Lokalinfo takes over the Wochenspiegel
The Wochenspiegel is getting a new owner and a new format. The paper's former publisher, Andreas Mohler, is transferring ownership to the Lokalinfo publishing house.
The publishing house Lokalinfo buys Wochenspiegel Verlag with "Wospi" - the weekly newspaper for the Zurich Unterland region published in Bülach. With this purchase, the publishing house intends to expand its commitment to local journalism. The editorial coverage of the weekly newspaper, which appears every Wednesday, will be strengthened under the new management, the publishing house wrote in a statement on Thursday.
The Chairman of the Board of Lokalinfo is the car importer and former SVP National Councilor Walter Frey. The weekly newspaper Wochenspiegel, which is distributed free of charge, will be transferred to Lokalinfo with a normal circulation of 33,591 copies (from 2013 with a monthly large circulation of 55,700 copies). The Bülach site will be retained and the employees will be taken on, the statement continues. ln the editorial area, jobs will be created. After the sale, long-time publisher Andreas Mohler will retire from the company.
The Wochenspiegel is now to be renewed in terms of concept and design, and will have a broader journalistic base. In the future, the newspaper will focus more on regional and local reporting, according to the Lokalinfo press release. To this end, the editorial team will be strengthened and the network of freelancers expanded. The format will change from tabloid to broadsheet. A relaunch of the Wochenspiegel's online presence is also planned. Meanwhile, the weekly publication rhythm of the printed edition will remain in place. The first issue of the redesigned "Wochenspiegel" is expected to appear in January 2013.
Meier + Cie Schaffhausen takes a minority stake in Lokalinfo and will sit on the board of directors.
