Thurgauer Zeitung and St. Galler Tagblatt make cooperation official

The Thurgauer Zeitung and the St. Galler Tagblatt are merging their local editorial teams and thus retreating to their home regions. In a press release on Wednesday, the two companies confirm the rumors from two weeks ago (see ). From January 2007, there will only be one local editorial office each in Kreuzlingen, Amriswil, Weinfelden and Bischofszell. In future, the Tagblatt will receive editorial content from the Thurgauer Zeitung covering the districts of Weinfelden and Kreuzlingen. In return, the Tagblatt will provide its cooperation partner with news from the Arbon and Amriswil districts.
Swap deal between the two newspapers Among other things, this means the end of the St. Galler Tagblatt editorial offices in Kreuzlingen and Weinfelden. For its part, the Thurgauer Zeitung is stopping its own reporting in the municipalities of Amriswil and the district of Arbon. For the district of Bischofszell (excluding Amriswil), the two papers will form a joint editorial team. According to a press release, the cooperation will allow the exchange of editorial content. In addition, the two daily newspapers can now concentrate on their core areas. However, cantonal topics and those of supra-regional interest will continue to be covered separately by the two newspapers.

Merger destroys jobs Two jobs at the Thurgauer Zeitung are affected by the collaboration. According to the press release, a solution is being sought internally for those affected. Jobs will also be lost at the St. Galler Tagblatt. It is not yet clear how many, according to the news agency.
When the cooperation plans became known two weeks ago, the cantonal government and the Grand Council expressed concerns. They feared that the division would create a "must moat". As the SDA now reports, these fears have been allayed somewhat. However, according to the Director of Economic Affairs, there is concern that the collaboration is a first step towards a single newspaper.
 
Comedia criticizes cooperation In a statement, the media trade union Comedia also criticized the cooperation between the two Thurgau newspapers. It is questionable that the market is to be practically eliminated. "The fact that the NZZ Group in particular, whose flagship pays homage to the market in flaming pleas, is in fact entering into an agreement with its direct competitor Tamedia on the geographical division of markets is very surprising," writes Comedia. In retrospect, it almost seems like a mockery that Tamedia emphasized when it took over the Thurgauer Zeitung a year ago that the deal would preserve "the long-term independence of the Thurgauer Zeitung and media diversity in the canton of Thurgau".