In his doctoral thesis "Post it, Like it, Share it - and Profit", which deals with the effect of social media influencers on purchasing decisions, Gasser provides "innovative research results" and "decisive impulses for the optimization of marketing strategies in the consumer goods and tourism sector in an increasingly digitalized market landscape", as stated in a press release.

DDV President Martin Nitsche, together with patron Mary-Victoria Gerardi-Schmid and jury chairman Bernd Ambiel, presented Gasser with the certificate and the prize money of 2,500 euros. The jury emphasized that Gasser's work not only closes theoretical gaps, but can also help companies to design their marketing strategies more precisely and effectively, as various decision-supporting guidelines have been developed.

The AGGP is according to Financialnews.com in German-speaking countries is "the highest award for academic theses that deal with innovative approaches and research achievements in dialog and data-driven marketing" and has been awarded for 39 years. Alfred Gerardi was a pioneer of (direct) marketing and had already significantly influenced the industry in Central Europe in the 1950s. The promotion of young talent was particularly close to his heart, which is why the prize named after him honors talented young researchers in the field of marketing and consumer research.

Rap City took place for the first time in 2018. The line-up consists of international greats as well as newcomers and selected Swiss acts and attracts visitors from all over Switzerland. The size and length of the festival means it appeals to a broad section of the hip-hop scene.

Appropriate access to the urban target group

This public interest is also exciting for partnerships and sponsorships: Rap City can be used to address young and urban target groups that are difficult to reach in other ways. The Zurich agency Echowerk, which has been commissioned with the exclusive marketing, will take over with immediate effect.

"The Rap City team knows what interests the urban hip-hop scene and where to find it. We support the core team with professional market development on the sponsorship side and accompany the partners in the development and implementation of their activations," says Manuel Schaub, founder of Echowerk.

Existing partnerships are to be maintained and supplemented with new ones. New partnerships will in turn open up additional communication channels for the event, which should appeal to even more hip-hop fans.

Michael Hinderling is leaving Dept after almost five years with the agency. His time at the agency comes to an end after a successful night at this year's Best of Swiss Apps Awards. The mobile app for the solar energy company Helion won several awards, including the prestigious Master's degree. A successful conclusion to her years at the agency, as was reported in a press release.

Since the merger of Hinderling Volkart and Dept, Michael Hinderling has been responsible for the newly formed Swiss unit. Two years later, he shifted his focus to strategic consulting and innovative individual projects. During his time at Dept, Hinderling also completed further training on artificial intelligence and its implications for business strategies at MIT. In parallel to his work at the agency, he worked as an independent designer, providing his own clients with brand strategies, digital identities and websites.

According to the press release, Michael Hinderling now wants to tackle new challenges and visions. His next project is the conception of an immersive museum that will link digital and physical worlds. Hinderling is also considering founding a boutique agency after his departure from Dept, as he himself communicates. He is simply waiting for the right opportunity and constellation. (Dajana Dakic/cka/swi)

This article first appeared in Netzwoche.

The high-performance detectors from Dectris are used in research institutes around the world, for example in particle accelerators, X-ray analysis and electron microscopy. Researchers and engineers use the detectors to quickly obtain precise analysis data in areas such as drug development or battery research. In addition to detectors, Dectris develops other products and services for cutting-edge research, including a particularly powerful cloud platform for the collaborative use of scientific data.

Developing the brand globally

Dectris wants to further expand its leading position in the extremely dynamic high-tech market. At the same time, the brand must assert itself as an innovation leader and reliable partner in the demanding scientific environment. In order to meet these requirements, Scholtysik will strategically develop the Dectris brand and increase its appeal in the long term.

"In Scholtysik, we have found a branding partner that not only has extensive experience in the technology sector, but also understands the scientific communities for which we ultimately develop our products," says Stefan Brandstetter, Chief Commercial Officer of Dectris.

In addition to his journalistic experience, Weinmann also has a personal connection to aviation, according to a statement from Swiss International Air Lines. He holds a pilot's license and has already covered numerous aviation-related topics during his journalistic career and communicated them to a wide audience - from technological innovations and the introduction of new aircraft to sustainability and air traffic management issues. This combination of journalistic expertise and understanding of the aviation industry makes him the ideal candidate for this position.

Most recently, the 43-year-old worked for SRF as presenter of the news magazine "Schweiz aktuell".

This year's ADCE Awards were presented on Friday as part of the ADCE European Creativity Festival in Barcelona. A total of 375 projects were honored from 924 submissions from 24 countries. Projects from Switzerland also impressed the jury, which was made up of 58 leading creatives from all over Europe.

There was also an ADCE Student Award: The team from the Graubünden University of Applied Sciences received bronze for their project Starrk. for Rosannis in the Interactive category.

"We test new things for ourselves and our customers." This is one of the guiding principles at Manifestland to which the team at the St.Gallen agency Festland is committed. This is put into practice at the Lab Sessions, for example. The latest edition focused on employer branding. In the agency's Wave Space in St.Gallen, guests were treated to three guest contributions on the topic.

A Tinder for digital talents

Michael Bernasconi, Matchd Project Manager at rockt!, shared his insights from the networking platform for companies and IT talent. He knows from experience what to look out for in order to achieve the perfect match with Generation Z. He has a clear recommendation for employers as an effective way to combat the shortage of skilled workers in the IT sector: Offer internships. The short-term effort involved in providing support more than pays off in terms of the long-term advantage on the personnel market.

Please do not play company

Nadja Schnetzler, teamwork coach and purpose expert, gave an insight into her recently published practical guide "Collaboration in Flow". The book, co-authored with Laurent Burst, provides tried-and-tested tools for a successful team culture. The concept of flow proves to be a life hack for creating a balance between I, we and work. Because too many teams are still "playing company" instead of creating meaning and getting work done.

Employer branding with heart

Reto Geiger, Managing Director of Liebenau Switzerland, spoke about employer branding in the world of retirement and nursing homes. The audience learned first-hand how the non-profit company scores points on the job market with vacations and other benefits - and why the heart in Liebenau's advertising is more than just an ornament. His words were illustrated by the current employer campaign, which was created with Festland.

The Federal Administrative Court ruled in favor of Abacus Research and Goldbach Neo OOH in four judgments published on Friday. In doing so, it clarified fundamental legal issues in connection with the private sector activities of Swiss Post.

In its rulings, the Federal Administrative Court refers to the case law of the Federal Supreme Court on the private economic activity of the state. It states that the economic freedom protected by fundamental rights does not offer private individuals any general protection against competition. This also applies to the private economic activity of the state. In principle, this merely creates another competitor for the private sector.

However, there are constitutional limits to the private sector activity of the state, as the court goes on to explain. The activity must be based on a legal basis, it must be in the public interest and it must be proportionate and competitively neutral.

Limited activity

In accordance with these requirements, the activities of Swiss Post are regulated and limited by the Postal Organization Act. Swiss Post must ensure the universal service and may provide related services.

Against this background, the Federal Administrative Court has further developed its previous case law. It maintains that, in principle, no party status can be obtained by means of a notification under supervisory law.

If, as in the present case, private companies justifiably claim that a state-owned company does not have a sufficient legal basis for a certain private sector activity or does not act in a competitively neutral manner, there is a particular proximity to the relationship. The party status of private companies cannot be denied in principle in such a case.

PostCom, to which the court referred the case, is responsible for examining whether Swiss Post complies with the constitutional limits for its private-sector activities.

It must make a final decision on the status of the complainants as parties and then, if necessary, examine whether Swiss Post has sufficient market access authorization for its private-sector activities.

Measures required

Swiss Post acquired Klara Business AG, now ePost Services AG, in October 2020. It was a private company that develops and distributes software for accounting and customer and order management.

Livesystems, which operates in the field of digital out-of-home advertising, was acquired in July 2021. Both companies are now managed as independent Swiss Post Group companies.

With its two Group companies ePost Services and Livesystems, Swiss Post operates outside the universal service. It is therefore in direct competition with Abacus Research and Goldbach Neo OOH, which offer the same or similar services.

These companies lodged separate supervisory complaints with the Federal Postal Commission (PostCom) and the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM). They argued before both authorities that Swiss Post's private-sector activities were not permitted. For this reason, the takeover of the two companies should be reversed or measures should be taken to avoid distortions of competition.

PostCom and OFCOM did not intervene in the two supervisory complaints. They stated that the two companies had no party status with regard to Swiss Post's private-sector activities. The two competitors lodged an appeal against these decisions with the Federal Administrative Court.

These rulings are not yet legally binding and can be appealed to the Federal Supreme Court. (SDA)

With "W.O.W." The aim is to offer visitors a wide range of activities in both summer and winter. The aim is to inspire guests with experiences, encounters and relaxation in nature, explains Marc Schlüssel, CEO of the Lenzerheide vacation region. The new attractions include the "W.O.W. Plaza" meeting place in the village center, an outdoor spa in summer and a winter glamping pop-up. Existing highlights such as the Arosa Lenzerheide ski area, the enchanted forest and the interactive "Light Ride" tobogganing experience will also remain an integral part of the destination.

Regional cooperation

For "W.O.W.", various local partners from the hotel industry, gastronomy and mountain railroads are working together. "This project shows what is possible when everyone pulls together," says Schlüssel. The aim is not only to increase the attractiveness of the destination, but also to make operations more sustainable and efficient. "W.O.W." should not only be understood as an experience brand, but also as a leitmotif for service quality and innovation.

A film featuring freeskier Nico Vuignier and skiing legend Didier Cuche accompanies the repositioning at the start of the winter season. The film premieres on Wednesday.

What wonderful flowers the marketing jargon always produces.

The latest example: ScrollyPub. It sounds so cute and sweet that it simply has to be loved - just like a newborn baby. ScrollyPub is the grandchild of scrolling and storytelling, whose non-binary child Scrollytelling has now given birth to a new word with the droll name ScrollyPub. Don't know it? But you should. And please use it as often as possible so that the other person knows that you are up to date.

The relationship shows: But even the latest shit comes from somewhere. So let's delve deeper into the genealogy of the new industry baby. Let's start with the grandparents - even in real life, grandparents have long since learned how to scroll. It's been so long since the word entered the dictionary that the acronym EDP is actually still listed under "use". Electronic data processing. Do you remember? Scrolling actually means "moving" in English. Today we mean that the display on the screen cannot be captured in its entirety and should therefore be moved around the screen in sections. There are evil tongues that claim that the higher someone climbs in the hierarchy, the more their ability to scroll decreases. And with a story like this, we are already at the next ancestral part, storytelling.

When the content gets lost in all the scrolling

For a long time, this term was only reserved for writers and film and theater makers before it conquered our industry. It was about dramaturgy, rhythm and complex storylines that captivate the audience or readers over a longer period of time. But if something has neither a beginning nor an end, neither a plot, starting point nor a payoff, then it is not a story, but merely a string of facts, wishes and requests from a sender to a receiver. And the sender hopes that someone will understand what is being conveyed. The fact that a story can be told in just a few words was already known before TikTok and Snapchat: "For sale. Baby shoes, never worn." This famous story in six words is attributed to Ernest Hemingway. Is it true? That too is storytelling.

Scrollytelling now combines "scrolling" and "storytelling" and describes a journalistic format in which readers experience a story that builds up dynamically by scrolling. This can be done using graphics, videos or interactive elements. All of this is intended to enhance the reading experience and enables complex content to be conveyed in a visually appealing way. So much for the activity. "ScrollyPub" is now the place where scrollytelling takes place. Not in a dimly lit pub where lukewarm beer is served and sports broadcasts are shown on screens and darts are thrown at a target. No, it usually refers to publications (or publication formats) that use scrollytelling techniques. In a ScrollyPub, stories are presented in formats that are geared towards new reading habits, especially those on the screens of mobile devices. Unfortunately, with all the multimedia excitement and attention, the content is often forgotten and it is questionable whether the little content that is still available is retained with so much experience.

* Benno Maggi is co-founder and CEO of Partner & Partner. He has been eavesdropping on the industry for over 30 years, discovering words and terms for us that can either be used for small talk, pomposity, excitement, playing Scrabble, or just because.

The survey of the LGBTIQ+ community is based on a reference survey in the EU and allows Switzerland to be compared with other European countries for the first time. It is striking that LGBTIQ+ people in Switzerland reported more frequent experiences of violence and discrimination than respondents in the EU, as Amnesty International Switzerland announced on Wednesday.

The organizations - including Pink Cross and Queeramnesty - are also calling for the criminal standard on discrimination to be extended to include trans people and people with variations in gender characteristics. A national action plan against LGBTIQ+ hate crimes must also be implemented promptly and in full. Sensitization is needed in public institutions, especially in the healthcare system, in the asylum sector, in schools and in the police.

Regular prevention campaigns against anti-queer stereotypes and violence are also needed. Furthermore, helplines and advice centres for those affected by queer-hostile violence need to be institutionalized and their funding guaranteed. In addition, regular monitoring must be carried out to measure the effectiveness of measures.

"Like all people, we want to live self-determined lives. Free from hatred and violence. But we are increasingly in the crosshairs of discrimination and hate speech," Urs Vanessa Sager from Interaction, the national association for intersex people, is quoted as saying in the press release. (SDA)

Susanne Mühlemann was Head of Communications at the Swiss National Bank SNB until June 2024. She will now join Lemongrass Communications as a partner on January 1, 2025. In her role, she will focus in particular on advising on the public positioning and reputation of companies and individuals, crisis communications and the positioning of companies in internal and external communications.

Mühlemann combines experience from 15 years in business journalism and 15 years on the corporate side - in both the private and public sectors. During her career in corporate communications, she has accompanied prominent Swiss institutions and leaders through challenging phases.

Before joining the SNB in 2017, Susanne Mühlemann was responsible for strategic communications at UBS Switzerland. From 2010 to 2014, she was Head of Media Relations & Internal Communication at Swiss International Airlines. At the airline, as in her positions in the financial industry, she led communications in exceptional situations and supported change management processes and major projects.

Susanne Mühlemann laid her professional foundations in business journalism. She worked for 15 years in the leading media of various publishing houses. Her academic career includes a degree in political science from the University of St. Gallen and a degree in international relations.