Journal de Genève in letter format
Press: The Geneva daily newspaper *Le Journal de Genève* was last published nine years ago. Now, former members of the board of directors want to revive the paper.
Press Nine years ago, the Geneva daily newspaper Le Journal de Genève was published for the last time. Now former members of the Board of Directors want to revive the paper. The last issue of Le Journal de Genève was published in February 1998. It was lost in the merger with the Lausanne-based Nouveau Quotidien. The newspaper Le Temps was created, with the ambitious goal of becoming the "NZZ of French-speaking Switzerland". However, when the first cost-cutting plans at Le Temps began and the newspaper was redimensioned, there was disappointment, especially among the left-liberal Geneva bourgeoisie and in intellectual circles in French-speaking Switzerland. And in the "Association of Friends of the Journal de Genève et Gazette de Lausanne", a hard core of loyal readers of the lost, proudly traditional paper gathered. This association with its 650 members now has an unusual project: the Journal de Genève is to be given a new chance in the form of a weekly letter to interested parties. The first issue of the four to eight-page letter will be published in mid-March. It is aimed at a readership that demands more than mainstream journalism. The project, which is reminiscent of its famous predecessor in terms of its title, color and layout, will be launched in mid-April.
One of the most important personalities behind the project is former Geneva law professor Pierre Engel, who, as a member of the Journal de Genève Board of Directors, fought in vain against the merger and in 2006 won the right to use the name of the merged newspaper again in the Federal Court. Also involved is a former editor of the "Journal", Christian Campiche, who is taking over the editorial management. Dominique Flaux, the former marketing manager, is also involved. He came up with the idea of starting with a simple letter instead of a weekly or fortnightly magazine. "A weekly newspaper would have been the quickest way to disaster," says Flaux, who is keen to point out that the project is neither nostalgic nor an unrealistic adventure. "We have raised the necessary funds to publish the letter for at least a year." And this will be done completely without advertising, without distribution at newsstands and with low production costs - according to Flaux, 85 percent of the funds will go to the editorial team. He cautiously expects to start with around 300 subscribers, which, if they grow to 800 to 1000, will be able to support the publication. Everything else is still up in the air - but the desire to revive the venerable "Journal" as a newspaper is still the driving force behind the project.
The annual subscription costs a hefty 750 francs. "That's the price of independence!" says editor-in-chief Christian Campiche. The current business editor at the regional newspaper La Liberté works 60 percent for the project, while 40 percent of the job is earmarked for another person. Journalistically, the letter will be supported by a large network of freelancers and informants. It will provide information from the worlds of business and politics, which Campiche believes is all too often overlooked or suppressed today. And the editorial line? The editorial charter states that the Brief will be a "reference publication for information, analysis, reflection and commentary", completely independent and accountable only to the public and society. "Our publication is open to all opinions, as long as it respects and promotes human dignity in all its cultural, social, economic and spiritual dimensions," says Campiche. The letter is addressed to the members of the Association of Friends of the Journal de Genève, but also to companies, institutions, lawyers and decision-makers in French-speaking Switzerland who need independent and reliable information.
And what does Le Temps think about this project? "We are proud of our predecessor, the Journal de Genève," says Valérie Boagno, deputy director. Le Temps is trying to maintain the tradition of the "Journal". Pierre Engel, on the other hand, never accepted the merger and is now taking on the responsibility of relaunching the venerable paper in the form of a magazine. "We are a little sad that things are now going this way." Boagno points out that Le Temps intends to complete the digitization of the entire Journal de Genève archive this year. This is a large-scale project in collaboration with the University of Geneva and the Swiss National Library: 600,000 pages of "Journal" in various formats - all volumes of the newspaper over two centuries - will be recorded and then made accessible to the public. "This is our way of reviving the Journal and making it accessible to the people who loved it," says Boagno.
Helen Brügger
One of the most important personalities behind the project is former Geneva law professor Pierre Engel, who, as a member of the Journal de Genève Board of Directors, fought in vain against the merger and in 2006 won the right to use the name of the merged newspaper again in the Federal Court. Also involved is a former editor of the "Journal", Christian Campiche, who is taking over the editorial management. Dominique Flaux, the former marketing manager, is also involved. He came up with the idea of starting with a simple letter instead of a weekly or fortnightly magazine. "A weekly newspaper would have been the quickest way to disaster," says Flaux, who is keen to point out that the project is neither nostalgic nor an unrealistic adventure. "We have raised the necessary funds to publish the letter for at least a year." And this will be done completely without advertising, without distribution at newsstands and with low production costs - according to Flaux, 85 percent of the funds will go to the editorial team. He cautiously expects to start with around 300 subscribers, which, if they grow to 800 to 1000, will be able to support the publication. Everything else is still up in the air - but the desire to revive the venerable "Journal" as a newspaper is still the driving force behind the project.
The annual subscription costs a hefty 750 francs. "That's the price of independence!" says editor-in-chief Christian Campiche. The current business editor at the regional newspaper La Liberté works 60 percent for the project, while 40 percent of the job is earmarked for another person. Journalistically, the letter will be supported by a large network of freelancers and informants. It will provide information from the worlds of business and politics, which Campiche believes is all too often overlooked or suppressed today. And the editorial line? The editorial charter states that the Brief will be a "reference publication for information, analysis, reflection and commentary", completely independent and accountable only to the public and society. "Our publication is open to all opinions, as long as it respects and promotes human dignity in all its cultural, social, economic and spiritual dimensions," says Campiche. The letter is addressed to the members of the Association of Friends of the Journal de Genève, but also to companies, institutions, lawyers and decision-makers in French-speaking Switzerland who need independent and reliable information.
And what does Le Temps think about this project? "We are proud of our predecessor, the Journal de Genève," says Valérie Boagno, deputy director. Le Temps is trying to maintain the tradition of the "Journal". Pierre Engel, on the other hand, never accepted the merger and is now taking on the responsibility of relaunching the venerable paper in the form of a magazine. "We are a little sad that things are now going this way." Boagno points out that Le Temps intends to complete the digitization of the entire Journal de Genève archive this year. This is a large-scale project in collaboration with the University of Geneva and the Swiss National Library: 600,000 pages of "Journal" in various formats - all volumes of the newspaper over two centuries - will be recorded and then made accessible to the public. "This is our way of reviving the Journal and making it accessible to the people who loved it," says Boagno.
Helen Brügger
