the non-profit company scores points on the job market with vacations and other benefits - and why the heart in Liebenau's advertising is more than just an ornament. His words were illustrated by the current employer campaign, which was created with Festland.

"The Jungfrau Ski Region has returned to the Champions League of winter sports. The enormous diversity and unique characters of the winter sports region and the winter sports resorts play the main role in this campaign. We are happy to accept that our stars Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are not at the forefront of the stage for once," says Urs Kessler, Director of Jungfrau Railways.

With this in mind, the creatives at Republica set about creating a campaign that highlights all of these supplements, while also focusing on the destinations within the Jungfrau Ski Region. "Grindelwald, Wengen, First or Mürren; these are all beacons of world renown that can easily be described and treated as ingredient brands, which is why we have also placed the focus and dramatization on these place names," explains Republica CD Re Wilk.

A fresh interpretation of the unique

Consequently, Republica makes it clear that it doesn't just feel like "wow" here in the Jungfrau Ski Region, that it's not just brilliant and delicious here - and also that there's an improvement on fantastic. The places become words that carry added value: "Grindelwow", "Wengenial", "Firstastic", "Grindelicious" and "Mürrentspannt". "Grindeljöööö" is also intended to emphasize the explicit family friendliness and the long-established offer "Children travel free on Saturdays". The dramatized destination keywords are staged in the landscapes and panoramas of the Jungfrau Ski Region and are deliberately reminiscent of posters of ski regions from the 1950s and 1960s in their minimalism.

From poster to moving image

In addition to the wide-ranging poster and DOOH campaign, the subjects are used in banners and social ads. Republica has also translated the core of the idea into film plots and created spots for the main regions of Grindelwald and Wengen that combine and dramatize the sound of the campaign with the actual experience, so to speak. The spots were realized by Synkron, [Remotepost] and Navada. The films are intended to make it clear that there is no getting around the Jungfrau Ski Region if you want more.

Responsible at Jungfrau Railways: Urs Kessler, Director; Giulia Müller, Head of Marketing Communications; Remo Käser, Head of Marketing & Sales, Member of the Executive Board; Olivia Kaiser, Content Producer; Joel Staubli, Polygrapher; Yvonne Moser, Polygrapher; Ann-Sofie Tant, Content Manager; Sagal Comafai, Content Manager; Achim Schneider, Team Leader Content & Online Marketing; Anna-Lea Huber, Social Media Manager. Responsible at Republica: Bala Trachsel, overall responsibility; Re Wilk, Creative Direction; Florian Birkner, Creative Direction; Annina Mettler, Art Direction; Fabienne Homberger, Inhouse Production; Flo Schmid, Production Art; Nina Hofmann, Motion Design; Michael Dängeli, Senior Account Management; Stephanie Frei, Account Management; Valerie Koenen, Content Creation. Production: Mariska van Lavieren, Laura Šerić (Navada); Synkron (director); Ari Zehnder, Edit [remotepost]; Bardo Eicher, Sound [remotepost]; Janos Menberg, VFX/Color [remotepost].

In four rulings published on Friday, the Federal Administrative Court ruled in favor of Abacus Research and Goldbach Neo OOH. In doing so, it clarified fundamental legal issues in connection with the private sector activities of Swiss Post.

In its rulings, the Federal Administrative Court refers to the case law of the Federal Supreme Court on the private economic activity of the state. It states that the economic freedom protected by fundamental rights does not offer private individuals any general protection against competition. This also applies to the private economic activity of the state. In principle, this merely creates another competitor for the private sector.

However, there are constitutional limits to the private sector activity of the state, as the court goes on to explain. The activity must be based on a legal basis, it must be in the public interest and it must be proportionate and competitively neutral.

Limited activity

In accordance with these requirements, the activities of Swiss Post are regulated and limited by the Postal Organization Act. Swiss Post must ensure the universal service and may provide related services.

Against this background, the Federal Administrative Court has further developed its previous case law. It maintains that, in principle, no party status can be obtained by means of a notification under supervisory law.

If, as in the present case, private companies justifiably claim that a state-owned company does not have a sufficient legal basis for a certain private sector activity or does not act in a competitively neutral manner, there is a particular proximity to the relationship. The party status of private companies cannot be denied in principle in such a case.

PostCom, to which the court referred the case, is responsible for examining whether Swiss Post complies with the constitutional limits for its private-sector activities.

It must make a final decision on the status of the complainants as parties and then, if necessary, examine whether Swiss Post has sufficient market access authorization for its private-sector activities.

Measures required

Swiss Post acquired Klara Business AG, now ePost Services AG, in October 2020. It was a private company that develops and distributes software for accounting and customer and order management.

Livesystems, which operates in the field of digital out-of-home advertising, was acquired in July 2021. Both companies are now managed as independent Swiss Post Group companies.

With its two Group companies ePost Services and Livesystems, Swiss Post operates outside the universal service. It is therefore in direct competition with Abacus Research and Goldbach Neo OOH, which offer the same or similar services.

These companies lodged separate supervisory complaints with the Federal Postal Commission (PostCom) and the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM). They argued before both authorities that Swiss Post's private-sector activities were not permitted. For this reason, the takeover of the two companies should be reversed or measures should be taken to avoid distortions of competition.

PostCom and OFCOM did not intervene in the two supervisory complaints. They stated that the two companies had no party status with regard to Swiss Post's private-sector activities. The two competitors lodged an appeal against these decisions with the Federal Administrative Court.

These rulings are not yet legally binding and can be appealed to the Federal Supreme Court. (SDA)

Haus Konstruktiv's last major exhibition is currently running at Unterwerk Selnau before the museum moves to the Löwenbräukunst site in May 2025.

It is therefore the last opportunity to see constructive-concrete art in the impressive halls of the historic industrial building, which was home to the museum for over two decades.

To remind people of this last chance, Ruf Lanz has replaced the yellow areas in concrete art with Post-it notes. People like to use these sticky notes to remind themselves of important things they don't want to forget or miss.

The campaign was conceived as a tribute to the Swiss-American artist Fritz Glarner and his Rockefeller Dining Room from 1963/64. This is one of the centerpieces of the Museum Haus Konstruktiv collection.

The agency has been working for Museum Haus Konstruktiv since 2015. The campaigns have received numerous awards - including a Cannes Film Lion, the Evergreen Award from the Art Directors Club Switzerland for many years of creative consistency and, most recently, Culture Gold at the Swiss Out of Home Award 2024.

The current campaign sticks on printed and digital posters, in advertisements and on social media.

Responsible at the Museum Haus Konstruktiv: Sabine Schaschl (Director and Chief Curator), Andreas Durisch (President of the Foundation Board), Ladina Hurst, Pascal Schlecht (Marketing and Communications). Vhe responsible at Ruf Lanz: Catherine Martin (Art Direction & Visual Composing), Markus Ruf (Creative Direction & Text), Sherif Ademi (DTP), Gian Marco Juon (Head of Consulting). External partners: RTK Media Technology (Lithography).

However, the court rejected Roshani's request for a declaration of legal violations and for compensation, as the Zurich District Court announced on Friday. The judgment is available to the Keystone-SDA news agency. The Magazine is a publication of the Zurich publishing house Tamedia.

By having her dismissal overturned, the German-born journalist has won what was probably her most important case. The court annulled the dismissal issued in September 2022 in application of the Swiss Gender Equality Act (GlG).

Among other things, the Equal Treatment Act provides protection against dismissal in the event of allegations of discrimination. This applies both for the duration of internal proceedings and for any court proceedings on the merits. This is intended to protect those affected from dismissals in retaliation.

Court sees no grounds for termination

Tamedia tried in vain to prove in court that it was not a case of revenge dismissal. According to the ruling, it was argued, among other things, that the plaintiff's accusations had led to "unrest in the team" and that the employees had found themselves in a conflict of loyalty.

The specific consequences of Roshani's dismissal are not clear from the ruling. In principle, however, the employment relationship is likely to continue. In a subordinate clause regarding the amount in dispute, the court notes that this now probably amounts to "various monthly salaries".

The longstanding Magazine-In an internal complaint, the editor had made serious allegations against her superior. He had systematically sexually harassed, discriminated against and bullied her for years.

Roshani made her case in an article in the Mirror publicly in February 2023. The editor-in-chief of the magazine at the time is said to have referred to her as a "priest's mistress" and "unfucked", among other things. The editor-in-chief was dismissed before Roshani after the allegations came to light.

The decision of the labor court is not yet legally binding. It can be appealed to the High Court of the Canton of Zurich. (SDA)

The Committee for Transport and Telecommunications of the Council of States (KVF-S) approved a bill to increase indirect press subsidies for the daily delivery of regional and local press by 9 votes to 2, as reported by the parliamentary services on Friday. The small chamber will decide on this in the winter session.

According to the communication, the majority of the Commission considers financial support for the print media to be a necessary measure to give them the time they need for digital transformation. In this way, their important democratic function should be secured for at least the next seven years.

Continue to subsidize the foundation press

Unlike the upper chamber, the Council of States committee also wants to retain the contributions for the membership and foundation press. The KVF-S reached this decision by 9 votes to 2. As a compromise proposal, it requested that the contributions be reduced from CHF 20 million a year today to CHF 10 million in future.

In order not to overburden the National Council's bill financially, the Council of States committee is calling for adjustments to the other subsidies. The contributions for the regional and local press should amount to CHF 40 million per year instead of CHF 45 million. The new annual subsidies for early delivery proposed in the bill should amount to a maximum of CHF 25 million instead of CHF 30 million.

Minority motions demand, for example, the complete abolition of contributions for early delivery or no increase at all in indirect media funding. Others want to follow the National Council and increase the contributions for the regional and local press or reject the proposal to cut early delivery.

Electronic media should be left out

As in the past, the KVF-S is skeptical about the introduction of channel- and business model-independent promotion of electronic media. By 8 votes to 3, it requested that a corresponding motion from the National Council be rejected.

"It would like to refrain from a general, cross-media promotion and thus also prevent the path towards the creation of state media from being taken," it said in the press release. The KVF-S also recalls that the promotion of electronic media was already part of the media package and was one of the biggest points of criticism.

The KVF-N motion for the promotion of electronic media was adopted in the National Council by 116 votes to 72 with one abstention and against the wishes of the SVP and the Center Party parliamentary groups. The funding is to be financed from the federal budget and compensated for by a reduction or abolition of indirect press subsidies.

Limits to state funding

Following the job cuts at Tamedia announced at the end of August, the Swiss Media Publishers Association recently also called for an expansion of indirect press subsidies. This is the only way to maintain the journalistic offerings of private media in Switzerland. The development also affects smaller local and regional newspapers. Without additional funding, newspapers will go out of business.

Media Minister Albert Rösti also recently expressed concern about the plans to cut costs in the media, particularly in French-speaking Switzerland. Good framework conditions and indirect help are needed, but the private press cannot be saved with federal funds alone, he said. The government is committed to good framework conditions, for example for the regulation of internet giants or artificial intelligence. (SDA/swi)

With 170 participants, the Journalism Day 2024 organized by the QuaJou Quality in Journalism Association on Thursday in Winterthur met with great interest. To mark its 25th anniversary, the association offered the event free of charge for the first time - a deliberate signal in economically challenging times.

Keynote speaker Silvia Princigalli, who was one of the founding editors of "Izzy", opened the day with a forward-looking analysis: How can crises promote innovation in journalism? "I've cried so many times and been devastated. The important thing is: don't lose hope, stay agile and don't be afraid to be different," said Princigalli. "Stay open and curious about possibilities, stay humble and hardworking and look for like-minded people and talent."

The program focused on current challenges facing the industry: ZHAW media professor Vinzenz Wyss presented the results of the latest ZHAW occupational field study on political orientation in editorial offices for the first time (Markt-kom.com reported). This shows: There is a threat of precarization in Swiss journalism - and Swiss journalism is not very diverse. "If we could get people without a university degree into the editorial offices, there would probably be more political diversity in reporting," said panel participant Camille Lothe (NebelspalterSVP). The statement by freelance journalist Eva Hirschi is worrying: "I know journalists who also work in a bar on the side - and it's often not voluntary."

"As a journalist, you shouldn't deceive"

Simon Bärtschi, Head of Journalism at Tamedia, answered critical questions on the reduction of regional online presences in a panel discussion. Matthias Ackeret, publisher and editor-in-chief of Personal, assessed the development as an independent media expert. At the start of the panel, it was agreed that all information should remain in the room in order to facilitate as open a discussion as possible.

The other panels opened up new perspectives: Thomas Benkö from the Blick Group presented the opportunities and limitations of AI tools in journalism in a workshop. However, it is important: "As a journalist, you should not deceive - not even with the new possibilities that are available." Three award-winning young media professionals - Livia Fischer (CH Media), Deniz Kurtogullari (SRF News) and Ernst Field (Bajour) - showed how the profession can remain attractive despite austerity programs. Their common message: "Opportunities for further development, support when things go wrong and good leaders."

During the discussion on the US presidential election, SRF presenter Arthur Honegger and Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen, Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Bern, analyzed the role of traditional and social media. Honegger said that we need to think about why we no longer reach the public: "Many people no longer believe an elite - and journalists are part of this elite. This has to do with the strong academization of our profession."

Among others, Press Council President Susan Boos and Hansi Voigt (founder of Watson, now Bajour) debated journalistic self-responsibility and its impact on media freedom. Among other things, they discussed the pending court ruling in the Spiess Hegglin case. Boos said that the View had clearly behaved wrongly - but: "It has become clear that the View has changed a lot. Stories like this are no longer made today." Voigt also agreed with this.

"Forced to focus on journalism"

The event concluded with a panel discussion on quality assurance in times of scarce resources. SRF presenter Sandro Brotz discussed with Stefan Ryser (Blue News), Sabine Eva Wittwer (Migros Magazine) and Marcello Odermatt (The Covenant) discussed the challenges and solutions from the perspective of the editorial offices. Odermatt said: "The fact that the lemon has been squeezed further and further has forced us to focus our journalism over the last ten years." Wittwer said: "We have much less time in which we are basically unproductive." But it is precisely in this "dead time" that ideas and thus diverse reporting are created. Ryser added: "What bothers me is that the whole discussion is often just about saving money and not about how to reach young people."

"The intensive discussions show how important the exchange of ideas and new perspectives are in the industry," summarize Fabienne Kinzelmann and Franz Fischlin, co-presidents of QuaJou. "Especially in times of upheaval, platforms like Journalism Day are needed where we media professionals can talk openly about challenges and develop solutions together. The high number of participants confirms our commitment to quality in journalism."

Free admission to Journalism Day, which traditionally takes place at the IAM Institute of Applied Media Studies at the ZHAW, was made possible by sponsors and the association's financial reserves. This decision was made against the backdrop of the current cost-cutting programs at almost all major publishing houses as well as SRG and Keystone-SDA.

The next JournalismDay will take place on November 20, 2025.

With "W.O.W." The aim is to offer visitors a wide range of activities in both summer and winter. The aim is to inspire guests with experiences, encounters and relaxation in nature, explains Marc Schlüssel, CEO of the Lenzerheide vacation region. The new attractions include the "W.O.W. Plaza" meeting place in the village center, an outdoor spa in summer and a winter glamping pop-up. Existing highlights such as the Arosa Lenzerheide ski area, the enchanted forest and the interactive "Light Ride" tobogganing experience will also remain an integral part of the destination.

Regional cooperation

For "W.O.W.", various local partners from the hotel industry, gastronomy and mountain railroads are working together. "This project shows what is possible when everyone pulls together," says Schlüssel. The aim is not only to increase the attractiveness of the destination, but also to make operations more sustainable and efficient. "W.O.W." should not only be understood as an experience brand, but also as a leitmotif for service quality and innovation.

A film featuring freeskier Nico Vuignier and skiing legend Didier Cuche accompanies the repositioning at the start of the winter season. The film premieres on Wednesday.