High expectations of new BaZ owner
Media associations and the Basel government have welcomed the sale of the Basler Zeitung with relief. They all have high expectations for the new owner.
Stephanie Vonarburg, a member of the comedia board, said that the editorial team can now carry out its work independently again. Her expectations are primarily focused on jobs and the journalistic course. It is precisely for these reasons that she welcomes the departure of financier Tito Tettamanti. A newspaper publisher is not an object of speculation, says Vonarbrug. Nor should it become the mouthpiece of a party or an extreme political orientation,
When asked, impressum Vice President Rolf Zenklusen, who himself works as a journalist for BZM, also expressed his delight at the sale. He said that the newspaper could now settle down again and the journalists could get on with their work instead of dealing with protests. He also has high expectations of Suter. He enjoys an excellent reputation as an entrepreneur in Basel. It is hoped that he will be able to keep the jobs and continue to run the Basler Zeitung with the same quality, said Zenklusen. It remains to be seen whether Suter will also set the newspaper on a new journalistic course.
Publisher President Hanspeter Lebrument expects BaZ to remain a forum newspaper, but with a more conservative character, as he told SDA when asked. For the time being, however, it will hardly grow beyond north-western Switzerland. A national newspaper could really only be published from Zurich. He also welcomes the change of ownership. After the turbulent times, the return of the newspaper to Basel hands will bring calm and the loss of credibility can be reversed, he says. He is less optimistic when it comes to jobs: Lebrument believes that Suter will have to make major downsizing in the printing sector. However, he also expects that the people of Basel will now remain loyal to the company and provide the print shop with more orders.
The collaboration with the Zurich-based media company Tamedia does not appear to be at risk. According to company spokesman Christoph Zimmer, Tamedia is in principle interested in continuing the partnership. However, a change of ownership is always an occasion for both sides to review the cooperation. Tamedia works together with the Basler in four areas: The magazine, the weekend supplement of Tamedia's flagship Tages-Anzeiger, is attached to BaZ. The online network Newsnetz provides editorial content for the BaZ website. There is also a cooperation in an advertising combination and in advertising marketing, as Zimmer explained.
The NZZ, which had also expressed an interest in BaZ, does not wish to comment on the sale. As NZZ spokeswoman Bettina Schibli said on request, questions about NZZ's further interest in BaZ are also superfluous. The newspaper is no longer for sale.
Christoph Blocher's consulting firm Robinvest also does not wish to comment on the sale of the newspaper. The company will not comment on the lost consultancy mandate, said Robinvest spokesperson Livio Zanolari on request.
Following the takeover of the Basler Zeitung by Moritz Suter, the Basel government's priority is to ensure that the BaZ remains an independent daily newspaper that covers the entire spectrum of opinion. Christoph Brutschin, Head of the Basel-Stadt Department of Economic, Social and Environmental Affairs, told the SDA news agency early on Wednesday evening that independence also requires stable ownership. A newspaper that did not reflect all opinions would probably not stand a chance in the Basel area, Brutschin estimated.
However, Brutschin pointed to the industrial part of the Basler Zeitung Medien Group: This has around a thousand jobs, particularly in its printing plants, and is currently under economic pressure. Getting the ship back on course is a major challenge.
When asked, impressum Vice President Rolf Zenklusen, who himself works as a journalist for BZM, also expressed his delight at the sale. He said that the newspaper could now settle down again and the journalists could get on with their work instead of dealing with protests. He also has high expectations of Suter. He enjoys an excellent reputation as an entrepreneur in Basel. It is hoped that he will be able to keep the jobs and continue to run the Basler Zeitung with the same quality, said Zenklusen. It remains to be seen whether Suter will also set the newspaper on a new journalistic course.
Publisher President Hanspeter Lebrument expects BaZ to remain a forum newspaper, but with a more conservative character, as he told SDA when asked. For the time being, however, it will hardly grow beyond north-western Switzerland. A national newspaper could really only be published from Zurich. He also welcomes the change of ownership. After the turbulent times, the return of the newspaper to Basel hands will bring calm and the loss of credibility can be reversed, he says. He is less optimistic when it comes to jobs: Lebrument believes that Suter will have to make major downsizing in the printing sector. However, he also expects that the people of Basel will now remain loyal to the company and provide the print shop with more orders.
The collaboration with the Zurich-based media company Tamedia does not appear to be at risk. According to company spokesman Christoph Zimmer, Tamedia is in principle interested in continuing the partnership. However, a change of ownership is always an occasion for both sides to review the cooperation. Tamedia works together with the Basler in four areas: The magazine, the weekend supplement of Tamedia's flagship Tages-Anzeiger, is attached to BaZ. The online network Newsnetz provides editorial content for the BaZ website. There is also a cooperation in an advertising combination and in advertising marketing, as Zimmer explained.
The NZZ, which had also expressed an interest in BaZ, does not wish to comment on the sale. As NZZ spokeswoman Bettina Schibli said on request, questions about NZZ's further interest in BaZ are also superfluous. The newspaper is no longer for sale.
Christoph Blocher's consulting firm Robinvest also does not wish to comment on the sale of the newspaper. The company will not comment on the lost consultancy mandate, said Robinvest spokesperson Livio Zanolari on request.
Following the takeover of the Basler Zeitung by Moritz Suter, the Basel government's priority is to ensure that the BaZ remains an independent daily newspaper that covers the entire spectrum of opinion. Christoph Brutschin, Head of the Basel-Stadt Department of Economic, Social and Environmental Affairs, told the SDA news agency early on Wednesday evening that independence also requires stable ownership. A newspaper that did not reflect all opinions would probably not stand a chance in the Basel area, Brutschin estimated.
However, Brutschin pointed to the industrial part of the Basler Zeitung Medien Group: This has around a thousand jobs, particularly in its printing plants, and is currently under economic pressure. Getting the ship back on course is a major challenge.
