SchroBli magazine instead of SoBli magazine

Column The SonntagsBlick has set up a "Readers' Council" because the newspaper wants to become even better. We would already be satisfied if Ringier's Sonntagsblatt was mediocre again. Let's take the SonntagsBlick magazine for example. Under the leadership of the new editor-in-chief Marc Walder, it has undergone a relaunch, as the old magazine was a flop with the advertising industry. There were always reports that were worth reading and a journalistic standard was recognizable. Now the magazine has to please advertisers above all. But what is left of journalism? On the first sixteen to twenty pages as much as in the NZZ luxury supplement Z - Die schönen Seiten des Lebens. In other words, almost nothing. But what shines in the upper middle-class drawing room is far from shining in the lower middle-class parlor. Z has style, and even leads to insights. After all, we learn a lot about excellent craftsmanship and the really expensive and unusual things in the world of goods, about precious stones and gold and silver. We can't buy luxury, but it's nice that we were able to take a look at it. And it's all on glossy paper, carefully and aesthetically designed, with a generous layout.

The SonntagsBlick magazine, on the other hand, is published on thin paper, but with a layout that pretends to be generous but is reminiscent of the trophy collection in old printer's boxes. And so it comes as it must: The magazine has nothing to say and therefore needs Cervelat celebrities.
Toni Vescoli, for example, who is now entitled to a pension, is allowed to fill the "My style" section to announce his new record, for example by presenting a book in one sentence, showing a guitar he has received as a gift and so on. Scrap and junk instead of gold and silver that has accumulated over a lifetime. The following sections are called "fashion", "beauty", "notes", "game" and are thematically arranged purchase recommendations, including the name of the supplier and price. And the journalism? After all, an "editor" is responsible for these pages.
Of course, you can also look on the bright side. Where there is a lack of journalistic substance, the little text by blue blood expert Helmut-Maria Glogger on "my man of the week" - namely Prince Harry - appears to be a striking journalistic achievement: "No one has stood his ground in the fight for life, love, vice and against his own liver like the redhead from the Windsor-Mountbatten family."
SonntagsBlick-Magazin is the name of these stapled color pages, "SchrottBlick-Magazin" would be more accurate. The following people stories in the style of Schweizer Illustrierte do little to change this. Even a report on the workers
in the Gotthard Base Tunnel follows the basic rule of Ringier's celebrity magazine: the people portrayed must smile at the camera. They are accompanied by exclusively positive bylines such as: "The gold necklace is my lucky charm." You could almost think that tunnel workers earn their money without sweat or dust - like editors-in-chief when they're not playing tennis or golf.
By the way: The "SchroBli" "does not want media professionals, but attentive, committed readers". Note: Media professionals read neither attentively nor with commitment! But what are the benefits of the Readers' Council members' commitment? "They get to know the editors and Editor-in-Chief Marc Walder (42)." We have no doubt that there are people who will enjoy it. And yes, there are discussions and "sometimes a social event - and of course always food and drink." Of course! After the third Cüpli, even a readers' council cares little about journalistic quality. Since information is increasingly being distributed free of charge, publishers are once again selling their readers. Sometimes for fools.
 
Hans Stutz is a freelance journalist.