New Bern online magazine: launch planned for June
Funding for the launch of the planned Bern-based online magazine has been secured. The new online newspaper plans to go live next June.
The Bernese Online Media Association received substantial donations from the Foundation for Media Diversity in Basel, the Ursula Wirz Foundation in Bern and other private individuals. This has secured the start-up phase, writes the association in a press release on Thursday.
Further financing is still open. The aim is to finance the project in the medium term through membership fees, the press release continues. The association is convinced that a committed readership is also prepared to pay for content. To secure further funding, it would need around 1,500 association members who pay an annual subscription of CHF 250. Since the project was launched last fall, over one hundred private individuals have made an initial contribution of 500 francs, according to the association. The association currently has around 150 members.
In terms of technical implementation, the association is aiming to cooperate with Tageswoche in Basel, which was launched last year. There are currently no plans for editorial cooperation with Tageswoche.
The next step is to fill the position of editor-in-chief. This will be headed by a five-strong editorial team, who will share 3.5 full-time positions. The search for suitable premises is also underway.
The new magazine aims to contribute to the diversity of opinion in the federal city. The board of the supporting association includes city councillors Urs Frieden (Greens) and Thomas Göttin (SP). Numerous creative artists and politicians from the left-green camp are on the initiative committee. (SDA)
