Syndicom writes that it is still the print sector that generates the lion's share of profits (more than two-thirds), thus financing Tamedia's digital growth and lining the pockets of shareholders. The union does not criticize the digital commitment of the media house, but that the profits are not invested in the staff, the improvement of the quality of work and the journalistic quality. Thus, the seven members of the management board had their total remuneration increased by more than 30 percent to 8.2 million and the shareholders' dividend by 12.5 percent, while for the 3,400 employees, who had earned the profit, an adequate wage increase of 6.6 million francs "profit sharing" would once again fall by the wayside. In addition, the closure of the Ziegler printing plant, which cost around 100 jobs, was "unnecessary and scandalous" in view of these profits.

The journalists' association Imprint also shows no understanding for profits in the millions in a fiscal year in which journalists were laid off for economic reasons. It is a "show of a lack of social responsibility". Furthermore, as the largest private media company, Tamedia also has a journalistic responsibility to society, warns Impressum. Tamedia cannot fulfill this responsibility with "measures to increase efficiency," which in plain language often means job cuts in editorial departments.

"With its 2014 figures, Tamedia shows once again that the crisis in journalistic media is also homemade," says Urs Thalmann, Managing Director of Imprint. "With the proposed segmentation of the business areas from 2015, Tamedia confirms that it does not want to finance journalism, whether printed or digital, with the revenue from the digital classifieds market in the future either. At the same time, Tamedia is buying these platforms out of print profits!"

And: "Tamedia itself is responsible for the declining print advertising market by competing with its journalistic products with pure advertising platforms. Imprint therefore demands that Tamedia return to the financial coupling of journalism and advertising revenues - both digital and print." (hae/pd)

On the subject: Tamedia: Sales growth thanks to digital revenues

The division of territories among the large media houses and the ongoing monopolization process led to another "black day for the Swiss newspaper landscape," writes Syndicom in a statement. "Tamedia, of all things, the most profitable Swiss publishing house," is reducing press diversity with the further cost-cutting measure and risks cuts in the quality of the media. The Announced reduction of 25 jobs is a mass dismissal, writes Syndicom and insists on the legal rights of participation of the affected workforce. Staff and staff representatives must be consulted. The aim must be to avoid dismissals or to reduce their consequences. This includes the application of a "decent social plan". Syndicom is in contact with the editorial offices. The union is demanding an open participation procedure from Tamedia without time pressure and the start of negotiations on the social plan.

Imprint demands preservation of all editorial positions

The journalists' organization Impressum also criticized Tamedia for the job cuts announced on Wednesday. Once again, an austerity program is being carried out on the backs of media professionals, Imprint said in a statement. The elimination of 25 jobs necessarily means a further reduction in the diversity of information, even if Tamedia denies this. The media company's previous concentration measures had always resulted in the same texts appearing in different titles.

Imprint once again condemns Tamedia's declared profit target of 15 percent, which enjoys a higher priority than the quality of the media. The organization demands that no layoffs be made at all and reminds Chairman of the Board Petro Supino of an SRF 4 broadcast in August 2013, in which he confirmed that no layoffs were planned at the Landbote. If jobs were to be cut elsewhere as a result of the purchase of the Landbote, Supino would be breaking his word, according to Impressum. (SDA/PD/hae)