According to the survey, a large majority (91%) of PR professionals are able to carry out their work independently and autonomously. In addition, 78% of communications experts are able to organize their working hours flexibly. And management is also increasingly relying on a modern understanding of leadership: 75 percent of managers actively support self-determined work and give their teams more responsibility. This development is supported by clear company guidelines on remote work and the free choice between working from home and the office - 71% of respondents say this about their company.

Almost two thirds (65%) of communications experts also state that their company promotes a learning culture that supports continuous training and personal development. At the same time, almost as many companies and PR agencies (63%) ensure that work and private life are in balance (work-life balance). Diversity is already promoted in 62 percent of companies, according to the PR experts.

For 58 percent of PR professionals, it is now possible to increasingly work from home, and exactly half (50 percent) of those surveyed stated that managers in their companies are increasingly handing over responsibility. Agile working has become the standard for almost as many (49%).

Only one in three (31%) say that everyone in the team works in the same city, and just under a quarter (24%) even work completely remotely. For a good one in five PR professionals (22 percent), the respective company even promotes remote work in other European countries.

Communicators have stated that

• I can do my work independently and autonomously 91 %
• I can organize my working hours flexibly 78 %
• In my company, managers support, encourage and empower their teams to work autonomously 75 %
• My company has clear guidelines on remote work 71%
• I can choose whether I work from home or in the office 71 %
• My company promotes a learning culture that supports continuous training and personal development 65 %
• In my company, care is taken to ensure that work and private life are in balance 63 %
• Diversity is promoted in my company 62 %
• I am increasingly working from home 58 %
• In my company, managers are increasingly handing over responsibility 50 %
• I have a say/participation in company decisions 50 %
• Agile working is standard in my company 49 %
• Everyone in my team works in the same city 31 %
• Everyone in my team works remotely 24 %
• My company promotes remote work in other European countries 22 %

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For the PR Trend Monitor News Aktuell and Per conducted an online survey in February 2024 among 327 communications professionals from companies, organizations and PR agencies in Switzerland and Germany.

For the twelfth time, Best of Swiss Apps has shown who sets the tone in the Swiss app scene. The industry met on Tuesday in Zurich's Kongresshaus to celebrate the best app projects of the year. This year, the organizers recorded record participation: 241 submissions vied for the favor of the juries and the guests in the hall.

The program also included a premiere: Best of Swiss Software awarded prizes to individual software and system integration projects in four categories for the first time. In a two-stage process, the University of Bern and the expert juries had previously examined all submissions for their quality and innovative strength and selected the winners. 25 projects nominated.

Four trophies for Enterprise Software

The "InsightLoop" project was the winner in the Data & AI Solutions category. The data analysis software from Coresystems combines large language models with RAG technology and impressed the jury with efficiency gains of up to 20 percent for manufacturing companies.

The "Apriko" platform from the Zurich-based software manufacturer of the same name came out on top in the Business Solutions category. According to the jury, the platform sets standards in the digitalization of staff leasing and impresses with its user-friendliness and wide range of functions.

With the "Service Portal 2.0" project, the health insurance company Sanitas brought a business-critical core application, which also contains sensitive customer data, into the cloud - and thus won the prize for the best cloud native solution. Valtech implemented the project on behalf of Sanitas.

In the Core Business Integration category, the trophy went to Baloise Bank and its implementation partner TI&M for the "New e- and mobile banking" project. With the highest security standards and innovative functions such as push TAN and QR-bills, the platform offers a future-proof, user-centered solution, the jury found.

A Master with three gold medals

The big winner of the evening was the "Helion One App", which claimed the title of Master of Swiss Apps 2024. The app for the energy management of solar systems was developed by Dept and Solar Manager on behalf of Helion Energy. In addition to the Master title, the project also won three gold awards in the Customer Experience, Design and Functionality categories.

In terms of customer experience, the jury praised the app for its ability to inspire users with clever micro animations for a complex topic. They also liked the consistently coherent design of the app and the infographics it contains. And in terms of functionality, the judges were impressed by the successful balancing act of appealing to both end users and professionals.

Help for spills and bituminous VR

The Barryvox app received the second most votes in the Masters of Swiss Apps poll. The app is used to prepare for the search for avalanche victims with the Mammut search device of the same name. Users can train for emergencies using various scenarios - with live feedback via Bluetooth.

The third most votes went to the "Bitumen VR" app, which also won gold in the Extended Reality category. The training app is designed to support the training of trainee plumbers. Thanks to VR, the application not only conveys a good basic understanding, but also solid handling of the tools. In addition, training with the app is safer than live training - and it saves 25 tons of bitumen per year, as the jury noted.

Double gold for an occupational safety app

Two gold awards went to the Uepaa app from the ETH spin-off of the same name, which specializes in occupational safety solutions for people working alone. The app excelled in the Innovation category, with the jury particularly highlighting the life-saving functions such as a digital dead man's function or a motionless detector, 24/7 emergency call, first responder search and precise location.

The app also emerged as the winner in the Business Impact category. Originally developed as a protection system for mountaineers, Uepaa has successfully transferred its expertise to the field of occupational health and safety and established itself in a new, promising market, the jury explained.

"No digitalization without young talent"

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the "Hack an app" award. Young talents between the ages of 11 and 14 were able to qualify for this award. The aim is to find the best apps developed by children and young people as part of TI&M's IT youth development program "Hack an app".

The prize was won by 12-year-old Rahel Panosian from Bern - with an app on the subject of first aid. Andreas Németh, Director of the Organization and IT Department of the City of Zurich, began by emphasizing the importance of the award. "Without young talent, there is no digitalization," he said and then praised the winner for her creativity, innovative spirit and especially for her ability to convey a serious topic in an accessible and entertaining way. "The combination of different elements that are not only informative, but also make learning easier and more appealing through humor and musical accents is particularly successful."

A prize for accessibility is a win for everyone

"The fact is that every second person in Switzerland has difficulties with digitalization," said Markus Riesch, Head of the Federal Government's E-Accessibility Office, introducing the special category of accessibility. By "difficulty", Riesch did not mean aversion, but difficulties with hurdles in accessing digital services. After all, accessible websites and apps are still nowhere near as widespread as they should be. With the aim of changing this, the jury, in cooperation with the Allianz Digitale Inklusion Schweiz (ADIS), awarded prizes to apps that are characterized by above-average accessibility.

Gold in the special category Accessibility went to SBB Inclusive - an app explicitly designed for people with disabilities. Live functions such as door button recognition are proof that mobile apps and the use of haptic feedback bring added value for people with disabilities, said jury president Markus Böni from the "Access for All" foundation, adding: "At the same time, it is clear that we all benefit from accessibility: Information such as the carriage number, exit page and written announcements are a plus for everyone!"

A community of practice assistants, floorball on the street and a health insurance app

The "MyLab app" won gold in the Web Apps category. The app is used for networking and the professional development of medical practice assistants. Although the application was implemented as a progressive web app, it feels like a native app, said jury president Claes Lennman. "User engagement through the points system, the appealing design and good usability round off this package for this year's gold award in this category."

The "Level Sports" app triumphed in the User Engagement category. With this application, the Swiss Floorball Association aims to anchor the clubs' offerings more firmly in the regions. The app encourages users to meet up outside and compete in games. And thanks to the practical map, it is also easy to find places where opponents are playing, said jury president Matthias Sala. "The hip avatars also make street floorball a cool sport for the target group."

MyCSS" was the winner in the User Experience category. The Lucerne health insurance company's app has a refreshing layout and offers a number of personalization options, said jury president Nino Cometti. Among other things, he praised the micro-animations and the subtle use of colors and pictograms. "MyCSS combines all the touchpoints of an insurance app and is also fun to use." (Joël Orizet/tme/swi)

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This article first appeared in Netzwoche.

Crises such as climate change or the coronavirus pandemic show how important trust in science is, an international team involving the University of Vienna has found. In order to investigate the role of "intellectual modesty" in this context, a study published in the journal Nature Human Behavior study, around 2000 participants in the USA were surveyed and involved in online experiments.

Under the direction of the University of Pittsburgh, the researchers presented scientific texts that were formulated either with "high intellectual modesty", "low intellectual modesty" or no particular style.

"High intellectual modesty" stands for the willingness to admit gaps in knowledge, to listen to the contributions of others and to reconsider one's own findings in light of this, explained Nina Vaupotic, a psychologist from the University of Vienna who was involved in the study, in an interview with the APA.

It has been shown that people who read texts that were formulated accordingly rated the scientists and their results as more trustworthy. This also meant that they were more willing to follow the scientific recommendations or search for further information.

Science is limited

They also tested the form in which "intellectual humility" can be taught and the results that can be achieved. In addition to the personal admission of knowledge limits, the researchers also looked at two other approaches.

It was communicated here that science is limited in its methods and results, for example in terms of generalizability. Even if this could increase trust in the person, there was a slightly negative effect on belief in a particular research topic, according to Vaupotic.

Overall, there were very small differences in the various types of communication, which is why these should be tested in further studies. According to the research team, "personal intellectual modesty" is helpful in strengthening trust. (SDA/swi)

Schgaguler has been with Weleda for five years. In spring 2022, she took on the role of Head Group Brand Management Cosmetics. Schgaguler brings with her twenty years of experience in the consumer goods industry, including marketing at Novartis, product & sales management at LVMH and brand management at Procter & Gamble. "Susanne has shown that she can make a significant contribution to the growth of the brand with her distinctive industry and brand expertise, her strong implementation skills and leadership strength," says Weleda CEO Tina Müller. Susanne Schgaguler will report to Tina Müller from the head office in Arlesheim.

The previous CMO, Lars Zirpins, will leave the company by mutual agreement in December after two successful years at Weleda. With him as CMO, the brand has modernized and developed significantly, says Müller: "Under his leadership, we were able to implement the transformation of Weleda's marketing and make our organization fit for the future."

On Tuesday, the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste Nagra will submit the general license application for the Swiss deep geological repository to the federal government. The construction project thus enters a new phase and, after 50 years of research, the public debate now begins: the people will ultimately decide whether the repository should be built at the Nördlich Lägern site.

This is why this year's issue of the magazine of the century is not only being published as a printed magazine, but also as a podcast series featuring ten personalities from the worlds of politics, science and culture, who share their perspectives on the deep geological repository project in conversation with presenter Hannes Hug.

The measures supplement the facts and figures of the general license application with the human factor - the "most important of all factors", as it is called. People from the population and personalities who have come or will come into contact with considerations regarding the deep geological repository due to their professional field of activity have their say - including former Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, ethicist Dominic Roser, bestselling author Thomas Meyer and futurologist Jeannie Schneider. "The big absentees in this debate are the future generations," says Dominic Roser. The Teaching and Research Council of the University of Fribourg and argues that their interests should be taken more into account.

"For us, the submission of the general license application is an epoch-making step," explains Nagra CEO Matthias Braun. "Now we not only need the authorities to review the application, but also the broadest possible debate. After all, the voters will ultimately decide on the deep geological repository in Nördlich Lägern. With the podcast and the magazine, we want to launch the debate and find out what visions, hopes and fears the Swiss population associates with the deep geological repository project."

The content, which was designed together with the Zurich agency Schroten and implemented by a team of specialists, will provide food for thought on several channels over the coming months. In addition to the print magazine, the hub Centurymagazine.swiss and the podcasts available on all the usual portals, a film documentary and a movie trailer have also been produced. The latter can be seen in Swiss cinemas from the end of November.

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Responsible at Nagra: Patrick Studer (Head of Communications), Oliver Hinze (Communications Manager). Responsible for Schroten: Adrian Schräder (overall responsibility & concept), Adrian Huwyler (concept and development), Aline Herzog (project management), Hannes Hug (moderation & editing), David Fehr, Michèle Roten, Sebastian Sele, Florian Leu (editing & production), Hubertus Design (layout & art direction), Rea Gutzwiller (proofreading), Bálint Dobozi, Márton Dobozi (sound & music). Photos: Maurice Haas. Film: Mattogrosso Films, Benjamin Weiss (Director), Marc Bachmann (DOP), Annika Fausch (Editor). Web: Cubera Solutions, Natalia Gerasimenko, Michael Fretz. Media: Speed U Up Suisse, Dama Halter; Capture Media, Sandro Albin, Nicole Ruckstuhl.

"Wars and conflicts are shaping the world view, and we are also feeling this in the canton of Bern," said FDP Security Director Philippe Müller to the media on Tuesday. Anti-Semitic incidents and related inquiries have increased since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and the flare-up of the Middle East conflict. There have also been incidents against Muslims in recent months.

The cantonal police did not provide specific figures, but a sharp increase has been noticeable since October 7, 2023. Reports have since stagnated "at a high level", said Michael Fichter, Head of Prevention at the cantonal police.

Schools receive support

To counteract this development, the cantonal police have stepped up their existing prevention work and launched a campaign called "Together against hate". Around 30 religious communities, authorities, educational institutions and other organizations are taking part.

In this context, schools would also be provided with additional teaching materials. The aim is for them to increasingly discuss measures against hate with pupils.

The Bern cantonal police have been recording hate crimes statistically since last year. In 2023, a total of 55 reports were received, primarily involving verbal abuse, threats, assault and simple bodily harm. Hate crimes are criminal offenses in which people are attacked because they belong to a social group. (SDA/swi)

Winterhilfe Schweiz will support In Flagranti over the next five years. The aim is to sustainably strengthen the relevance, visibility and impact of Winterhilfe through a well thought-out and targeted communication concept.

The agency in Lys was also commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy to promote sustainable mobility in companies. As part of the "SwissEnergy" programme, In Flagranti will run the specialist office for sustainable mobility in companies together with specialized partner companies from 2025. The aim is to motivate companies and their employees, customers and visitors to make their mobility more sustainable. In addition to In Flagranti, the specialists from Planval Partner in Bern and Brig, the Office for Mobility in Bern and Burgdorf and Mobitrends in Lugano are also on board.

The Mjm.cc agency is now headed by three people. In addition to founder Martin Matt, the new management team now also includes Florence Noelpp and Christoph Marti, according to the agency.

Both new members of the Executive Board have been with Mjm.cc for almost nine years. Noelpp joined the company in January 2016. She was most recently Project Manager Live Communication, but is now COO, according to Mjm.cc. The agency emphasizes her expertise in live communication and event management. "As part of the management team, I would like to further develop Mjm.cc's strengths in the areas of creativity, strategy and implementation. Our clients can rely on innovative solutions and a high level of service," says Noelpp.

Christoph Marti also joined Mjm.cc in January 2016, where he is responsible as Creative Director. Marti himself comments that he is looking forward to "driving the agency forward in his new role with fresh, unconventional ideas. Together, we want to offer our clients solutions that go beyond traditional approaches."

The third member of the team is Martin Matt, who founded the company more than ten years ago. He will continue to be responsible for the strategic direction of the company, writes Mjm.cc.

The new ordinance sets out the general principles for inclusive communication in the city. The Biel/Bienne City Chancellery has drawn up two language guidelines to implement the ordinance, as it wrote in a press release.

One guideline regulates the use of plain and simple language for city administration texts, while the other regulates inclusive language use. This provides the city administration with a clear and common guideline.

The city intends to gradually adapt its websites, as was also reported. The original pages will not be replaced, but supplemented with new, easy-to-read versions.

The new ordinance takes into account the expectations of inclusion of non-binary people and the needs of people who have difficulties with reading comprehension, according to the City Chancellery.

The new ordinance replaces the old guidelines from 1993 and takes account of developments in language and society. (SDA/swi

Sponsorship is the heartbeat of Swiss sport, emphasized Hans-Willy Brockes, Managing Director of the ESB Marketing Network, at the 30th anniversary of the Sport Forum Switzerland. For three decades, the forum has been bringing together experts from the worlds of sport, sponsorship and marketing to promote the future development of Swiss sport. This year's event focused on how sponsors, as central pillars of sport, can guarantee financial stability and promote young talent. At the same time, sponsorship needs to evolve and drive market development through data-based, conversion-oriented strategies.

Studies such as the Experience Marketing Barometer by ESB and StrategyOne show that emotional brand communication in sport is no longer enough. Sponsors are under increasing pressure to achieve concrete sales results, according to study director Patrick Seitter. New approaches such as the sponsorship dashboard presented by Media Focus or the use of artificial intelligence, presented by the DFL, illustrate the trend towards data-driven strategies. These technologies allow sponsors to evaluate fan interactions in detail and design more targeted engagements.

Another highlight of the forum was the presentation of the RED.Sport Network, whose streaming media offering opens up new sources of revenue for Swiss leagues and clubs. Together with Reto Wolf from Mastercard, the participants discussed how storytelling and creative partnerships can strengthen Swiss sport at a local level. The Sport Forum Switzerland impressively underlined the importance of sponsors for sport and showed innovative ways in which they can contribute to success.

Stations and trains should be places where everyone feels safe and comfortable. According to SBB, regular surveys show that passengers feel safer on trains and in stations than in other public spaces. Nevertheless, verbal or physical aggression occurs on public transport every day, and in some cases has become more serious in recent years. SBB and its social partners SEV, VSLF and transfair are therefore launching an awareness-raising campaign under the motto "Respectfully on the move together". This campaign is an important step towards raising awareness among travelers and employees and promoting mutual understanding.

In close collaboration with Contexta, a creative campaign was developed that targets the emotional core of the issue and sends a strong message for greater appreciation and consideration. The campaign uses a subtle but concise approach: it shows that SBB takes this issue seriously without apportioning blame or stirring up fears. Instead, the aim is to encourage travelers and employees to reflect on their own behavior.

The campaign will be displayed on posters and digital advertising spaces (DOOH) in stations and trains from November 11. A QR code will take interested parties to the landing page sbb.ch/respekt, which offers further information and points of contact on the topic of respect and safety on public transport.

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Responsible at SBB: Matthias Bütler (Head of Marketing and Market Development and member of the SBB Passenger Transport Market Management Board), Sandro Borrelli (Head of Marketing), Carole Gerber (Head of Marketing Commuting & Regular Customers), Daniel Haldi (Campaign Manager); Responsible agency: Contexta; CGI production: Flaeck.

Since November, the company Farvel has been offering stylish, sustainable urns that combine modern design with environmentally conscious materials. The urns are made from biodegradable wood fibers in Zurich using 3D printing technology and are suitable for burials or as mementos for the home. In collaboration with social institutions, they also offer personalization options such as engraving and a selection of lids made of wood and marble. Their aim is to modernize and individualize the funeral culture.

Swiss funeral market has some catching up to do

Founders Katharina Hogg and Sebastian Kuhn-Prohic are committed to a change in funeral culture and want to create offers that enable a more personal and conscious farewell. The first project - to reshape the traditional funeral market with modern, aesthetic and environmentally friendly urns - was launched this week. The idea for Farvel arose from the experience that there were hardly any urns that met the requirements of contemporary aesthetics. This gave rise to the desire to create modern and stylish alternatives that reflect both sustainability and individual taste. The founders of Farvel quickly realized: "The Swiss funeral market has some catching up to do, especially in terms of individuality and sustainability. We want to expand the range so that the bereaved or those making provisions do not have to make any compromises. The urns are the starting signal, we have lots of ideas."

A new generation

Around 70,000 people die in Switzerland every year - and the trend is rising. Up to 90% are cremated. The generation of millennials is dealing intensively with questions of sustainability and reflecting more strongly on their own death and the legacy they leave behind. "Our generation is getting older, the topic of death, farewell and remembrance is becoming more present. Our lives are shaped by digital spaces, social media, global aesthetics and the breaking of taboos. In our view, there is still plenty of room in the funeral market in terms of the range of products and services on offer," says Sebastian Kuhn-Prohic. "And that's exactly where we come in: We want to approach the topic proactively and think in an unbiased way," adds Hogg.

Diverse creativity from Zurich

They were supported in the design process by Zurich industrial designer René Odermatt. Together with him, three urn models were developed. The brand was developed with Artur Deyneuve, and Yves Bachmann was hired to take the photos. "All talented people from our generation," says Hogg. The two founders, who met 16 years ago at the University of Zurich, are from outside the industry, which they see as an advantage. "Of course, we don't know everything and we might be ridiculed a little. But we ask the right questions. We are sure to develop exciting answers for the final chapter of life," says Kuhn-Prohic.

Closing the cycle with sustainable funerals

The urns from Farvel meet the high standards of sustainability, as they are made from wood fibers that are fully biodegradable and can therefore be returned to the natural cycle. The lids, which are made from European wood, are manufactured at the St. Jakob Foundation in Zurich, which integrates people with disabilities back into working life. The organic cotton ash bag in which the urn is delivered is sewn in the tailoring workshop of the Heimstätten Wil Foundation.

Farvel is aimed at people who are looking for modern, ecological and aesthetic solutions when dealing with death. Every person has their own story. Farvel urns and future solutions are designed to honor these stories and keep people's memories alive.