"We already had a challenging environment in previous years, but in 2020 we lost a third of our advertising revenue in one fell swoop," publisher Johann Oberauer wrote in a statement. Editor-in-chief David Sieber, who has been responsible for the Swiss journalist is therefore ending his mandate, the statement continues. During his time in office, he had significantly increased the circulation and opened up new readerships.

Reduction not provided

Unlike many other media houses, however, Oberauer wants to avoid reducing the scope and thus also the content. He says this is possible thanks to cooperation between the editorial teams in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The practice and international sections will be combined on 48 pages in a common core. The respective national topics will be bundled in a jacket of at least 36 pages. As in previous years, there will also be an extra 16 pages of journalists' workshops. In other words, a total of at least 100 pages of industry information for journalists every two months. "If unconventional solutions help to bridge extremely difficult times, we have to take them," Oberauer said in the release.

The Swiss journalist will continue to have its own editorial management, which will be responsible for Swiss content with a reduced workload. A decision on the appointment will be made in the next few weeks. (pd/swi)

In a broad voting process, the industry magazine "Schweizer Journalist" determined which media professionals had done exceptional work in 2020. The trio of journalists Fiona Endres, Nicole Vögele and Anielle Peterhans wins the main prize by a large margin in this year's "Journalist of the Year" election. The jury agrees that Crypto-Leaks is one of the biggest investigations of recent years. Together with colleagues from the Second German Television ZDF and the Washington Post, they revealed the background of one of the biggest intelligence stories in recent Swiss history.

The category titles also all went to women, with one exception:

• Editor-in-Chief of the Year: Nicole Meier, Keystone-SDA
• Reporter of the Year: Sarah Serafini, Watson
• Sports Journalist of the Year: Mämä Sykora, Twelve
• Research Journalist of the Year: Adrienne Fiechter, Republic
• Social Journalist of the Year: Barbara Bleisch, "Sternstunde Philosophie" SRF
• Political Journalist of the Year: Nathalie Christen, SRF
• Business Journalist of the Year: Olivia Kühni, Republic
• Columnist of the Year: Nina Kunz, The magazine
• Cultural Journalist of the Year: Simone Meier, Watson
• Newcomer of the year: Ronja Beck, Republic

The report published by the editors of the Swiss journalist goes to Tamedia's research desk. The meticulous chronology of the first lockdown, published in book form, reads like a thriller.

The editors have chosen the following as "Local Heroes": Sophie Reinhardt (The Covenant), Matieu Klee (SRF Regionaljournal Basel), Simon Jacoby (Tsüry.ch), Denise Erni (Southeast Switzerland), Simon Mathis (Lucerne Newspaper), Isabel Zumofen (Canal 9) and Lillo Alaimo (Il Caffè).

The choice this year was difficult above all because this person should not only have an eye on the numbers, but should also have rendered outstanding services to journalism, according to a statement. "Of course, the SRF director also has to save money and cut jobs, but she is not doing it with a lawnmower, but is integrating the deteriorating economic conditions into the strategy "SRF 2024." This strategy aims to clarify nothing less than the role of the public service in the digital age. While on the one hand it cuts off old braids and takes unpopular decisions, such as with the abolition of "Eco," "Netz Natur" and "52 Best Books," on the other hand it invests in journalism (research desk, investigative journalism, specialist editorial departments). In addition, it has formats developed for social media and is trying to create a spirit of optimism internally. She still has to work on the latter," she says. Wappler is not afraid to make a splash when she is convinced that she is doing the right thing. That takes a lot of courage in her position as head of a public institution in the area of tension between public expectations and politics.

The "Media Manager of the Year" award is presented annually to an executive in Swiss media management who, through his or her work, promotes the basis for journalism and thus also makes an important contribution to society. "Good journalism necessarily needs good management. We want to make this clear with this award, especially in the Corona Year, and at the same time appreciate the work of exceptional media managers," Johann Oberauer, publisher of the Swiss journalist, cited in the release.

One of the reasons given for the choice was the reporter's special journalistic flair: "She has a feel for life's big and small stories and is unconventional." Helene Aecherli prefers to write about socio-political topics, especially the Middle East, gender, health and sexuality - often in combination. She is one of the few European journalists to have reported from Guantanamo, portrayed "dangerous singles" in Egypt, dealt with discrimination against employees over 50, and talked to couples therapist Esther Perel about cheating.

The award is an industry prize. A preliminary jury consisting of 39 active and former journalists nominated five people in each of eleven categories. The winners were then chosen in an online vote. Helene Aecherli won more than a quarter of the approximately 800 votes cast by the jury, which, according to "Schweizer Journalist," consisted of industry representatives and magazine subscribers.

According to the statement, Oberauer and Zimmermann could no longer agree on the direction of the newspaper. Publisher Oberauer wanted more consideration for the political leanings of many journalists and a «less publisher-biased stance» from the editor-in-chief, which was reflected, for example, in the latter’s positive assessment of the central editorial offices of Tamedia and CH Media. Zimmermann, who also Weltwoche-The columnist, on the other hand, stood by his well-known pro-free-market views.

Oberauer and Zimmermann, who have been close friends for a long time in their personal lives, have therefore agreed to part ways. Zimmermann will continue to be responsible for the next few issues of the Swiss journalist He is in charge and will step down in April 2019. After that, he will work for Oberauer's German media magazine Kress Pro to work as an author. According to the statement, the split has nothing to do with commercial reasons.

David Sieber will be the new editor-in-chief. Sieber has held many positions in Swiss journalism. He has served as foreign, business, and parliamentary affairs editor, as well as a freelance journalist. Until 2015, Sieber was editor-in-chief of the newspaper Southeast Switzerland. Most recently, he served as editor-in-chief of the publication published by AZ Medien until September 2018 Basellandschaftliche Newspaper. Sieber will assume his new position in April 2019.

"She researches and gives precise rather than pre-printed answers," journalists comment on her work, according to a news report on the best corporate spokesperson. Huguenin-dit-Lenoir has been Head of Corporate Communications since 2007, responsible for internal and external communications at the international travel company.

171 business and trade journalists assessed the press relations of the 80 most important companies for the "Schweizer Journalist". Sepp Huber from Swisscom was ranked second by the journalists. Sonja Zöchling Stucki from Zurich Airport is in third place. Artur Demirci of Mercedes-Benz is one of this year's climbers, moving up 49 ranks to 25th place. Dominik Marbet, on the other hand, dropped 34 notches and is now in 48th place. Bringing up the rear in 2016 is Pam Easton of Transocean.

The journalists also evaluated the work of the PR agencies. This year, Lemongrass is once again in first place. Second place goes to Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Konsulenten. Prime Communications takes 3rd place. The annual survey has now taken place for the 17th time. (SDA/nod)

Image: Swiss Travelwriters Club