News from the Virgin

Publisher Urs Gossweiler is intensifying the search for a master license for his micro-newspaper concept (see WW 8/04), and the owner and publisher of the Jungfrau Zeitung, which is published in Brienz, confirms information from Werbewoche that the Zurich commercial lawyers at Meiss Blum & Partner are currently conducting concrete negotiations on his behalf "with one major German and two Swiss newspaper publishers". Both Tamedia and Ringier deny any contact with the lawyers appointed by Gossweiler. NZZ regional newspaper boss Beat Lauber is also dismissive, but nevertheless finds the basic idea "exciting".
And the potential German financiers of Gossweiler's ambitious plans - Holtzbrinck, Springer or possibly Gruner+Jahr - are all keeping their customary silence. Nevertheless, the brash man from the Bernese Oberland promises to have his potent partner(s) on board "by the end of the year at the latest, but probably sooner".
(oc)