Transfer in Oerlikon
Those who wait a long time are treated to a lively party: The event for *Die Weltwoche*, which has transformed into a magazine, took place during Ascension Week—finally!
Those who wait a long time are treated to a great party: the event for Weltwoche, which has mutated into a magazine, finally took place during Ascension week! By Beat Fritsch The relaunch of the weekly newspaper as a magazine had been put on the back burner several times - partly because of the Jean Frey deal. Some visitors even admitted that at times they no longer believed in a relaunch. The deal for the Zurich publishing house, which already had many owners, also caused surprises this year. At the end of December, Ringier was still being congratulated on its supposedly successful press coup, until the Basel media group put the brakes on the Zurich-based company and sold it out of the blue to the investment bank Swissfirst. Swissfirst first installed Filippo Leutenegger, who had just been dismissed from SF DRS, at the head of the company and placed the shares with private investors, including Bernese press czar Charles von Graffenried, media specialist Heinz Wermelinger and entrepreneur Tito Tettamanti. This seems to have brought peace for the first time.
However, the party was not expected to be quiet. The high level of expectation among the guests in the ABB hall in Zurich-Oerlikon was palpable. The main aim was to bridge the time until the first new Weltwoche was delivered. The ambience created in the hall left nothing to be desired, with the Weltwoche blue decorations creating a pleasant atmosphere. In the entrance area, the annual covers of the collected Weltwoche editions invited visitors to study them, further back there was a lounge area generously furnished with leather armchairs - we couldn't quite agree whether they were real Corbusiers - which later served as a reading corner, and in the middle of the hall there was a well-stocked bar with a mirrored look.
Before the guests could plunge into the reading pleasure like some or the party pleasure like others, there was a short but intensive supporting program to complete. Co-owner von Graffenried welcomed the attendees on a big screen, then there was a fake "live" connection to Dani Nieth. Afterwards, Susanne Kunz, SF-DRS presenter, interviewed Filippo Leutenegger and Weltwoche editor-in-chief Roger Köppel, until laser fireworks announced the arrival of the newspaper. The dramaturgy was perfect, but the acoustics left a lot to be desired; unfortunately, hardly a word could be understood in the back rows.
Which didn't detract from the good atmosphere. The generous supply of drinks and snacks made for relaxed faces. And as is the case with launch parties: The topics of conversation never run out, which is ensured by the new product alone. The statements ranged from "it takes a lot of getting used to" to "I really like it", from "formally successful" to "heavy layout". Nobody wanted to make a prediction as to whether Weltwoche would make it or not. What is certain is that Weltwoche will continue to be a topic of conversation under Roger Köppel and the new owners.
The enthusiasm of the team around publishing director Uli Rubner and advertising manager Ivan Schultheiss seems unbroken despite the somewhat difficult birth. And the investors have announced that the newly launched magazine has at least three years to get into the black. Good luck!
Beat Fritsch
However, the party was not expected to be quiet. The high level of expectation among the guests in the ABB hall in Zurich-Oerlikon was palpable. The main aim was to bridge the time until the first new Weltwoche was delivered. The ambience created in the hall left nothing to be desired, with the Weltwoche blue decorations creating a pleasant atmosphere. In the entrance area, the annual covers of the collected Weltwoche editions invited visitors to study them, further back there was a lounge area generously furnished with leather armchairs - we couldn't quite agree whether they were real Corbusiers - which later served as a reading corner, and in the middle of the hall there was a well-stocked bar with a mirrored look.
Before the guests could plunge into the reading pleasure like some or the party pleasure like others, there was a short but intensive supporting program to complete. Co-owner von Graffenried welcomed the attendees on a big screen, then there was a fake "live" connection to Dani Nieth. Afterwards, Susanne Kunz, SF-DRS presenter, interviewed Filippo Leutenegger and Weltwoche editor-in-chief Roger Köppel, until laser fireworks announced the arrival of the newspaper. The dramaturgy was perfect, but the acoustics left a lot to be desired; unfortunately, hardly a word could be understood in the back rows.
Which didn't detract from the good atmosphere. The generous supply of drinks and snacks made for relaxed faces. And as is the case with launch parties: The topics of conversation never run out, which is ensured by the new product alone. The statements ranged from "it takes a lot of getting used to" to "I really like it", from "formally successful" to "heavy layout". Nobody wanted to make a prediction as to whether Weltwoche would make it or not. What is certain is that Weltwoche will continue to be a topic of conversation under Roger Köppel and the new owners.
The enthusiasm of the team around publishing director Uli Rubner and advertising manager Ivan Schultheiss seems unbroken despite the somewhat difficult birth. And the investors have announced that the newly launched magazine has at least three years to get into the black. Good luck!
Beat Fritsch
disguised as former ambassador T. B.-F., Berlin, makes it clear what he thinks of the hullabaloo surrounding his person. The fact that B. adorns the cover of the newly conceived Weltwoche and has his say in it at length can be interpreted as a sideswipe in the direction of Dufourstrasse and a kick in the shins of the Bernese political establishment.
We can locate people in the communications scene at launch events or other parties at a wide variety of industry events. Do you already have something exciting to report? Pick up the phone (01 296 97 98) or hit the keyboard (info@werbewoche .ch). For event tips as well as further shortlist images: www.werbewoche.ch
