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René Worni on Boulevard Options
René Worni on tabloid optionsWhen it comes to the future of Switzerland's first and only tabloid, there is a great deal of perplexity. The decline in circulation has slowed down, as Ringier executives are more relaxed than ever. But the turnaround has not been achieved. Publisher Michael Ringier does not see this as a Blick-specific phenomenon, looking at the similar afflictions of the Bild newspaper in Germany. None other than Claus Larass, former editor-in-chief of Bild (formerly known as deputy CEO and head of the newspaper and thus Axel Springer's representative for Switzerland, so to speak), is working on the new Blick concepts. However, even these were not able to knock the socks off the reviewing project committee.
Former editor-in-chief and hardliner Peter Uebersax realizes that the makers missed the opportunity to turn Blick into a free title when the commuter press emerged. Publisher Ringier also admitted in good time that it had been caught on the wrong foot by the free press. But a free Blick goes against the grain for him too. He has repeatedly argued that journalistic content should, if you please, cost something. His conviction is intact, as the publisher wants Blick to remain a paid-for newspaper. Readers, especially in the rural areas of German-speaking Switzerland, treat themselves to this.
There, the view fits - or so the cliché would have it - into the ambience of pubs and inns, at regulars' tables with wrought-iron ashtrays, where only insiders take a seat of their own accord and spend the evening - or so the editors hope (not a cliché?) - gesticulating about the Germans in Switzerland. And in the city? Here, too, there are pubs and taverns where eye contact (also with Germans) is conceivable.
But the majority prefer to turn to 20 Minuten and Heute and the quality papers. City dwellers hardly ever gather around the journalistic regulars' table anymore. In this respect, it remains a mystery why Ringier's free paper for the younger generation is now called Heute and why it hasn't long since been used as Blick am Abend or Ausgeh-Blick or Freizeit-Blick to rejuvenate the flagship paper.
René Worni, Editor
Former editor-in-chief and hardliner Peter Uebersax realizes that the makers missed the opportunity to turn Blick into a free title when the commuter press emerged. Publisher Ringier also admitted in good time that it had been caught on the wrong foot by the free press. But a free Blick goes against the grain for him too. He has repeatedly argued that journalistic content should, if you please, cost something. His conviction is intact, as the publisher wants Blick to remain a paid-for newspaper. Readers, especially in the rural areas of German-speaking Switzerland, treat themselves to this.
There, the view fits - or so the cliché would have it - into the ambience of pubs and inns, at regulars' tables with wrought-iron ashtrays, where only insiders take a seat of their own accord and spend the evening - or so the editors hope (not a cliché?) - gesticulating about the Germans in Switzerland. And in the city? Here, too, there are pubs and taverns where eye contact (also with Germans) is conceivable.
But the majority prefer to turn to 20 Minuten and Heute and the quality papers. City dwellers hardly ever gather around the journalistic regulars' table anymore. In this respect, it remains a mystery why Ringier's free paper for the younger generation is now called Heute and why it hasn't long since been used as Blick am Abend or Ausgeh-Blick or Freizeit-Blick to rejuvenate the flagship paper.
René Worni, Editor
