Via BaZ to the national advertising market
Newspaper On June 2, two Fricktaler titles merge to form the Neue Fricktaler Zeitung. Its godmother, the Basler Zeitung, now wants to attach its protégé to the Metropool.
Newspaper On June 2, two Fricktaler titles merge to form the Neue Fricktaler Zeitung. Its godmother, the Basler Zeitung, now wants to attach its protégé to the Metropool.
The lettering of the Neue Fricktaler Zeitung (NFZ) is simple but full of symbolism: the name itself is a continuation of the gender of the Fricktaler Zeitung (FZ), while the Fricktaler Bote lives on in the color blue. The slightly italicized font takes something from the FZ logo, while the spelling with all capital letters goes back to the Bote. The message is clear: the new paper is not something grafted on, it builds on the tradition of the two previous titles. And it wants to help weld together the upper and lower Fricktal, two areas that are oriented differently in terms of their centers. This is also reflected in the layout: it largely dispenses with dividing lines between the articles - almost an appeal to break down the obstructive, small-scale demarcations (in the mind). But that's not all: the NFZ is energetically forging ahead and keeping the editorial offices in Frick and Rheinfelden unchanged.Publication organ in 27 municipalitiesWith the Thursday large print run, the NFZ, like its predecessor titles, mutates into the publication organ (PubO) of various Fricktal municipalities. From the Fricktaler Boten it takes over the contracts with all 25 municipalities in the upper Fricktal, from the FZ those with Rheinfelden and Möhlin. For the remaining 21 municipalities in the lower Fricktal and three neighboring Baselbieter municipalities, however, the official PubO is the Bezirksanzeiger in Stein. The latter also voluntarily publishes the municipal news of all those Fricktal municipalities for which it is not the PubO.
The Neue Fricktaler Zeitung (layout pages here) has a simple appearance and builds on the tradition of the two merged titles.
Local stories on the front pageIn terms of content, the paper clearly focuses on the entire Fricktal. "You know what's happening worldwide immediately via radio, TV and the Internet. However, this doesn't apply to the same extent in the local area," says Walter Herzog, editor-in-chief, majority shareholder (58 percent) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the new paper all in one. The NFZ front page therefore features two to three local stories and leads the reader to the back pages. People from the region are presented on the second page, while the focus on page three highlights a current Fricktal topic. This is followed by one page each for the district capitals of Rheinfelden and Laufenburg and for the up-and-coming towns of Möhlin and Frick/ Gipf-Oberfrick. The Fricktal pages cover news from the other municipalities and southern Baden, while two further pages look at Rüebliland and Aarau as well as north-western Switzerland and Basel. The Express section brings national and international news in brief. "We clearly see ourselves as a second newspaper alongside Basler Zeitung (BaZ) and Aargauer Zeitung," says Herzog confidently. The 20 to a maximum of 48 pages of the one- or two-page newspaper are rounded off with two to three pages of regional sport. A calendar of events is published on Fridays and the clubs are also given a platform. Herzog could not and did not want to fully participate in the four-color and tabloid trend. "In my opinion, a newspaper should show format," he said with a wink.
Rate increaseLike its two predecessor titles, the NFZ will continue to be published three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays). Due to
the sharp increase in circulation to 11,000 copies, the rate will be raised to CHF 4,970 for the normal circulation (+21 percent) and CHF 6,366 for the Thursday large circulation (31,000 copies) as of June 2 (+2 percent). "Compared to the mono circulation of the two previous individual titles, however, the rate in the NFZ will fall by 37 percent," emphasizes Herzog.
The price increase will not yet affect most of the combos that NFZ has taken over from Fricktaler Boten and FZ and to which it remains loyal this year. The hat trick with the Basellandschaftliche Zeitung (Liestal) and the Volksstimme (Sissach), the Y-combo with the free newspaper Aargauer Woche and the Landpresse-combo with the Frei-schütz (Muri) will be strengthened by the higher NFZ circulation, but their prices will remain unchanged. Only the "BaZ-Zusatzangebot Fricktal" combination will see an immediate price adjustment: with the NFZ standard circulation, the millimeter will now cost CHF 3.47, with the NFZ large circulation CHF 3.73.
A rate adjustment is only planned for January 1, 2006. According to Herzog, the NFZ will then also extend its publication frequency with an additional Wednesday edition. The reason for this is that the launch of the Nordwestschweiz network launched by BaZ publisher Matthias Hagemann is planned for this date. This alliance primarily means that the NFZ can dock onto the Metropool via an advertising combination with the BaZ (see also page 1). This is not yet definite, but talks are underway, as Ruth Ludwig-Hagemann, member of the Board of Directors of Basler Zeitung Medien and NFZ, said on request. However, the NFZ must become more flexible in terms of bookings, which would make a fourth weekly edition necessary.
Basler Zeitung Medien is probably keen to allow the NFZ to participate in national campaigns in this way. On the one hand, it wants to reward the Fricktaler Blatt, in which it holds a 21 percent stake, for its willingness to cooperate. On the other hand, it could once again demonstrate to the other regional papers, such as the Basellandschaftliche Zeitung and Volksstimme, that a partnership with the Basler Zeitung could be worthwhile.
Who knows, maybe the two will be lured into the Northwestern Switzerland network by the new docking option at the Metropool. In any case, this is wide open to them - as BaZ publisher Matthias Hagemann has always emphasized.
(mk)
The lettering of the Neue Fricktaler Zeitung (NFZ) is simple but full of symbolism: the name itself is a continuation of the gender of the Fricktaler Zeitung (FZ), while the Fricktaler Bote lives on in the color blue. The slightly italicized font takes something from the FZ logo, while the spelling with all capital letters goes back to the Bote. The message is clear: the new paper is not something grafted on, it builds on the tradition of the two previous titles. And it wants to help weld together the upper and lower Fricktal, two areas that are oriented differently in terms of their centers. This is also reflected in the layout: it largely dispenses with dividing lines between the articles - almost an appeal to break down the obstructive, small-scale demarcations (in the mind). But that's not all: the NFZ is energetically forging ahead and keeping the editorial offices in Frick and Rheinfelden unchanged.Publication organ in 27 municipalitiesWith the Thursday large print run, the NFZ, like its predecessor titles, mutates into the publication organ (PubO) of various Fricktal municipalities. From the Fricktaler Boten it takes over the contracts with all 25 municipalities in the upper Fricktal, from the FZ those with Rheinfelden and Möhlin. For the remaining 21 municipalities in the lower Fricktal and three neighboring Baselbieter municipalities, however, the official PubO is the Bezirksanzeiger in Stein. The latter also voluntarily publishes the municipal news of all those Fricktal municipalities for which it is not the PubO.
The Neue Fricktaler Zeitung (layout pages here) has a simple appearance and builds on the tradition of the two merged titles.
Local stories on the front pageIn terms of content, the paper clearly focuses on the entire Fricktal. "You know what's happening worldwide immediately via radio, TV and the Internet. However, this doesn't apply to the same extent in the local area," says Walter Herzog, editor-in-chief, majority shareholder (58 percent) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the new paper all in one. The NFZ front page therefore features two to three local stories and leads the reader to the back pages. People from the region are presented on the second page, while the focus on page three highlights a current Fricktal topic. This is followed by one page each for the district capitals of Rheinfelden and Laufenburg and for the up-and-coming towns of Möhlin and Frick/ Gipf-Oberfrick. The Fricktal pages cover news from the other municipalities and southern Baden, while two further pages look at Rüebliland and Aarau as well as north-western Switzerland and Basel. The Express section brings national and international news in brief. "We clearly see ourselves as a second newspaper alongside Basler Zeitung (BaZ) and Aargauer Zeitung," says Herzog confidently. The 20 to a maximum of 48 pages of the one- or two-page newspaper are rounded off with two to three pages of regional sport. A calendar of events is published on Fridays and the clubs are also given a platform. Herzog could not and did not want to fully participate in the four-color and tabloid trend. "In my opinion, a newspaper should show format," he said with a wink.
Rate increaseLike its two predecessor titles, the NFZ will continue to be published three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays). Due to
the sharp increase in circulation to 11,000 copies, the rate will be raised to CHF 4,970 for the normal circulation (+21 percent) and CHF 6,366 for the Thursday large circulation (31,000 copies) as of June 2 (+2 percent). "Compared to the mono circulation of the two previous individual titles, however, the rate in the NFZ will fall by 37 percent," emphasizes Herzog.
The price increase will not yet affect most of the combos that NFZ has taken over from Fricktaler Boten and FZ and to which it remains loyal this year. The hat trick with the Basellandschaftliche Zeitung (Liestal) and the Volksstimme (Sissach), the Y-combo with the free newspaper Aargauer Woche and the Landpresse-combo with the Frei-schütz (Muri) will be strengthened by the higher NFZ circulation, but their prices will remain unchanged. Only the "BaZ-Zusatzangebot Fricktal" combination will see an immediate price adjustment: with the NFZ standard circulation, the millimeter will now cost CHF 3.47, with the NFZ large circulation CHF 3.73.
A rate adjustment is only planned for January 1, 2006. According to Herzog, the NFZ will then also extend its publication frequency with an additional Wednesday edition. The reason for this is that the launch of the Nordwestschweiz network launched by BaZ publisher Matthias Hagemann is planned for this date. This alliance primarily means that the NFZ can dock onto the Metropool via an advertising combination with the BaZ (see also page 1). This is not yet definite, but talks are underway, as Ruth Ludwig-Hagemann, member of the Board of Directors of Basler Zeitung Medien and NFZ, said on request. However, the NFZ must become more flexible in terms of bookings, which would make a fourth weekly edition necessary.
Basler Zeitung Medien is probably keen to allow the NFZ to participate in national campaigns in this way. On the one hand, it wants to reward the Fricktaler Blatt, in which it holds a 21 percent stake, for its willingness to cooperate. On the other hand, it could once again demonstrate to the other regional papers, such as the Basellandschaftliche Zeitung and Volksstimme, that a partnership with the Basler Zeitung could be worthwhile.
Who knows, maybe the two will be lured into the Northwestern Switzerland network by the new docking option at the Metropool. In any case, this is wide open to them - as BaZ publisher Matthias Hagemann has always emphasized.
(mk)