Manipulation uncovered before the gate closes
Newspapers: The circulation manipulation at the *Landbote* serves as a warning: Sanctions will be imposed starting July 1.
Newspapers The manipulation of the Landbote's circulation is a warning: sanctions are threatened from July 1 In the current Wemf circulation bulletin, the normal circulation of the Landbote is given as 48,448 copies and the large circulation as 9,3812 copies. According to editor-in-chief Rudolf Gerber, however, these figures are "inflated by several thousand copies due to manipulation". The exact extent is not known. "We only know that the figures for 2003 are not correct, but we suspect that the manipulations go back further," says Gerber. An external auditing company has now been commissioned to review the regulatory documents. Gerber: "We want things to be clear again." As soon as the results are available, an application will be made to the Wemf for interim certification." Landbote publisher Ziegler Druck- und Verlags-AG has filed a criminal complaint with the Winterthur District Court against a former employee who worked at Landbote for 15 years and, according to Gerber, "was the only person in the publishing house responsible for the circulation certification dossier." It was only after he left Ziegler Druck in March 2004 that the inconsistencies were discovered.
At Landbote leaseholder Publicitas, CEO Otto Meier regrets the manipulation, but is not considering legal action against "the good and long-standing partner". And the Nordostschweiz-Kombi (NOS), to which the Landbote belongs, is taking the matter calmly. "The only thing that matters for the advertising market and also for the Kombi's internal distribution key is the reach," says Konrad Müller from NOS member Zürcher Oberländer.
And how does the Wemf react? "In our inspections, we look for errors, not fraud and forgeries," says Christel Plöger, the chief certifier, explaining her role. This will not change with the new regulations that come into force on July 1, 2004. "But we can now impose sanctions," says Plöger. "Manipulation of conditions will be fined 50000 francs."
Markus Knöpfli
At Landbote leaseholder Publicitas, CEO Otto Meier regrets the manipulation, but is not considering legal action against "the good and long-standing partner". And the Nordostschweiz-Kombi (NOS), to which the Landbote belongs, is taking the matter calmly. "The only thing that matters for the advertising market and also for the Kombi's internal distribution key is the reach," says Konrad Müller from NOS member Zürcher Oberländer.
And how does the Wemf react? "In our inspections, we look for errors, not fraud and forgeries," says Christel Plöger, the chief certifier, explaining her role. This will not change with the new regulations that come into force on July 1, 2004. "But we can now impose sanctions," says Plöger. "Manipulation of conditions will be fined 50000 francs."
Markus Knöpfli
