Go West China’s Internet giants are reaching for the world In-house journal DJune 2018 MO

The assassination of journalist Ján Kuciak Too Close to the Truth CONTENTS

4 Shots to the heart of Europe Investigative journalist Ján Kuciak was about to uncover the ties between the The June issue of DOMO Slovakian government and the Italian as e-magazine Mafia. But then he was shot dead – and so was his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová.

10 Success with events! The Romandy daily newspaper Le Temps is hosting the «Forum des 100». By organizing this and other events, the paper wants to promote readership loyalty and achieve economic success.

16 Focus on Ringier The best press photos of the last quarter.

18 Made in China – «Go West» Until recently, the Chinese Internet titans focused their sphere of activities in their domestic market. Now they feel strong enough to take on Google and its peers.

22 «Crocodile attack» Economist Gerrit Heinemann speaks out. The e-commerce expert says: «It’s all about data, data and data.»

24 Hits on the high seas News from the world of Ringier: from an 18 annual report with augmented reality to a cruise with crooners.

26 My day with the Royals A special kind of wedding report. DOMO author René Haenig marvels at (bared) royal legs. 10 28 (Badly) Made in USA Publisher Michael Ringier pays a visit to the digital market leaders in Silicon Valley – only to learn that, in future, he would do better to go to Tel Aviv.

29 My Week – Pyi Nyein Maung 22 What a week! A reception at an embassy, a cool video shoot and the constant search for a mission.

30 An inquisitive late bloomer Anniversary: André Frensch / Recommended reading by Marc Walder

Cover Photo: Vladimir Simicek/AFP Photo

Publishing information 16 Publisher: Ringier AG, Corporate Communica- tions. Executive Director: René Beutner, CCO, Dufourstrasse 23, 8008 Zurich. Contact: domo@ ringier.ch Editor-in-chief: Alejandro Velert. Contributors: Ulli Glantz and Markus Senn (visual realization), Vinzenz Greiner, René Haenig, Alain Jeannet Translators: Gian Pozzy (French), Claudia Bodmer (English), Ioana Chivoiu, (Romanian) Proofreaders: Peter Hofer, Regula Osman, Kurt Schuiki (German), Patrick Morier-Genoud (French), Claudia Bodmer (English), Mihaela Stănculescu, Lucia Gruescu (Romanian). Layout/Production: Zuni Halpern (Switzerland) Image Editing: Ringier Redaktions Services Zurich. Print: Ringier Print Ostrava and SNP Leefung Printers. No portion may be reprinted without the editor’s permission. Circulation: 10,000 copies. DOMO 4 26 is published in German, French, English and Romanian. Photos: Maurice Haas, Getty Images, Keystone, Geri Born DOMO – June 2018 | 3 Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia. Springer Axel Ringier of apublication aktuality.sk, of team investigative the of amember as worked had 2015, he Since March. early in grave tohis him carried family his where is this –and up grew Kuciak Ján where is this border, Czech the near avillage Štiavnik,

Photo: AFP THE HEART HEART THE OF EUROPE journalist was murdered. Areport from acountry that government and the Mafia. But then the investigative SHOTS TO has not made as much progress as it likes to think. Ján Kuciak wanted to uncover the ties between By Vinzenz Greiner Vinzenz By

DOMO – June 2018 –June DOMO

|5 JOURNALIST MURDERED

man in his mid-forties sporting make sure Kuciak would never write colleagues. «To show that his work A a buzz cut pulls out a keyring. He again. That is how Kuciak describes was not in vain,» «Blick» edi- holds it up high in his right hand and the call weeks later on his Facebook tor-in-chief Christian Dorer writes in looks around, letting his gaze drift page. an e-mail after the conference call. above the thousands of heads that Kocner’s name keeps coming up The publication packs quite a have come to the Slovak National in Kuciak’s texts and notes, as does punch. A Slovakian journalist will Uprising Square on this Friday the name of Interior Minister Robert later say: «Before this, quite a few evening. There are about 60,000 Kalinak, Robert Fico’s protégé. Ka- people had known that Ján was a people in the packed elongated linak is suspected of shielding re- good journalist. With this story, his square in the Slovak capital of Brati- al-estate developer Ladislav Baster- career would have taken off.» The slava. Among them are students who nak, who is on trial for tax fraud on story’s headline: «Italian Mafia in got a day off from university to attend the order of several millions. Prime Slovakia – Its tentacles are reaching the rally «for a decent Slovakia». And Minister Fico lives in one of Baster- out into politics.» there are older people, who already nak’s buildings. At this same loca- In this story, Kuciak shows how came here to protest when Slovakia tion, Kocner made various real-estate the Italian mafia is defrauding the was not yet an independent, let alone deals. A corrupt mess of politics and Slovakian state of sales-tax revenue a decent state, but an authoritarian «Before this, quite a few people had economy. Kuciak was trying to dis- through convoluted real-estate sales, one. Family men are holding up signs entangle the various strands, but his and how it is illegally siphoning off with slogans like «resign!», «thugs», known that Ján was a good journal- biggest story was yet to be published. EU agricultural subsidies. «liars». Kuciak would not live to see it hap- In addition, Kuciak proves that The man shakes his keyring. Grad- ist. With this story, his career would pen. Antonino Vadalà, an Italian living in ually, more and more people raise It is the evening of February 21st, Slovakia, not only has ties to the their keys up in the warm spring air, have taken off.» 2018. At 7 p.m., Kuciak’s train arrives Mafia but is also in touch with the rattling them. Hundreds of them, at the town of Galanta, about 30 miles governing Smer-SD party on a regular thousands of them – like back in 1989, east of Bratislava, where he works. basis. He founded a company with when protesters were telling the His fiancée, Kušnírová, picks him up Mária Trošková and had business pro-Russian Czechoslovakian gov- We know that journalists live Kuciak’s first big in a car. dealings with Smer-SD politician ernment to «go home», sounding the dangerously from what has hap- investigation was They drive to the little village of Viliam Jasan. At the time that Kuci- death knell of the socialist state. pened in countries like Turkey, Rus- about corruption Veľká Mača, where they are in the ak’s investigative article is pub- themselves: Did Robert Fico want to Showtime: Shortly last held during the Austro-Hungar- Today, people are marching sia or Syria and Mafia-infested places in the country’s process of renovating a small house. lished, Trošková is Prime Minister prevent publication? This remains after the news of ian monarchy. against the government of Prime like Italy or Malta. There, not even big hospitals. They Kuciak, according to the joint inves- Fico’s assistant and Jasan chairs the unclear. The Prime Minister’s atti- Kuciak’s A few days later, when President Minister Robert Fico and against four months before Kuciak, blogger had paid excessive tigations of «Blick» and the team of government’s Security Council. tude, however, could not be any assassination Andrej Kiska suggests reorganizing corruption, and for a face printed on Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed prices for CAT «aktuality.sk», goes down to the A Mafioso with connections to the clearer. spread, Prime the government or holding new elec- banners and pasted on cardboard. by a car bomb. But murdering jour- scanners. His next cellar to charge the battery of his VW government and possibly access to He starts out by presenting a mil- Minister Robert tions in order to re-establish faith in This is the image that got it all nalists in Slovakia, a country that story looked into station wagon, which gave up the sensitive information regarding na- lion Euro in stacks of cash as a reward Fico (center) offers the nation, Fico plays the Hungarian going. It is a photograph that first appeared to be doing quite well com- the shady ghost on the previous day. Kušnírová tional security? What a scoop! for information leading to the killer. one million Euros card. He claims the president is con- popped up in Facebook feeds and pared to its neighbors, increasingly association of goes into the sitting room. There is When RASCH publishes a press But when protesters and members of for leads. Next to spiring with American-Hungarian Twitter timelines on Monday, Febru- autocratic Hungary and reactionary politics and tea and coffee on the table. At 7.45 release on Kuciak’s last investiga- the opposition demand the resigna- Fico are his closest investor George Soros. ary 26th. It shows a young man, or Poland under the PIS party? In a business. Marian p.m. Kuciak texts a friend, at 7.50 tions, there is an interesting develop- tion of Fico’s closest allies, Interior allies, Chief of Secondly, Fico’s statement shows rather an aging boy. He gazes at the country which, in 2016, the year of its Kocner, an p.m. Kušnírová sends a message to ment. Thirty minutes later, all the Minister Robert Kalinak and Chief of Police Tibor that he is living in a world of his own. camera listlessly, if not a bit un- Presidency of the Council of the Eu- entrepreneur, Kuciak’s sister. Those are their last enterprise’s websites in Slovakia shut Police Tibor Gašpar, the head of state Gašpar (left) and If reality does not suit him, he resorts nerved. Underneath his lower lip ropean Union, wrote that democracy disapproved. He signs of life. down for several hours. A technical goes into attack mode. He says the Interior Minister to the type of defense he learned as a there is a distinct mole, his eyes be- should be encouraged and promoted threatened Kuciak is shot dead in the cellar, glitch? Impossible. Some people ask opposition is abusing the Kuciak case Robert Kalinak boy playing forward on the soccer hind the rectangular glasses are in countries bordering on the EU? Kuciak. two bullets to the heart. Kušnírová to «get people to take to the streets». (right). Fico and field – he attacks. Journalists have narrow and scant stubble is scattered Barely two months after Kuciak’s dies from a head shot, from the front. This would lead to «destabilization Kalinak are no had to put up with this repeatedly. At across his upper lip. assassination, the Prime Minister An execution. Empty cartridges and of this society and to the disintegra- longer in office. a press conference in 2016, Fico told The image is black and white. and two officials of the government’s bullets at the scene indicate a mob tion of statehood.» Gašpar resigned the attending journalists: «Some of Beneath it are words like «assassina- inner circle have resigned, as has the hit, some people believe. Kuciak’s big This proves two things: Firstly, by the end of May. you are dirty anti-Slovak prosti- tion» and «murdered». The photo- Culture Minister. The Interior Minis- story certainly supports that as- Fico knows that appealing to the tutes.» He then got up and left, in- graph shows the 27-year-old Slovak ter has packed his bags, and his suc- sumption. Slovak sense of security is almost stead of explaining himself regard- Ján Kuciak, who, on that Monday in cessor has already stepped down. February 28th. Two days after always a safe bet. Slovak society, ing allegations whistleblower Zuzana February, was found shot dead in his The Chief of Police has handed in his Kuciak’s lifeless body was found, a characterized by collectivism, is Hlávková had made. house. There, the police also found resignation. An Italian with Mafia conference call links Zurich, Bel- quite sensitive to threats, imagined At the time, in 2016, Hlávková was his 27-year-old fiancée, Martina connections is in detention in East- grade, Berlin and Bratislava. Edi- or real. Fico had been leading suc- working at the Foreign Ministry. She Kušnírová. She, too, had been shot ern Slovakia pending extradition. tors-in-chief from Axel Springer, cessful election campaigns denounc- noticed that events related to Slova- dead. The couple had already picked The European commission has de- Ringier and Ringier Axel Springer Back in Bratislava ing Islam and refugees, despite being kia’s EU Council Presidency were the dress and the car for their wed- manded an explanation from the (RASCH) media discuss how to move a social democrat. He has already suddenly way over budget. Was ding on May 5th. government regarding illegally paid forward. An international newsroom DOMO author Vinzenz Greiner teamed up in two coalitions with the money being siphoned off? Hlávková The police believe the crime is agricultural subsidies. is to be established in Bratislava, worked in Eastern Slovakia as an radical right-wing and Euro-skeptic went public. linked to Ján Kuciak’s work. An inves- where reporters from the three pub- EU volunteer and went on to National Party. Meanwhile, Miroslav Lajčák is tigative journalist, he had repeatedly lishing houses are to continue Kuci- study in Bratislava for a Previously, Fico has harped for still the sitting Foreign Minister, written about corruption for the on- What happened? ak’s investigations. A digital book of semester. He never imagined he some time on the conflict with Slova- while Hlávková is sitting in a cheap line platform «aktuality.sk», which is Flashback. On September 5th, 2017, condolences is posted online. would find himself back there kia’s big neighbor, Hungary. The restaurant on Obchodna street, Bra- part of the Joint Venture Ringier Axel Kuciak’s telephone rings. The caller Furthermore, the publishing investigating the murder of a scenario: The Hungarian minority in tislava’s shopping district, one week Springer. Kuciak had not just stepped is Marian Kocner, a businessman houses, in a concerted effort, re- fellow journalist. Southern Slovakia would join their after the photograph in Kuciak’s on one person’s toes, his foot was threatening to drag him and his fam- lease Kuciak’s last investigations, motherland, restoring a rule to Hun- memory was circulated on social

permanently parked on them. ily through the mire. And he would collected and edited by his shocked KeystonePhotos: AFP, gary over Slovakian territory that it media. A woman in her late twenties

6 | DOMO – June 2018 DOMO – June 2018 | 7 JOURNALIST MURDERED

with a narrow face, she has a drink in positions decades ago. A politician of As in the 1989 der. This opinion is shared by the posedly here to help flesh out the Meanwhile, one absurd piece of Ján Kuciak and his week. «I don’t want my family and front of her that some people in Slo- the libertarian opposition party SAS «Velvet Revolu- editor-in-chief of aktuality.sk, Peter notes Kuciak left behind and turn news comes after another. Fico alleg- fiancée, Martina my friends to have to live in a state vakia jokingly call «Slovak Libre», calls them «the people of the old tion», Slovaks Bardy, who says: «The Slovakian state them into stories. But the notes are es that the «#allforjan» buttons are Kušnírová (right) that has ties to the Mafia.» referring to the American classic. It system». protest against the is a Potemkin village.» too complicated even for Kuciak’s the product of a large-sale foreign were to be married Does she think the protesters at is rum and Kofola, the one-time so- They stick together. «The big cor- government on It is Tuesday, March 6th. Bardy is colleagues, his evidence is stored enterprise. The chief of the national on May 5th. They the rally will be rattling their keys cialist alternative to «imperialistic» ruption cases remain unsolved,» says the Slovak sitting in a conference room in his somewhere on his computer. Bardy corruption unit did overstep his had already picked like they did in 1989? Farská’s look is Coca-Cola in Czechoslovakia. Gabriel Sipos from the anti-corrup- National Uprising editorial offices. There are photo- says: «You are helping us by reporting range of duty – by appearing at the the car and the doubtful. She knows that Slovakians After Kuciak’s assassination, tion organization Transparency In- Square in graphs on the wall featuring politi- in your countries on what is happen- scene of the crime. The chief of police dress for their like to rant against politicians over a commentators talk about a backslide ternational. The reason for this is that Bratislava. And as cians, entrepreneurs and Mafiosi. ing here.» had steadfastly maintained the op- wedding. But then beer – and leave it at that. to the 1990s. On one hand, this refers most high-ranking police officers they did at the Lines made with markers connect And a lot is happening. A young posite. And the juicy bit is: both men they were shot But just as the weather changes to the killing of former minister Ján owe their jobs to political leaders. time, they rattle them – the network Kuciak was dig- district attorney files charges against have ties to the same oligarch. The lie dead in their little from winter to spring within a week, Ducky in 1999, on the other, to the «When it comes to sensitive cases, their keys to tell ging up. the Interior Minister, the head of the was uncovered by a TV station that is house on February the Slovaks appear to wake up from government of Prime Minister they would have to investigate the the high and Bardy, a bald hulk of a man, is near National Crime Agency and the chief actually a competitor of aktuality.sk. 21st. Protesters their lethargy. Why this time? Vladimír Mečiar who was not keen politicians’ friends.» TI ranks Slova- mighty: Go home! the end of his tether. He keeps asking of police. Suspicion of «sabotage». In But most of the media have closed are paying tribute One possible answer lies about a on democracy. Hlávková gloomily kia as number 54 out of 180 countries himself «Did I do enough to protect Slovakia, that includes activities ranks. Their motto is: All for Ján. to the young two-hour drive from Bratislava – comments: «It feels as though the in terms of awareness of corruption. my journalists?» One of his col- against the constitutional order. Solidarity instead of scoops. Slovak couple. Štiavnik, a village near the Czech little progress we have made over the leagues is under police protection, a Then, documents turn up proving The citizens try sarcasm. «Fortu- border. This is where Kuciak grew up. years is being rolled back.» She takes measure Kuciak considered unnec- Italy had warned the Slovak author- nately, the new season of ‹Game of Crooked wooden huts nestling be- a sip. essary at the time. In the hallway ities years ago about mafia activity in Thrones› will only begin next year. I tween gentle hills and fields. Little Outside, people are trudging outside the editorial offices there are Slovakia. The Interior Minister, how- can’t keep up with two shows at the grey houses, a few pink ones, a yel- through the cold, past the spruced- security men full of tattoos. Later, a ever, claimed to have no knowledge same time,» is one man’s comment low church. The family keeps hockey up storefronts of Obchodna street. «The Slovakian state is a safety adviser will draw the blinds to of any such thing. about the lies and wild accusations. trophies on the shelf, pictures of Je- Behind the colorful small houses, the the meeting room. It is too easily Besides daily reporting, the inves- Protesters hold up a poster portray- sus on the wall, chickens in the yard. stores and the tram-line garbage is Potemkin village!» visible from the prefab building on tigative team conducts interviews, ing Interior Minister Kalinak as a The coffee is brewed straight in the rotting away on the brittle ground. the other side of the street. goes through some of Kuciak’s notes drug lord from the Netflix series cup. Simple. Slovakian. Old concrete walls are crumbling in Peter Bardy, Editor-in-chief of aktuality.sk Bardy has beefed up his English and tries to reconstruct the timeline «Narcos». The father, Jozef, talks about his grey backyards. within a week. Practice makes per- of events. That 60,000 people would take to son, Ján. «When I would ask him on This is symbolic of the country. fect: Even the New York Times From the hotel to the editorial the streets on March 9th to protest the phone what he was currently Since socialism ended in 1990, and dropped by for an interview. One office, pizza at the desk, and then against «the arrogance of power» and working on, he would say: ‹It’s clas- Slovakia became a sovereign state phrase he keeps repeating is «Thank back to the hotel room to finish typ- «for a decent Slovakia» astonished sified.› At the time, I thought this was three years later, a lot has happened you!» He also says it to the journalists ing the text on the bed. Discussions even the rally’s organizer, Karolína his particular brand of humor.» The here, a lot of it only on the surface. Is Slovakia built on feet of clay? in the international newsroom. They with editors, conversations with Farská. A week earlier, there had sad, soft-spoken man only asks that Cliques of oligarchs and dubious Even the president of this young are Marcin Wyrwal from the Polish people in the street. These are rife been half as many. the police «do their job.» entrepreneurs reach far into the gov- nation seems to think so. «There is RASCH platform «Onet», Tim Röhn with conspiracy theories. Is the Ital- On the eve of the rally, she talks Ján Kuciak, the investigative jour- ernment and the administration. something bad underneath the sur- from «Welt» und myself from «Blick». ian Mafia responsible for Kuciak’s about her motivation. «It’s about nalist in the nation’s capital, came Often, the men now sitting in a face, something bad in the founda- Later, we will be joined by reporters death? Or was it Albanian-Macedoni- freedom of the press,» says Farská, from a modest background. When judge’s chair or at the desk of a pros- tion of our nation,» Andrej Kiska said from the German tabloid «Bild». an criminals? What about the oli- who really should be studying for her Kuciak was shot dead, it was a man ecutor or a chief of police held similar one-and-a-half weeks after the mur- The foreign journalists are sup- garchs? Was Kuciak tortured? high-school diploma exams the next of the people they murdered.  Photos: AFP, KeystonePhotos: AFP,

8 | DOMO – June 2018 DOMO – June 2018 | 9 FORUM DES 100 LE TEMPS

Riding Events to Success The «Forum des 100» (Forum of the 100), organized by «Le Temps», is one of the most important events in Romandy. But that’s not all: Horizon, Forward and other smaller events staged by this daily generate added revenue and expand its readership. A model with a bright future. Text Alain Jeannet (Head of Events at Ringier Axel Springer Suisse Romande)

High-flying plans. Onstage at the «Forum des 100», Alexandre Droulers, Uber’s general manager for new mobility in western Europe, announces airborne taxis.

10 | DOMO – June 2018 Keystone Photo: DOMO – June 2018 | 11 FORUM DE 100

e expected resistance or even «Forum des 100» W that some people would break Federal Councilor The «Forum des 100» has been taking with us entirely. After all, this 14th Doris Leuthard place year by year since 2005, bringing edition of the «Forum des 100» is no spontaneously together personalities from the worlds longer free; we are charging admis- debating with the of business, politics, academia and art in sion. So, we cannot be sure how our audience – a Romandy to discuss economic and social regulars will react; they are used to highlight of this issues. Famous speakers of past years attending this event, which brings year’s event. include: the late founder of Swatch, Ni- together 800 decision makers at the colas Hayek (pictured with designer Yves University of Lausanne every year, Béhar), former Nestlé chairman Peter without paying a nickel. Now they Brabeck, writer Roberto Saviano (pictu- have to fork out between 250 and 450 red with Federal Councillor Simonetta dollars. Sommaruga) and former German Foreign Our fears turn out to be unwar- Minister Joschka Fischer. ranted. On May 24th, which is dedi- cated to the topic of mobility, the hall is packed to the rafters. A sure sign that the «Forum des 100» has estab- lished itself as a fixture. It is also evidence that events have turned into a real growth driver for «Le Temps» and the other Romandy titles of Ringier Axel Springer, as well as a possibility of reaching out to more readers. The events now constitute something of a third mainstay of journalism: web, print ... and live! Ever since the Forum was first created by «L’Hebdo» in 2005, this event has set out to tackle the major economic and social issues by bring- ing opinion leaders from the worlds of business, politics, academia and art in Romandy to the same table. When «L’Hebdo» was shut down in 2017, «Le Temps» adopted the event – and relaunched it with new vigor. From now on, it can rely on a daily newspaper run by Stéphane Be- noit-Godet and an ambitious digital strategy that is the brainchild of the Head of Digital in charge, Gaël Hurlimann. In the highly competitive daily marketplace, print titles enjoy an electronic future of mobility and but proved all the more surprising. lines, the Banque Cantonale Vaudo- invaluable advantage: They can sup- Switzerland’s pioneering role in the Other successful ingredients: mak- ise (BCV), the Loterie romande, the plement any event, before and after area of drones. The Federal Councilor ing sure everyone sticks to their al- Vaudoise Insurance Company, Tis- the day it takes place, with editorial The events now constitute some- ends on a note of pride by dubbing lotted speaking times, and the tradi- sot, the clinic La Source, Genève content as well as a unique array of Switzerland a «smart nation». tional networking lunch Aéroport, Honda ... and the strategic advertising and communications thing of a third mainstay of What is the recipe for a successful accompanied by excellent wines partner of the 2018 edition: the Swiss opportunities, thereby putting «flesh journalism: web, print ... and live! Forum? The first crucial ingredient is from the Valais region. And, of Federal Railways SBB. And lest we on the bones». That is why we like to the choice of the topic. The next is the course, the tight ship run by the forget: the University of Lausanne, call this sort of thing «events with selection of speakers. In past years, four-person organizing dream team the economic and social research high journalistic added value». the Forum managed to welcome such from marketing and business devel- institute M.I.S Trend and Radio Télé- Last year, the «Forum des 100» Alexandre Droulers, who appears stars of the speaking circuit as former opment. vision Suisse RTS. discussed healthcare 4.0 and the convinced that airborne taxis will German Chancellor Gerhard One more thing: Were it not for Among the many publications skyrocketing costs it entails. The soon be upon us. Schröder, Germany’s former Foreign generous financial support there associated with the «Forum des 100», thematic arc of this year’s edition is Near lunchtime we welcome Minister Joschka Fischer, Fiat CEO would not be an event in the first one stands out: the special magazine no less high-flown: How will digital- Swiss Federal Councilor Doris Sergio Marchionne, former French place! The times when all you had to published annually since 2005 listing ization revolutionize the way we Leuthard, Head of the Department of Prime Minister François Fillon or do was maintain the circulation and one hundred personalities «who travel? Will mobility increase? Or will Environment, Transport, Energy and Italian writer Roberto Saviano as well the name recognition of your news- mold the character of Romandy». home offices and teleworking make Communications. She arrives in her as a Federal Councilor and at least a paper are long gone. Events have This list is also what gives the event us more sedentary? In order to black Tesla, proving that she is ahead dozen members of the Swiss State become an integral part of publishing its name. By now, the list numbers launch a debate by casting their of the curve. She engages in a lively Council on a regular basis. Speakers activities, subject to harsh criteria of 1,400 names from all walks of life, minds ten, fifteen or twenty years discussion with an enthusiastic au- also tended to include a number of profitability. The «Forum des 100» and these personalities have effec- into the future, several «disruptors» dience, talking about the state of the highly talented and inspiring person- can bank on some ten loyal sponsors, tively become ambassadors for the

open the event. One of them is Uber’s Swiss railway network in 2025, the alities who were perhaps less famous Keystone Tobler, Hélène Photos: including Swiss International Air- newspaper. The 100 selected for the

12 | DOMO – June 2018 DOMO – June 2018 | 13 FORUM DES 100 The right mix for tomorrow Philosophy classes for kids, classical concerts and collective tree-hugging; Le Temps is taking various approaches to promote reader loyalty and generate revenue. Cédric Garrofé, journalist and Head of Social Media and Blogs at Le Temps

or the past F year, we have been or- ganizing news- room events for up to 100 peo- ple. We first de- cided to do this following a dis- cussion with college stu- dents. What we learned that day was: Nobody is keen on sub- scribing. But if year 2018 include numerous entre- you offer a dynamic service with real preneurs, executives, academics and added value, people are quite pre- politicians actively engaged with the pared to pay for the privilege. issue of mobility. However, the list Our offers range from a ze- also features the Geneva rapper Dan- ro-waste event to cycling trips and itsa, three-Michelin-star chef Franck has never been easier or more fluent, philosophy classes for kids. Or we Giovannini, and Nobel-Prize-win- moreover in a media environment decide to discover the therapeutic ning scientist Jacques Dubochet. that knows no boundaries. And yet, values of the forest and go tree-hug- The «Forum des 100» is the best- readers have never been more inter- ging! known event but there are a number ested in meeting at an event in real life These events must serve at least of others – more and more of them, in and engaging in debates there. The one of three purposes: To promote fact. Horizon, created in 2016, invites future promises to be bright – for an- reader loyalty (as is the case with the some 300 graduates of the highly yone who can satisfy that demand.  classical concerts for our traditional reputed business school IMD at the readership), appeal to a new reader- beginning of the year to debate the ship or to renew reader loyalty (for economic outlook for the ensuing 12 example by inviting start-ups that months. Top left: Stéphane Benoit-Godet, produce video games) or to generate Another event, Forward, organ- editor-in-chief of «Le Temps» is one of the revenue (which is mostly the case ized by «Le Temps», «PME Magazine» moderators at the Forum. when we can engage sponsors to and the Federal Institute of Technol- foreign media. For the Health Care rather more light-footed and suitable Top right: Federal Councilor Doris fund events). ogy EPFL, is a forum for innovation Summit, «Le Temps» will join forces for opening the readership up to a Leuthard (at right) with Ringier CEO Marc We also follow three rules: We in SMEs aimed at supporting enter- with the website «Politico». The sec- new audience (read Cédric Garrofé’s Walder, Nouria Hernandez, Rector of the stay true to our editorial course. We prises from all fields in dealing with ond event of this type, the Forum on story on page 15). The editorial staff University of Lausanne, Daniel Pillard, make use of all the digital and print the practical challenges presented by Philanthropy, is the result of a joint have also taken the opportunity of Head of RASCH Suisse Romande and Gaël channels at our disposal. And, we concert itself will of course be digitization. Last April 19th, 950 venture with the French daily «Le the newspaper’s 20th anniversary to Hurlimann, Head of Digital at Le Temps. want to enjoy the activities! Because streamed live on Facebook. visitors attended (and paid admis- Monde». This, too, has proven a prof- try out a new form of live journalism Bottom left: Ponz Pandikuthira (at left), when we have fun, so do our guests. Our newsletter is very popular sion for) the first edition of this con- itable model. that has been practiced for some time Vice President, Product Planning, Nissan At the events themselves, we with our audience. Launched just ference at EPFL’s spectacular Swiss- So much for the bigger events re- in Anglo-Saxon countries and France Europe, discussing intelligent mobility employ what we call 360-degree four months ago, it already has Tech Convention Center in Lausanne. quiring long-term planning and but which has only been taking baby with Alain Jeannet, organizer of the vision. We use every channel at our 1,000 subscribers. The demand for Among the half-dozen events substantial funding. However, jour- steps in Switzerland. A great success! «Forum des 100». disposal: When we organize a con- our offer keeps increasing, which scheduled for 2018, two will be or- nalists at «Le Temps» have come up It is almost paradoxical: Thanks Bottom right: Virginie Raisson, expert on cert, we do a profile of the artist in allows us to move forward with its

ganized in close collaboration with with additional events, which are to social networks, communication Photos: Eddy Mottaz, Keystone geopolitics and foresight studies. the paper beforehand. And the monetization. 

14 | DOMO – June 2018 DOMO – June 2018 | 15 In this feature, DOMO regularly presents the best photographs published by Ringier titles in the past quarter. FOCUS ON RINGIER You will find more excellent pictures from the past quarter on our Facebook page DomoRingier.

Ringier’s best photos of the last quarter Powerful images and their stories: a biblical drought in South Africa, icy cold in Norway and abject poverty in Afghanistan.

BOLERO MEN SCHWEIZER ILLUSTRIERTE L’ILLUSTRÉ KIPLING PHILIPPS Photographer GERI BORN Photographer DIDIER MARTENET Photographer HELEN POMBO Editor NICOLE SPIESS Editor JULIE BODY Editor «A Steppenwolf’s trip to the Two years ago, legendary An 800-mile road trip desert» was the caption of a Swiss clown Dimitri passed through Norway is not fashion spread in the magazine away. His widow, Gunda, particularly exciting as Bolero Men. Editor Samuel and their children now such, unless you choose to Müller says: «If you want to manage his impressive estate, which includes drive the distance in an electric car. That’s present men’s fashion you need an academy, a theater, a restaurant and a when the adventure begins! The self-experi- to make a show of it. It’s not enough simply to museum, among other things. Dimitri‘s studio ment of photographer Didier Martenet and display the clothes.» That is why the crew with his huge collection of masks from all over editor Robert Habel for L’Illustré is a traveled to South Africa and visited the the world remains untouched to this day. Says journalistic gem. Their trip takes five days. Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve. Local Schweizer Illustrierte photographer Geri Both men are full of praise for the driving working conditions, however, turned out to be Born: «My picture with the masks was qualities of the car, a VW e-Golf. However, harder than they had anticipated. «The supposed to be a tribute to Dimitri’s family.» almost every stretch of the drive is tinged with reserve offered spectacular opportunities for Although some of Dimitri’s children are the (real) worry that the battery will soon be great images. But the roads leading into it professional performers, it was not easy for empty – or that the charging station will be out were extremely rough and we did not have a Geri Born to catch a moment when all of the of order or that there wouldn’t be one to begin four-wheel drive,» says Müller. Moreover, the protagonists were looking into the camera with. That’s why Martenet and Habel often extreme drought forced the crew to stock up with an interesting expression. He resorts to a had to drive through the country in full winter on plenty of water. «And if you don’t hurry up ploy: «I tend to concentrate on the ones who gear at temperatures around 1.5 F°. L’Illustrè in the morning you find yourself in front of have trouble. If I can get a good shot of them, art director Julie Body: «We did this shoot empty shelves at the supermarket.» Why is chances are the whole photograph will turn Gonzo-style, otherwise we could only have this man sitting in the tree? «That was the out well.» shown a car, a few cables and a few charging photographer’s idea. It takes a cool and stations.» The result is a well-crafted and adventurous groove to get male readers amusing photo novel! excited – and a bit of humor,» says Müller. LIBERTATEA «However, the tree was so parched the DRAGOS SASU Photographer branches almost broke. VLAD CHIREA Editor SCHWEIZER ILLUSTRIERTE Since 2001, Romania has KURT REICHENBACH Photographer been sending troops to NICOLE SPIESS Editor BLIC support the massive «Mister Micro» is Thomas ALEKSANDAR DIMITRIJEVIC Photographer military Operation Grüninger’s nickname on MLADEN SURJANCA Editor Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. For two the model-making scene. Strictly speaking, weeks, photographer Dragos Sasu and With good reason: Those photographer Aleksandar journalist Ionuţ Iordăchescu, on assignment who build models in as little space as he does Dimitrijevic was on a break for Libertatea, accompanied their country’s are few. He turns huge cathedrals into tiny between two sports events troops. «Whenever we reached a settlement churches, enormous ships into teeny boats he was covering for Blic, when he decided to in our armored vehicles, we were met by a big and proud fortresses into mini-castles – highly pay an indoor swimming pool nearby a visit. group of children, running after us barefoot, detailed worlds made from cardboard on the Water sports are Dimitrijevic‘s great passion. begging for food. The children mostly looked smallest scale. That is why Grüninger works At the swimming pool, an international desperate to me,» says Dragos Sasu. This with surgical and dental tools. On assignment high-diving competition was taking place. country in the Hindu Kush mountains has for Schweizer Illustrierte, photographer Juniors from Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and been at war for almost four decades. Kurt Reichenbach visited Thomas Grüninger Croatia were competing in Belgrade. «Afghanistan is probably one of the worst at his rooftop apartment in Thalwil near Dimitrijevic’s plan was to capture the countries to grow up in. Many children lose Zurich. «Grüninger’s models are so delicate excitement and the tension before a jump. «I their lives. Those that survive mostly live in you hardly dare to breathe in their vicinity lest love sports photography, because you get an poverty,» the photographer maintains. When they might fly away.» The commercial enormous range of emotions, unlike most the armored convoys leave the villages, the paperboard model of St. Stephen’s Cathedral other fields.» The photographer‘s plan works children throw rocks at the vehicles. «You in Vienna was too big in Grüninger’s eyes, so out beautifully. He not only captures a female might regard this as a cheerful ritual for the he downsized it on his computer to make the athlete‘s backflip but also her competitors’ children. But it no doubt also shows how far church fit onto a fingertip. Reichenbach jitters. «They were shivering, probably not so apart our worlds are.» demonstrates an equal passion for detail, much because they were afraid of the jumping skillfully capturing the fabulously dainty girl’s achievement but simply because they creation. were cold,» muses Aleksandar Dimitrijevic.

16 | DOMO – June 2018 DOMO – June 2018 | 17 FOCUS ON RINGIER In this feature, DOMO regularly presents the best photographs published by Ringier titles in the past quarter. CHINA

dollars and to knock Facebook off WeChat’s pay service five years ago the pedestal of the fifth-biggest made millions of Chinese turn to company in the world. Alibaba, in this app for all of their online activ- eighth place, is hot on its heels. ities. Whether it is shopping, gifting Founded in 1998, the Internet money to friends, children and enterprise Tencent Holdings stands, grandchildren or booking a doctor’s among other things, for messenging appointment – WeChat is their com- services, online games, media and panion in all walks of life – at least social networks. One of the most in China. In the West, people are famous products of this company, (still) concerned that the Chinese based in the southeastern Chinese authorities will read anything city of Shenzen, is WeChat, China‘s shared via WeChat. All the same: It most popular chat service. Alibaba, is a matter of time before WeChat on the other hand, is considered overtakes its American rival Jack Ma China’s answer to Amazon. In 2017, WhatsApp, as China has a lot of The crazy rock star this e-commerce giant reached a catch-up potential: 750 million Chi- He likes to make a scene, either market capitalization of 443,81 bil- nese regularly go online, i. e. around whimsical or downright weird: Jack Ma, lion dollars. 50 percent of the population. In the 53, founder of the Internet giant Back in 2014, Tencent was al- USA, 290 million people use the Alibaba, is quite likely to turn up at a ready poised to become a global Internet, which corresponds to company party dressed as Michael power player. That year, Tencent roughly 90 percent of the popula- Jackson and riding a Harley-Davidson, to co-founder and CEO Ma Huateng, tion, as in most Western countries. the frenetic applause of 40,000 who facetiously calls himself «Pony Alibaba, founded in 1999 in employees. Or he will don a long white Ma», came close to buying Hangzhou, 120 miles southwest of wig complete with a mohawk and croon Alibaba founder Jack Ma (above) makes WhatsApp. The Chinese entrepre- Shanghai, by former English teach- the soundtrack to Disney’s «The Lion an appearance dressed as Michael neur had all but sealed the deal er Jack Ma, operates the e-com- King» into the microphone. Jackson at a company party. When it when the talks had to be postponed merce platform Alibaba.com and For years, the small statured, slight comes to business, his corporate due to Ma’s having to undergo back the online auction house Taobao. Chinese man of the dubious haircut and philosophy is that the customer always surgery. In the meantime, Mark When this eBay-like platform start- awkward mien worked as a not very comes first. Zuckerberg got wind of Ma’s takeo- ed out eight years ago, a paltry 27 successful English teacher in his ver plans, panicked and offered to retailers participated and turnover hometown of Hangzhou. His parents double the Tencent’s offer price, reached the laughable amount of 8,3 were traditional musicians and thereby warding off the threat from million dollars. Now, 140,000 retail- storytellers. the Middle Kingdom. ers are advertising their products on His Internet career – or so the legend Undaunted by Zuckerberg’s mon- Alibaba’s platform, and reaping goes – began with a thriller in 1995. He key wrench, Ma Huateng opted to revenues to the tune of 25,2 billion travelled to California as an interpreter acquire twelve percent of Snapchat, dollars. The foreign market has also to collect a debt for a Chinese company. buy into Elon Musk’s electric-car discovered the platform from the Instead of pulling out cash, however, the company Tesla and recently per- Middle Kingdom: 60,000 out of the debtor drew a gun and took Ma hostage, suaded the world’s biggest mu- 140,000 participating retailers are The Tencent Haibin holding him captive in his Malibu Made in China – sic-streaming service, Spotify, to not Chinese. Building in mansion. Ma used all his powers of agree to so-called cross-sharehold- «Jack Ma can’t write a single line Shenzhen. The persuasion, promising his kidnapper to ing. In simple terms, this means that of code by himself, but his success company has found an Internet company with him in Tencent invests in Spotify by buying is no fluke,» says Xiaoqun Clever, 45,000 employ- China, even though, at the time, he had stocks, and conversely, the Swedish Ringier’s Chief Technology and ees. Last year, no clue about what computers could do. start-up will acquire stock in the Data Officer. «He always thinks for Tencent made a It was friends in Seattle where he Go West Tencent subsidiary Tencent Music the long term and keeps reflecting profit of more than eventually escaped to who showed him: Entertainment Group. on his actions.» Short-term goals are 10 billion dollars. It When Jack Ma entered the words «beer» A start-up founded in 1998, Ten- of no concern to him, says Clever. As doubles its and «China» into the Internet search We used to wrinkle our noses at anything «Made in China». cent, which first made headlines with a giant jigsaw puzzle, he pa- turnover on an engine Yahoo and failed to score a single with its instant messenger OICQ, is tiently adds one piece after another. almost annual hit, he realized that this new version of Today, Chinese Internet titans like Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu number no simple copycat ripping off Silicon «That is why he invests so much in basis. the Internet might open up enormous among the world’s most valuable companies. Steeled by their Valley web trends but the essence of business opportunities in his country. China’s Internet bundled into a In 1999, he founded the enterprise huge domestic market, they are about to give Apple and its peers a single company. In fact, Tencent Alibaba, with his wife, Zhang Ying, 16 now owns WeChat, Asia’s most partners and 60,000 dollars in seed run for their money. Text René Haenig popular messenging service, which capital. Two decades later, Jack Ma, numbers around one billion users whose net worth is estimated at 42 per day, and Wallet, China’s most billion dollars, is the second richest man widely used mobile pay service – as in China; he made the cover of «Forbes» he Middle Kingdom is going for Internet titans like Alibaba, Tencent The four top positions are still well as some of the most successful magazine, and in 2013, the «Financial T gold. While Western tech giants and Baidu are quietly catching up to held by Apple, Google’s parent com- gaming products in the world. Times» even elected him their «Person like Facebook, Apple or Tesla are their competitors or even overtaking pany Alphabet, Microsoft and Am- WeChat is more versatile than of the Year». The story of Jack Ma is a struggling with headline-making them. As of this year, two Chinese azon. As of the end of last year, WhatsApp: Apart from short mes- fabulous rags-to-riches tale of a loser scandals about misuse of data, conglomerates number among the however, fifth place is held by Ten- sages, its users not only send audio who has become a billionaire philanthro- faulty software updates or recall and Top Ten of the world’s most highly cent, the first Chinese company to messages, pictures and videos but pist idolized in his country.

production problems, Far-Eastern valued companies. be valued at more than 500 billion Photos: Getty Images, Law/laif Tony money, too. The introduction of

18 | DOMO – June 2018 DOMO – June 2018 | 19 CHINA

corporate culture. His company has Kardashian: Hollywood», one of the In China, people Alibaba can collect data from vari- its own university and organizes most successful games in Apple’s organize their lives ous spheres of their customers’ huge wedding parties for staff mem- App Store. In-app purchases to en- (almost) entirely lives.» Another reason is that the bers, at which Ma himself speaks.» hance the gaming experience have via cellphone. The Chinese market is still growing at a While events like «Black Friday» earned Glu over 100 million dollars government urges breathtaking pace. Within the next and «Cyber Monday» are designed in revenue. Glu Mobile is not the the mobile 15 years, according to certain esti- to maximize sales in the USA and – only major game developer Tencent communications mates, the Chinese middle class will lately – in Europe, Alibaba uses the has a stake in. The Chinese giant’s companies to be three times as big as that of the «Singles’ Day» to increase turnover. portfolio also includes Activision provide fast USA. On November 11 of last year alone, Blizzard, creators of «Call of Duty», connections So, when Jack Ma says that Alib- Alibaba handled up to 325,000 or- «Diabolo» and «World of Warcraft», throughout the aba is not an e-commerce retailer ders per second in the Cloud. One Epic Games, who came up with country. (top) but a data company, one thing be- fifth of all shopping transactions «Gears of War», «Unreal» and «Infin- comes clear: In terms of Big Data, were done by customers in the first ity Blade», and «League of Legends» May 10th is the Western world is trailing behind Pony Ma 15 minutes of the day in order to developer Riot Games. With a turn- so-called Ali Day. China. Tencent et al. are focusing on The shy dreamer profit from the various discounts over of seven billion dollars,Tencent The numerous a specific generation: the millenni- As a child, he pictured himself as a right off the bat. The mobile pay has left longtime market leaders events on this date als born after 1995. They are hard to future astronomer. Huateng Ma, 46, service Alipay, which belongs to Electronic Arts («FIFA»), Microsoft include a group get hold of in the real world as they who facetiously calls himself «Pony Ma» Alibaba’s subsidiary Ant Financial, and Sony in the dust. On their glob- wedding of almost exclusively navigate the (a playful diminutive of «Ma», which also passed its trial by fire that day. al shopping spree, the Chinese also employees depths of the Internet. At Tencent, means «horse») eventually became a On November 11, 2017, the system stopped off in Switzerland, where attended by however, Ma Huateng’s WeChat star himself, thanks to his Internet executed a total of 1.48 billion pay- they grabbed up the mid-size Alibaba founder reaches one seventh of the world’s company Tencent. ments. During the particularly Neuchatel company Miniclip. Just Jack Ma himself, population. His pay service WeChat He is considered the king of chats; highly frequented minutes just after how large Tencent’s stake in the who makes a point Pay works in Europe and the USA – his WeChat, which numbers close to a midnight, Alipay handled 256,000 Swiss game developer is has not of congratulating at least for Chinese tourists. West- billion users, is China’s most widely used payments per second. «Their com- been disclosed. the couples in ern users’ skepticism about the app messaging app. Young people use it not puting capacity is enormous, even Earlier this year, it was reported person. (center) is based on the fact that the Chinese only to chat but for booking taxis Google or Apple couldn’t match that the Danish toy titan Lego was government censors unwelcome (Tencent is Uber’s biggest rival in that,» says Xiaoqun Clever. «Visa also working on an alliance with Battling the flood statements on it, and on the fear China), shopping, ordering food, bill can handle a maximum of 56,000 Tencent. The Nordic family busi- of parcels after the that Ma Huateng, who served in the paying or gaming. transactions per second, PayPal ness and the Eastern Internet giant «Singles’ Day» on National People’s Congress, could Apple founder Steve Jobs is Pony merely 155!» jointly want to develop online November 11th. pass data on to the authorities. He Ma’s great hero, even if he personally The average Chinese customer games and a social network for Chi- Originally will have to think of something, prefers to wear a tie. Born in Shantou, spends up to half an hour a day on nese children. Even before the conceived as a day because one thing is certain: Ten- he spent his childhood on Hainan, an Alibaba’s app, often visiting the site producer of plastic bricks entered dedicated to single cent’s boss is looking to go west. island off the South coast. Later, his in order to find inspiration rather the fray, Mattel (Barbie, Masters of men and women, The third and final member of family moved to Shenzhen, near Hong than coming with specific ideas in the Universe figures) had already «Singles’ Day» has Asia’s Big Three is Baidu. This com- Kong, where his father found a job as a mind. Chinese consumers consider put out feelers in China – and forged become the pany’s search engine makes it Chi- port manager. Pony Ma studied shopping online as entertainment; a partnership with Alibaba, among biggest on- na’s answer to the US giant Google. computer science at the local university. they want to have fun and discover others. line-shopping day Unlike their counterparts in the Joining forces with fellow students, new trends. Alibaba, however, of- The fact that the giants from the in the world. West, China’s adolescents did not he developed Tencent OICQ, an fers more than online-shopping Middle Kingdom are developing (bottom) grow up with a laptop computer. instant-messaging service. When the experiences: In the harbor metrop- faster and more successfully is part- The economic upturn allowed them US company AOL sued because of the olis of Guangzhou, the Chinese en- ly due to the way they handle their to skip the PC era and directly be- similarity of the name with its recently trepreneurs have joined forces with users’ data. The biggest difference come mobile-only users of devices acquired service ICQ, Pony Ma quickly Ford to create the first car vending between Alibaba and its occidental like the smartphone. The search renamed his service QQ. Ma chose a machine: A futuristic-looking mul- counterpart Amazon probably con- engine operator numbers more than pudgy dancing penguin as the mascot ti-story building allows potential cerns the exploitation of their data. 700 million users and is growing for his service. car buyers to rotate the selection of The Americans use this informa- rapidly. Like Google, Baidu keeps Pony Ma is said to be a loyal to the automobiles before their eyes. tion primarily as a basis for deter- expanding into new areas of busi- Communist Party, modest and When the model they want appears, mining the prices at which they buy ness: food delivery services, online extremely disciplined. When he they can get their dream car from products from dealers, and Amazon pay services and automobiles. The participated in a team-building exercise the machine and are granted a puts these statistics at the disposal Chinese Internet titan even wants involving a hike through the Gobi Desert three-day test drive. The transac- of those companies so they can as- to develop its own self-driving car. and two members wanted to turn back, tion is accomplished via Tmall App. sess whether they are still compet- Baidu also holds a stake in Uber he gave them such a roasting that they Tencent, meanwhile, has also itive with respect to their rivals. The China. With Tencent being Uber’s meekly trudged on. And yet, he is said become the highest-grossing game Chinese take a different approach. biggest competitor in that market. to be popular and caring. He recently company – not only in Asia. Invest- They put all the data on their 500 Made in China – the Middle King- transferred two billion dollars’ worth of ments are strictly limited to the million active customers per month dom is making it abundantly clear Tencent shares to his charitable fund, booming mobile games market. In at the disposal of their retailers. And that it is only a matter of time before which supports healthcare, education 2015, the Chinese paid 126 million Alibaba knows a lot about their enterprises like Tencent, Alibaba or and the environment. «Forbes» dollars for a stake in the US game consumers. «Amazon is a market- Baidu, who started out copying estimates his net worth at 49 billion developer Glu Mobile in order to place,» explains Xiaoqun Clever. Western technology, not only num- dollars. Pony Ma is married to Wang bolster this company’s already «Alibaba is not only that but an ber among the Top Ten of the most Danting, has a daughter and lives in strong position in the cellphone auction house, a financial service valuable companies in the world but Hong Kong. games market. The developer is best provider, a pay service and an enter- move up to the very top of that list.

known for its mobile game «Kim tainment company. That is why Photos: Getty Images, laif Go west! 

20 | DOMO – June 2018 DOMO – June 2018 | 21 INTERVIEW

customers buy everything at once on this platform instead of going to a real store. Do customers get the same kick out of digital shopping as they would from a successful bargain hunt? Crocodile attack Wish.com customers – all of whom are probably millennials – get an even bigger When it comes to trading online advice, he is the go-to guy: Economist kick out of it, if anything: To them, shopping on the platform is pure fun. Gerrit Heinemann is generally regarded as the leading researcher for Studies show that customers actually spend more time clicking around shopping online e-commerce. He says: «Chinese Internet giants like Tencent and Alibaba are than they would on a planned visit to the shop around the corner. Why is it so success- revving up and now they’re setting their sights on the international market.» ful despite that fact? Interview René Haenig Photo Maurice Haas For that very reason. The time spent at an online store is inverse to the volume of sales. Experience has shown that the longer a customer stays in the shop, the more they’ll buy, Is it only a matter of time and technology Mr. Heinemann, have you ever done any monetize social media. percent of adults above the age of 14 before digital shopping is indistinguishable shopping online in the Middle Kingdom? What are these companies doing better than regularly use the Internet, and 70 percent from real shopping? Yes, sure! their Western competitors? regularly shop online. The German I am sure there will always be a difference, And what is the biggest difference that stuck The full support of the Chinese govern- E-Commerce and Distance Selling Trade but in other ways than those we know in your mind? ment obviously allows them to move Association recently published a state- today. Their maxim really is «mobile only»! much faster – particularly with its almost ment saying the biggest online growth What are you suggesting? The Chinese make close to 100 percent of protectionist attitude – and on top of that, segment in Germany concerns people Stationary stores are being reinvented – by all online purchases via smartphone. they have Chinese production backing older than 60. the online retailers, in fact, according to Here in Europe, we are primarily familiar them up. Foreign companies may only In the USA, the consequences of structural online criteria. The best examples already with Amazon as one of the first really big take up activities in China by engaging in change have become apparent. The «Retail available are Amazon Go and Amazon online retailers. How does it compare to its joint ventures with Chinese companies. Apocalypse», the collapse of brick-and- Bookstore. Chinese counterpart Alibaba? Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple are mortar retail stores, has begun. What about What is the underlying principle? Both are so-called ecosystems capable of all complaining about obstruction. Why Germany? Take, for example, the use of the Amazon acting independently of other companies else would none of these US companies We tend to lag behind developments in customer account, including the pay – and they are indefatigable data collectors achieve significant turnover in China? the US retail industry by about three or service, in the store, and add the presenta- as well. Both are leaders in their respec- What has kept these titans from spreading four years – it’s bound to happen here, you tion of the merchandise in the store tive home markets, and the two of them out to Europe so far? can bet on it. according to online-usability aspects such have basically divided up the global Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, once said: Will we find desolated pedestrian zones in as the best-rated product, in-store custom- online market amongst themselves – with We are the crocodile in the river – referring cities within a few years? er tracking and self-checkout. no other retailer standing a chance of to China – and if there is enough to eat in Even now, there are small to mid-size Media companies like Axel Springer in keeping up. the river we don’t need to go out into the towns with vacancy rates of more than 40 Germany or Ringier in Switzerland have Why are Chinese retailers like Alibaba and ocean where the dangerous sharks are. By percent. The smaller the town, the harder diversified and now operate online market- Tencent growing at such a rapid pace? sharks he meant the GAFAs: Google, it’ll be. Big cities will have less of a places among other things as well as engage The Web obsession of 800 million Chinese Apple, Facebook and Amazon. Now, problem. in e-commerce. Internet users is certainly one reason. however, it looks as though there isn’t Is this a negative development? GERRIT HEINEMANN The fact that 80 percent of Axel Springer’s Furthermore, there are hardly any enough food left in the river alone, so the Every town doesn’t have to be a shopping Professor Dr. Gerrit Heinemann, 57, born in revenue is digitally derived speaks for platforms for conventional retail com- crocodile will attack the sharks. destination and cling to that. Better to Osnabrück, Germany, is Head of the eWeb Research itself. merce in China. Last but not least, this is a How relevant is the issue of data protection have a pretty bedroom community Center at the Niederrhein University of Applied How can platforms like AutoScout or Job- priority item in the Chinese government’s to the Chinese? without vacant shops than an ugly Sciences in Mönchengladbach. Formerly an executive Scout in Switzerland and Germany stand up ten-year-plan. It is no issue at all. The government even shopping town with lots of vacancies. with Douglas cosmetics and Kaufhof department to the big online retailers? The Chinese started out copying Western meddles in consumer behavior based on All of this does raise the question: Is this stores, he teaches business administration, Quite simply by being better in their models; now they seem to be outdoing the data. It has access to all the customers’ what the customer wants? management studies and commerce. He holds particular fields. That means, offering the them. data and looks closely at what people are Customers vote with their feet. That goes positions on several boards of e-commerce and trade largest selection in their own segments, That’s what international Internet experts buying, what they are doing – and the for this situation, too. businesses. For many years, he was chairman of the more than Amazon. They should also offer say. WeChat and Tencent in particular are government will also step in to prohibit Influenced by the big platforms’ arithmetic? board of buch.de internetstores AG and worked as a greater expertise and better service. And, really getting started. People talk about certain things. Customers are sufficiently emancipated to consultant for start-ups like Good to Go Inc. in not least, they need to provide equally Chinese leapfrogging. Do data expertise and good developers know what they’re doing and what the California. Heinemann is the author of several good functionality. What do they mean by «leapfrogging»? trump good salespeople and selling points? consequences are. They are not being textbooks on digitalization and e-commerce as well Facebook is launching Marketplace, Google Chinese Leapfrogging refers to the leaps Yes, probably. At least they are of equal coerced, but they do like to be seduced to as online and multi-channel trade. His bestseller «Der wants to conquer the jobs market. What is and bounds by which the Chinese are importance. buy stuff on the big platforms. That is the neue Online-Handel» (The new online commerce) the strategy behind these moves? growing in terms of Internet commerce. Is online shopping only a generational issue sweet poison of getting spoiled. was published in Chinese by the Tsinghua University German soccer star Franz Beckenbauer In what respect are the Chinese revving up? here, or does that go for the Middle King- What do you mean by that? Press in Bejing. used to say: «Let’s wait and see and we’ll Tencent and WeChat are now doing dom, too? Take Amazon Commerce, for example. It find out.» It’s all about data, data and data everything they can to commercialize and It no longer is, not even here! Eighty-seven is for the sake of sheer convenience that – and monetizing it. 

22 | DOMO – June 2018 DOMO – June 2018 | 23 INHOUSE

20 years of Le Temps The Romandy newspaper «Le Temps» is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a whole series of events. In March, one of the highlights went down at the Théâtre Pitoëff in Geneva, with 450 Hits on the high seas guests and a unique live event: In the improvisational show entitled «LIVE Magazine», journalists from Le Temps, authors and artists met onstage, telling stories from their daily lives in the Blick and Energy invite you to a cruise – and bring music stars onstage. editorial offices, unscripted but all the more authentic. Through- At Le Temps, the journalists themselves perform live. At the Digital Media out 2018, various activities will continue, reflecting the daily’s history. Le Temps has evolved into a dynamic and innovative Conference in Warsaw, pundits are pondering the future. That future is media laboratory. already here in the Ringier Annual Report – in the form of augmented reality.

Party on the high seas Not one, but two Ringier companies are about to set sail: In June 2018, the Energy Cruise will take guests on a Mediterranean cruise for five days. The destinations are Genoa, Barcelona, Mallorca and Ibiza. Swiss DJs Remady & Manu-L., Max Giesinger and DJ Antoine, among others, will provide party entertainment aboard the Energy ship. Waves or no waves – there’ll be a whole lotta rockin’ on the «Costa Victoria» in October 2019. «Blick» is inviting guests to the musical cruise «Stars at Sea». On-board music will range from pop to Austrian folk-rock. The cruise through the Adriatic Sea will last seven days, performers will include Swiss pop star Florian Ast, Swiss yodeler Miss Helvetia and Die Jungen Zillertaler from Austria, among others.

Think about – #DIGITALMEDIA Heads were aglow at the Warsaw «Sokolnicki FORT Arts Center» on April 24th and 25th. This was not only due to the sunshine scorching the attendees through the glass roof, but also because the Axel Springer, Ringier and Ringier Axel Springer conference «Think About #Digitalmedia» presented about twenty speeches and workshops dealing with today’s big questions: What are the possibilities created by Artificial Intelligence? Which jobs will it destroy? How can digital journalism free itself from dependence on advertising? How can the group co-operate with respect to videos and investigative journalism? Roughly 250 journalists, as well as digital and IT experts discussed these issues jointly pondering new answers, even at dinner – and sometimes came up with new questions.

Annual Report with augmented reality The Ringier Annual Report 2017 is exceptional in that the report section sports graphic features that activate augmented reality elements when scanned by the «Ringier AR» app. The app may be downloaded for free at the Apple or Google-Play store. The annual report was designed by Estonian artist Katja Novitskova. To create this work of art, she searched the Internet for all kinds of pictures, feeding them into an algorithm machine. The result is an incredible collection of curious images.

24 | DOMO – June 2018 DOMO – June 2018 | 25 RINGIER MEETS THE STARS My day with the Royals Sometimes it pays to take on unpleasant jobs. That is why, at the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden, our author did not just find his feet but got a glimpse of a pair of blue-blooded calves in running gear – as well as the bridegroom in underpants. Text: René Haenig

here are days in the life of a journalist He asks me to call back in an hour, when and tie with a matching pocket square. T that one would like to check off and his son should be back. My adrenaline level Clothes make the man. A man in decent at- forget asap. June 3rd, 2013, was such a day. rises. A Swiss guest at the wedding of the tire, at least, doesn’t draw attention to him- It was a Monday. I was supposed to fly to year! It was to get even better. self amongst the guests of a classy hotel. Stockholm in four days. That weekend, When my informant summons me and I step Swedish Princess Madeleine was to marry The best man is Swiss into the elevator, a slightly sweaty runner is Christopher O’Neill. Another commoner had Half an hour later, my cellphone rings. A already inside. He gives me a friendly nod. I won a blue-blooded girl’s heart. No poor Swiss cellphone number I’m unfamiliar nod in his direction, hardly believing my farmer’s boy he, or even Swedish, but a Brit- with. At the other end, the wedding guest I eyes. Isn’t that …? It is Haakon of Norway, ish-American banker. Schweizer Illustrierte was looking for addresses me in English. Yes, the Crown Prince. Bare legs in running is planning to do an eight-page spread on the he is invited, he confirms. The bridegroom shoes. Nobody will believe me, I think, as fairytale wedding. Fine, except for one of the princess and he are old friends. He is the elevator doors open and the Royal rush- thing: I don’t have a good story. to be best man at the wedding. He and Chris es out. ANY story! have known each other since childhood, My informant has had a short night. He Rather halfheartedly I scan the hundreds they studied together at Boston University, tells me that on the previous evening he and of names adorning the guest list published go on vacation together – most recently to the bridegroom sat up for a long time after on the Swedish Court’s website – royals from Barbados, along with Princess Madeleine. the official dinner, enjoying quite a few neighboring countries, politicians, business My brain goes into overdrive. Something drinks. When his cell phone rings, the name leaders and other VIPs. I recognize some of niggles at me. Best man? I ask again wheth- “Chris” appears on the display. The bride- the names and google others. One name er Christopher O’Neill really appointed him groom. He wants his best man to help him intrigues me: Notz. It sounds Swiss. to be best man. «Yes,» he confirms. get ready for the wedding ceremony. «He My hunting instinct awakens. I do some Three days later, we meet at Geneva air- beseeched me to make sure that everything online research, make a few phone calls and port. «My» best man is on his way to Sweden, is in the right place once he’s dressed.» keep digging. My initial gut feeling has not and he agrees to give me exclusive informa- When «my» best man dashes into his betrayed me: The name belongs to a Swiss tion on the Saturday of the wedding. We friend’s suite, I catch a glimpse of the bride- guy. However, the electronic phone book arrange to meet on Saturday morning at the groom Christopher O’Neill. He is standing lists several entries for this name. Grand Hôtel Stockholm. there in his shirt and boxer shorts. It is just I do what I usually do in cases like this. I The five-star hotel not only accommo- like in the fairytale «The Emperor’s New cold-call them all, hoping to get the right dates the best man. The bridegroom himself Clothes». But only just: O’Neill is neither an person on the phone at some point. Fortune takes up an entire suite, as do the Norwegian emperor nor is he stark naked. Even so, smiles: My third try gets me the father of the Crown Prince and Princess. Late on Saturday when does a mere mortal get to see royal person I’m looking for on the line. He con- morning, the police block the entrance to calves? I was granted a glimpse of two pairs. firms that his son Cedric is invited to the the hotel. Fortunately, I have been sitting in Still, I would have preferred to see Made-

Swedish Royal Wedding of the year. the lobby for hours, wearing an elegant suit leine’s.  Keystone KeystonePhoto: Foto:

26 | DOMO – June 2018 MICHAEL RINGIER MY WEEK

Pyi Nyein Maung, 29, Head of Production at Duwun.com.mm in Rangoon, Myanmar. MONDAY

(Badly)Made in USA THURSDAY

his must be the latest hay est-growing companies in the west- turning machine from De- ern world have shot up to become troit.» The quip from the global market leaders at a horren- young farmer sitting on the dous pace – and the entire environ- Ttrailer of a tractor stopped at a red ment and infrastructure is still There is a reception at the British Embassy in celebration of Prince light in Lucerne was directed at my changing at an American snail’s Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding – and I’m invited! We toast the father’s car idling behind him. The pace. «Hakuna Matata» is a song in bridal couple, congratulating them on their Royal wedding. 62 Series Cadillac I was sitting in was the Walt Disney film «The Lion certainly a really remarkable sight. King». «Never look back to the past In our team of thirteen people, we analyze our production processes. Not only did its heavy chrome and do not care about the future» There are always mistakes to eliminate, things to improve. We also bumpers and futuristic tail fins is the song’s theme. «It’s our TUESDAY discuss how to make the best use of the digital data we collect. eclipse every other car in terms of problem-free philosophy,» is what design; it also boasted cutting-edge Pumbaa, the warthog, Timon, the technology such as a radio with a meerkat, and Simba, the lion cub, FRIDAY channel finder, a completely auto- sing. The movie was made in Holly- matic A/C system and a smooth auto- wood in the mid-nineties, not far matic transmission. All of which from Silicon Valley. came at a price: This car made in USA cost about eight times as much as a A close friend and very early investor VW Beetle and was substantially in Facebook, Bitcoin and various pricier than the most luxurious Michael Ringier, editer other techie bestsellers has yet an- Mercedes Benz. other reason for being highly skepti- rarely able to get more than 3G re- cal of the valley of digital dreams: When I arrive at the office, I become a busy bee. I start by planning a This childhood memory came to my ception on my iPhone during the «For years now, I haven’t been going new show on our online portal Duwun.com.mm. Each Tuesday, I also mind over and over again on my re- three days I spent there. The five- to Silicon Valley to see the new big set up a weekly time sheet, always with a concrete target. Each week cent trip to Silicon Valley – first at star hotel at least offered serviceable thing. The FAANG companies (Face- should have a vision and accomplish a task. I join a conference call via Viber. We are designing a logo for our the car park at San Francisco Airport, WiFi, but the service at the restau- book, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, immensely popular street survey «Ko Pout Kwel». My graphic designer and I discuss every little detail so everything will turn out which was in such a derelict state rant left something to be desired. Google) are like vacuum cleaners perfectly in the end. that it would have been torn down in Each day at breakfast they ran out of absorbing the best people from the Zurich back in the 1980s. But I was what I was about to order. They universities. Start-ups are stuck WEDNESDAY reminded again shortly thereafter, served the toast when my scrambled with the second string.» when I found myself sitting cramped eggs had already gone cold and com- THE WEEKEND in a narrow Lincoln, an American pletely forgot about the fruit platter. So, next time I want to go exploring, luxury car, thinking wistfully of our «Make breakfast great again» will be I will not just save myself ten hours company BMW. And again at dinner, a long time coming at the Stanford of flying time, I will also pack my when a leading Uber executive want- Park Hotel. swimming trunks, because Tel Aviv ed to present their latest applica- is not only one of the world’s most tions but was unable to get online at There you are, moving within a 25- innovative hot spots, it is also much the Nobu Restaurant to demonstrate mile radius where, over the last ten closer and, moreover, it’s by the sea. the progress of his app. I myself was years, the most innovative and fast-

Shooting music videos is my great passion, hip-hop dance videos in particular. Today, we are in an underground car park shooting a promo video for the online campaign «Dream for Korea». The We work very hard during the week, so weekends are all the more Photo: Maurice Haas winners in the four categories Food, Fashion, K-Pop and Acting are important for chilling out and enjoying life. My friends and I hang out, determined by vote. The lucky ones win a trip to Korea! having fun, gossiping or discussing the latest fads and trends.

28 | DOMO – June 2018 DOMO – June 2018 | 29 ANNIVERSARIES Editor’s Choice by Marc Walder An inquisitive late bloomer Ringier CEO Marc Walder tells André Frensch wound up at Ringier because he liked the idea of a day off from high you which books he has read and why they fascinate him. school. 30 years ago, he started out as a photolithographer, and he was always eager to

learn. Today he is co-editor-in-chief of Schweizer LandLiebe magazine. Jim Collins GOOD TO GREAT Photos: Geri Born/Private For many years, US author Jim e is one of the brains behind one of Collins and a Ringier’s currently most successful H renowned team periodicals, the country-life magazine of researchers Schweizer LandLiebe: André Frensch, 51. He performed a was already involved in LandLiebe’s devel- study of the opment stage, tinkering with the content factors that cause some good and the design. A trained photolithographer, enterprises to become great longtime art director of Schweizer Illustri- while others develop in ways erte and creative director at SonntagsBlick that are (below) average. He and SonntagsBlick magazine, he has an eye and his team came up with a and a knack for finding beautiful images. total of seven principles of suc- «I consider myself a craftsman,» Frensch cess ranging from appointing modestly maintains. A restrained manner the right people to a culture of paired with an unquenchable thirst for discipline and technological knowledge got him to where he is now. He factors. The golden rule is that never planned out his career, but «when I’m technology is never a starting interested in something, I give it all I’ve got.» point but rather a catalyst for Many things have aroused his interest, development. Collins illus- even though the first thing he cared about trates his theories with specific was a day off from high school. As a student, and comprehensible examples he was permitted to visit a few companies. from real life. His book is a solid One of them was a publisher of art books, contribution to understanding where, instead of facing seemingly unsolv- long-term business success. able mathematical problems, he found himself gazing at easels with pictures by Grant McCracken Swiss artist Max Bill. «That looked cool. I CHIEF CULTURE OFFICER thought: That’s what I want to do.» The ap- prenticeship in photolithography took four How does years. It soon dawned on him that digitali- a company zation would affect this profession in major recognize long- ways. When Ringier’s Zofingen plant was term trends? looking for system operators, he applied, In his book, starting his new job on January 1st, 1988. In Canadian Grant turn for his training he committed to staying McCracken with the company for at least two years. «I calls for creating the position thought I’ll do that and then I’ll leave,» of «Chief Culture Officer», Frensch recalls. a job meant for someone Meanwhile, he has been working at Ring- concerning themselves with ier for 30 years. «Learning by doing» has (pop) culture. They would not become his motto. «I absorb everything only need to follow current around me like a sponge.» His first position trends like Instagram or in journalism was with the former business Snapchat but also spot long- weekly Cash in 1996. He later went on to term social developments – Schweizer Illustrierte and to SonntagsBlick, such as the growing demand where he was appointed creative director, for healthy food. This «cool responsible for the tabloid’s look. André is hunter» or «guru», as Mc- well known for keeping his nose to the Cracken calls this individual, grindstone. must also develop strategies In some respects, he is a late bloomer, as for reacting to new market he is happy to admit. He only became a co- developments and changes editor-in-chief at the age of 48; he took up in customer behavior. In his golf at 37, married at 44 and only just «got André Frensch in front of the «LandLiebe» house in Herrliberg, book, the author explains around» to becoming a first-time father in Zurich. When the successful magazine’s first edition went into convincingly how essential January 2017 at the age of 49. By the way: print in early April 2011, its co-editor-in-chief (left) was of course it is for a company‘s survival André and his wife Lucia are a match made present at the printing plant in Zofingen. The father of a young to keep a close eye on the by Ringier CEO Marc Walder – and he is child, he has hardly had any time for golfing, but «I fully intend environment outside the firm godfather to the couple’s son, George. RH  to take it up again.» and its industry.

30 | DOMO – June 2018