Tamedia: Bund and Berner Zeitung to merge "not an issue"
In addition to discontinuing the print edition of Le Matin, Tamedia has no plans to discontinue any other titles «in the foreseeable future,» assures Tamedia spokesperson Christoph Zimmer. A merger of the Berner Zeitung and the Bund, for example, is «not on the table for us.» However, layoffs are possible in the main news section.
There had recently been public speculation about a merger of the two Bernese dailies. In response to a question from the Keystone_sda news agency on Thursday, the head of communications at Tamedia confirmed in concrete terms: "We have no plans, Confederation and BZ merge."
Of course, the future of all media depends on attracting readers and subscribers and on how the advertising market develops, Zimmer added. This applies to all media that are financed by the market.
Cover section: Cancellations possible
With regard to the German-speaking part of Switzerland, the situation has not changed since Tamedia's annual media conference on March 13, Zimmer said. At that time, Group CEO Christoph Tonini had explained that the new way of working meant that too many staff were employed and that the company wanted to reorganize via fluctuation. However, if there are no more natural departures in the next three years, he said, "it cannot be ruled out that there will be layoffs in the future."
We have to assume that advertising revenues will continue to fall. That's why cost pressure remains high.
Zimmer said on Thursday: "We have to assume that advertising revenues will continue to fall. That's why the cost pressure remains high." Reorganization via natural departures and internal transfers, i.e. job shifts between reactions, is still planned, he said. "If that's not enough, we can't rule out further measures and layoffs."
Le Matin-decision was made in the morning
The decision to discontinue the print edition of Le Matin The Tamedia spokesperson explained that the Tamedia Board of Directors did not make the decision until Thursday morning. Immediately afterwards, the affected employees were informed and shortly thereafter the public via the media.
In addition to 24 employees in the reaction department, 17 employees in the support area - text production, proofreading, image - will lose their jobs, according to Zimmer.
Tamedia is the largest private Swiss media group with digital platforms, daily and weekly newspapers and magazines. Founded in 1893, the company employs around 3,400 people in Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, France, Israel, Luxembourg, Austria and Serbia and has been listed on the Swiss stock exchange since 2000. (SDA)
