Waiting for the litter
René Worni on regional language Internet strategies and waiting for the big break at the *Tages-Anzeiger*.
René Worni on regional language Internet strategiesThe Tages-Anzeiger has just completed the long-overdue refresh of its website and now also offers cultural news online. However, the overhaul is merely cosmetic. Those responsible, namely Res Strehle, former editor-in-chief of the magazine and for some time now responsible for Tamedia's well-guarded online strategy, are working on the big number in the background, but those responsible are holding back when it comes to information. Because other partners are involved in the project. These include publisher Matthias Hagemann's Basler Zeitung and the Bernese Espace titles Bund and Berner Zeitung, which were acquired at the end of May. Back in March, Tamedia CFO Christoph Tonini confirmed that the Group intends to grow significantly on the Internet and is investing heavily.
Meanwhile, further rumors are making the rounds that Tamedia wants to save another million at its flagship and transfer around 30 people to the Internet. This may serve as an indication that the Tagi is also thinking editorially in the direction of the newsdesk and online first.
Nevertheless, growth on the web is the order of the day, and one might wonder why it is taking so long for the Werdstrasse to see results. The explanation seems simple and lies in the problem of the Tages-Anzeiger itself. After the failure of its national orientation, it has remained a regional newspaper. If the public thinks Tagi, then the paper is primarily associated with Zurich. The only web presence of a subscription-based daily newspaper that attracts attention throughout German-speaking Switzerland is Blick online or that of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Tamedia's strategists only have a convincing argument in the advertising market if they have an online portal with a wider reach. Because the Group does not (yet) have a foothold in Basel, the
he publisher on the banks of the Rhine is needed. Without BaZ, the central media triangle of Basel-Bern-Zurich cannot be developed, and the new Internet platform envisaged here will become a catch basin for the many regional newspapers of the Tamedia empire, which meanwhile stretches from Frauenfeld, Biel and Thun to Lake Geneva.
René Worni, Editor
Meanwhile, further rumors are making the rounds that Tamedia wants to save another million at its flagship and transfer around 30 people to the Internet. This may serve as an indication that the Tagi is also thinking editorially in the direction of the newsdesk and online first.
Nevertheless, growth on the web is the order of the day, and one might wonder why it is taking so long for the Werdstrasse to see results. The explanation seems simple and lies in the problem of the Tages-Anzeiger itself. After the failure of its national orientation, it has remained a regional newspaper. If the public thinks Tagi, then the paper is primarily associated with Zurich. The only web presence of a subscription-based daily newspaper that attracts attention throughout German-speaking Switzerland is Blick online or that of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Tamedia's strategists only have a convincing argument in the advertising market if they have an online portal with a wider reach. Because the Group does not (yet) have a foothold in Basel, the
he publisher on the banks of the Rhine is needed. Without BaZ, the central media triangle of Basel-Bern-Zurich cannot be developed, and the new Internet platform envisaged here will become a catch basin for the many regional newspapers of the Tamedia empire, which meanwhile stretches from Frauenfeld, Biel and Thun to Lake Geneva.
René Worni, Editor
