Arena presenter wants to reorient herself professionally

Sonja Hasler has been working for Swiss radio and television since 1994. She began her career at Schweizer Radio DRS as a sports reporter, and from 1997 she worked as a radio news editor. From 2001 to 2005, Sonja Hasler was in charge of the "Tagesgespräch" program on Swiss Radio DRS.

Sonja Hasler moved to Swiss television in 2006, where she hosted "Rundschau" for seven years. From spring 2009, Sonja Hasler was the first woman to also act as a discussion leader for "Arena" and "Arena vor Ort", before concentrating entirely on her work on the political discussion show from mid-2013. During her time in television, she conducted interviews and hosted the Elephant Roundtable during the parliamentary elections, the Federal Council elections and the voting studio.

After so many years at the pulse of national events, Sonja Hasler is in the mood for something new, she is quoted as saying in Thursday's press release. Whether this will be inside or outside SRF remains to be seen. Editorial director Marianne Gilgen regrets her departure. Hasler was not impressed by political bigwigs and struck the right tone with her interviewees - from the Federal Council to mountain farmers.

Urs Wiedmer will host all editions of "Arena" until the summer break. As the media company has already announced, Jonas Projer will take over as presenter of the program from the end of August (Werbewoche.ch reported). Urs Wiedmer moves to the editorial office of the Federal Parliament.