BZM merges local newspaper

Basler Zeitung Medien (BZM) is bringing four local newspapers under one roof. The "Allschwiler Wochenblatt", the "Muttenzer & Prattler Anzeiger", the "Birsfelder Anzeiger" and the "Reinacher Zeitung" all move together - a total of 13 publishing, editorial and typesetting staff - to Birsfelden. The four publishing houses are merged to form "LV Lokalzeitungen Verlags AG" (LV AG); however, they remain a subsidiary of (BZM) as a whole. Patrick Wehrli will take over the operational management. He describes the decision as an opportunity for the local newspapers to be produced better and more professionally, writes the "Basler Zeitung" on Tuesday. The board of directors will include BZM board member Ruth Ludwig, Patrick Wehrli, the municipal presidents of Muttenz, Pratteln and Allschwil, Peter Vogt, Beat Stingelin and Anton Lauber, and the municipal administrator of Birsfelden, Walter Ziltener. The Reinach municipal council has rejected the offer to participate in the LV AG board of directors. The five municipalities are to receive their own pages in each gazette with their own content as well as their own layout. The rest of the paper, however, is completely politically independent, Wehrli explains further. To ensure that direct contact with the population is not lost, a contact point will be set up in each municipality.