Connecting borders

Guest commentary The Swiss media landscape has potential for closer cooperation with Europe, says Manuel Friesecke.
define for publishers and editors as well as for marketing experts
the market, which is mainly
and guarantee relative protection against the risk of
foreign competition. Anyone selling media in a neighboring country or
wants to distribute its communication products is faced with other
legal framework and other cultural backgrounds
confronted.

Despite the constantly growing exchange of information and increasing
globalization, national borders remain clearly perceptible. Conventional
As a rule, media have a limited collection and
Distribution area. Advertising markets function almost exclusively
national. The rules of the game for professional marketing or the
Communication between cultural and media professionals varies from country to country.
to country. It is not least the language barriers and the associated
intercultural differences, which are also essential for the
Obstacles to the cross-border exchange of information
represent. In Switzerland and Germany, for example, the dominant
except for subscriptions to free and Sunday newspapers. In France
In contrast, newsstand sales of daily newspapers are dominant, which is
the design of the front pages.

The function and understanding of borders have changed in Europe in
changed over the past decades. Borders are no longer
dividing lines, but with the common internal market are leading the
People in a
Europe together. Also for the area of media and
communication, this has resulted in numerous cross-border
interfaces.

As a European pilot region for cross-border cooperation
The Upper Rhine region with the cities of Karlsruhe, Freiburg,
Strasbourg, Colmar and Basel. Numerous media and
Communication projects have been realized here over the past twenty years.
and promoted networking among those responsible for the media.
This cooperation is a reflection of the intensified joint
cross-border identity. 100,000 cross-border commuters
Cross-border commuters cross the border on the Upper Rhine every day to
neighboring country to pursue gainful employment. Black Forest, Vosges
and Jura are destinations for excursions and local recreation. What to do on the Upper Rhine
is also true for Switzerland. In Switzerland there are
no point further than 100 kilometers as the crow flies from the
national border. This fact shows the potential of a
deepened cooperation in a Switzerland and a Europe of the future
also in the area of media and communication.

 Manuel Friesecke is Deputy Managing Director of the Regio Basiliensis association, the Swiss partner for Upper Rhine cooperation.