Tamedia merges the editorial teams of 20 Minutes and Le Matin
Tamedia is merging the editorial departments of 20 Minutes and Le Matin. Both newspapers are expected to retain their own identities. The merger will result in the loss of six jobs.
20 Minutes and Le Matin are joining forces editorially as of January 1, 2018. The two national newspapers complement each other in terms of content and are read by their readership in different environments, Tamedia writes in a statement. For this reason, the special content features of both titles and thus the specific DNA will also be ensured by the new editorial team.
The merger is the result of several months of project work by the two editors-in-chief. Philippe Favre of 20 Minutes and Grégoire Nappey of Le Matin will jointly assume the editorship of the new editorial office. It will be affiliated with Tamedia's "Advertising and Commuter Media" division under the name "Editorial Office 20 Minutes & Le Matin".
The merger of the two editorial teams builds on existing collaborations between 20 Minutes and Le Matin, such as the internal agency Sport-Center, which prepares all sports information for Le Matin, Le Matin Dimanche and 20 Minutes, or NewsExpress, the internal news agency that provides breaking news, short news and tickers to all Tamedia news platforms in Switzerland.
Further development of Le Matin made possible by merger
Le Matin has been in deficit for 20 years, despite a great commitment by the respective publishers and numerous changes, Tamedia writes. Thanks to the merger of the editorial teams of 20 Minutes and Le Matin, the brand can be further developed even in today's difficult environment. The daily newspaper, which was founded in 1893 under the name "La Tribune de Lausanne" and renamed "Le Matin" in 1984, occupies an important place in the daily lives of readers in French-speaking Switzerland.
Grégoire Nappey, Editor-in-Chief of Le Matin: "In our difficult economic and competitive environment, this merger is a real opportunity for Le Matin. With this project, we are creating the basis for further developing Le Matin as a popular title that is unique in the media landscape of French-speaking Switzerland, also in the long term."
Philippe Favre, Editor-in-Chief of 20 minutes: "The merger is an opportunity for both newspapers to acquire new competencies. 20 minutes will be strengthened in the areas of sports, national politics and in-depth research. Le Matin benefits from the experience of the 20 minutes editorial team in the digital field."
Six people are affected by the merger of the editorial offices of 20 minutes and Le Matin. Tamedia is offering support measures to the affected employees.
