Families are also observed
Magazines: *Der Beobachter* is taking a chance on a relaunch and plans to devote more space to family-related topics.
Magazines The Beobachter is relaunching and wants to give more space to family issues. "We are convinced that the solution to many of society's problems lies within the family," writes Editor-in-Chief Balz Hosang in the editorial of Beobachter, which will be published in a new layout for the first time on March 30. The most obvious change is a new and independent family section with reports on education, school, consumption, health and leisure, each on twelve pages. The new section is funded in line with proven "Beo" practice, with the editorial team researching stories on the one hand and cases from the advisory service being taken up and dealt with editorially on the other. The range of topics is broad. For example, the first issue deals with how an elementary school in Wil in the canton of St. Gallen is already practising the school of tomorrow, when parents really annoy their children, how to talk to children about their private parts, that many children walk in shoes that are too tight and so on. The concept is not intended to compete with the family magazine Wir Eltern, explains publishing director Roland Wahrenberger. "We want to give an existing target group more content and, of course, attract new readers." Wahrenberger believes that the positive family theme should also interest the advertising market. So far, the response from advertisers has been "extremely positive".
Younger readership in focusThe new family pages are also a pleasant contrast to the other sections of the paper. The "Beo" has long been a traditional institution and addresses the problems of society (and its readership) in a skillful mix of advocacy journalism and concrete life help from the in-house advice service. The family section is also supported by offers on the Internet and supplemented by an advice hotline, which can be used by doctors, for example, to provide information. The relaunch also includes the prominent placement of readers' voices on the first pages of the magazine. With these changes, those responsible are also focusing on a younger readership.
The Beobachter is generally expanding its reporting, which also has consequences in terms of personnel. "We are in the process of recruiting new people," says Editor-in-Chief Hosang. The size of the recruitment is not yet clear, but according to Hosang it will be a mixture of more budget for freelance journalists and new editorial positions.
Still no impetus from GermanyAfter the takeover of the Jean Frey Publishing Group, to which the Beobachter belongs, the new owners of Axel Springer Verlag were enthusiastic about the traditional paper. In Berlin, they are dreaming of all kinds of extensions to the Beobachter brand, for the time being without any concrete consequences. The current relaunch of the paper took place entirely without the involvement of Axel Springer. "We started planning last fall, there was no impetus from Germany yet," confirms Editor-in-Chief Balz Hosang. However, the relaunch is not the last step in the further evolution of the Beobachter. The "Beo" is expected to go online with a completely revamped web portal by late summer.
René Worni
Younger readership in focusThe new family pages are also a pleasant contrast to the other sections of the paper. The "Beo" has long been a traditional institution and addresses the problems of society (and its readership) in a skillful mix of advocacy journalism and concrete life help from the in-house advice service. The family section is also supported by offers on the Internet and supplemented by an advice hotline, which can be used by doctors, for example, to provide information. The relaunch also includes the prominent placement of readers' voices on the first pages of the magazine. With these changes, those responsible are also focusing on a younger readership.
The Beobachter is generally expanding its reporting, which also has consequences in terms of personnel. "We are in the process of recruiting new people," says Editor-in-Chief Hosang. The size of the recruitment is not yet clear, but according to Hosang it will be a mixture of more budget for freelance journalists and new editorial positions.
Still no impetus from GermanyAfter the takeover of the Jean Frey Publishing Group, to which the Beobachter belongs, the new owners of Axel Springer Verlag were enthusiastic about the traditional paper. In Berlin, they are dreaming of all kinds of extensions to the Beobachter brand, for the time being without any concrete consequences. The current relaunch of the paper took place entirely without the involvement of Axel Springer. "We started planning last fall, there was no impetus from Germany yet," confirms Editor-in-Chief Balz Hosang. However, the relaunch is not the last step in the further evolution of the Beobachter. The "Beo" is expected to go online with a completely revamped web portal by late summer.
René Worni
