The editors-in-chief of SWI Swissinfo.ch are reorganizing
SWI Swissinfo.ch is expanding its editorial board. With the addition of new members Dale Bechtel and Patrick Böhler, SWI aims to strengthen product development and align it even more closely with the needs of readers in the international market. Marguerite Meyer, head of multimedia, is leaving Swissinfo.
Editor-in-Chief Larissa M. Bieler with Deputy Editor-in-Chief Reto Gysi von Wartburg in the foreground, the two new members Dale Bechtel (left) and Patrick Böhler (center).
"With Patrick Böhler and Dale Bechtel, SWI's product development, from the preparation to the presentation and distribution of editorial content, will be bundled and strengthened. This will enable us to focus even more consistently on the needs of our international target markets," says editor-in-chief Larissa M. Bieler in a statement explaining the move to expand the editorial team.
Canadian/Swiss Dale Bechtel has worked for SWI Swissinfo.ch for more than 25 years. Bechtel started his career at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, where he produced for the leading radio cultural program. In SWI's early years, Dale Bechtel pioneered online work in cooperation with BBC: live coverage of a re-enacted historic mountain expedition in the Swiss Alps. He also developed community projects when social media was still in its infancy. He expanded the English editorial team of SWI Swissinfo.ch and established it as the central production unit for international Swiss news. He also designed the online communications strategy for the Bern-based International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation UIAA.
In the SWI editorial department, Bechtel will be responsible in particular for the development of market-oriented formats and multimedia storytelling.
The team is also completed by Patrick Böhler, who joins SWI. Böhler has covered Asia for the New York Times, Dow Jones, Bloomberg News, the South China Morning Post, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung and several other media outlets. At the New York Times, he was involved in the digitization of reporting and editorial processes. His reportages have won several journalism awards. Born in Vorarlberg, he previously worked for the Austrian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Defense. He also taught at the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at the University of Hong Kong, Asia's leading journalism school. Böhler holds a doctorate in political science.
As Senior Editor for Audience and Innovation, Böhler's task will be to bring Swissinfo.ch's content and formats closer to the needs of international users.
Larissa M. Bieler, Director and Editor-in-Chief, is looking forward to working with the strengthened team and developing SWI further. Reto Gysi von Wartburg will continue as deputy editor-in-chief of SWI.
Marguerite Meyer will leave SWI at her own request at the end of March 2019. She had joined SWI in January 2017 as head of the new multimedia team. The editors-in-chief wish her all the best and every success in her future projects.
