DAuthor Peter Hossli interviewed:M«There’s no such thing Oas quality journalism» Marc Walder explains Blockchain Why media companies are taking a close look at this technology. In-house journal September 2018 CONTENTS 4 Tell us, Marc Walder ... The CEO explains the important points of the new corporate strategy and reveals where his own weaknesses lie. 8 The next big challenge Blockchain has triggered a surge of innovations. An increasing number of media companies are beginning to tackle 16 this technology. 12 «Emotionally unbearable» An interview with former Blick author Peter Hossli about his first book. Why he paid rent to the Mafia, where he goes to cry and why he goes off on assignment for selfish reasons. 16 Focus on Ringier The best press photos of the last quarter. 18 The price of investigative journalism Journalists and editorial teams increasingly collaborate to pool their investigative resources. But who is allowed to participate? And do private media companies end up profiting from duties paid by the public? 22 The hype is over The share price is in the doldrums, followers are deserting. The world’s biggest social network is in a crisis. 4 24 Accolades, attire and other attractions News from the world of Ringier: happy award winners, gamers and a new shop. 26 Sir Dracula can sing, too How English actor Christopher Lee 22 rendered a group of journalists speechless in Locarno. 8 28 Money instead of character Publisher Michael Ringier discusses the differences between Zofingen’s Wigger valley and California’s Silicon Valley. 29 My Week – Leonie von Elverfeldt Chapati, traffic jams, team parties and safaris in «the world’s most beautiful country». 30 The Just-do-it Girl Anniversary: Priska Wallimann / Recommended reading by Marc Walder Cover Concept: Zuni Halpern 12 Publishing information 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), Marc Badertscher, Vinzenz Greiner, Adrian Meyer, Leandra Petersen. 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), 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. 18 DOMO is published in German, French, English and Romanian. Photos: Yvon Baumann, Stefan Falke, Julie de Tribolet , REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/File Photo DOMO – September 2018 | 3 62W & 52L The customers should be at the center of our activities. Could you elaborate on this? Tell us, We need to keep asking ourselves: What does what we're doing mean for our users or our readership? How well do our users find their way around? How can we make our customers’ lives easier? The user experience will determine whether someone likes using your products or opts for an al- Marc ternative. In the digital world, that is just a click away. W a ld e r... A new business strategy, How do we recruit the plus five leadership princi- best talent for Ringier? ples. Together they set Other companies dream up a new course for Ringier. all kinds of enticements CEO Marc Walder explains How will you make sure to score in the job mar- the key points. these two initiatives ket, from free cafeteria Texts: Leandra Petersen and Alejandro Velert catch on with our staff? food to ping-pong tables The employees of all our companies need to understand and relaxation rooms. «Six to win» and «Five to lead», and they really need to We want to have the best people working for us and our ask themselves: What does that mean for me, for my companies, in Myanmar as well as in Warsaw, Belgrade, sector or department, for my team, for my company? Lagos, Accra and Lausanne. We want to be an attractive Here's a specific example concerning «Six to win». and reliable employer offering our employees pros- Before the end of 2018, we on the Group Executive pects, both in terms of business and personal develop- 62W und 52L: What does that mean? Board will want all Ringier companies and businesses ment. That’s exactly what we are working at. It’s one of We have set out a strategy framework with six points to tell us: «What does customer orientation mean to our most important challenges. and five leadership principles – to ensure our compa- you? How do you measure that? And what are the spe- ny’s success. 62W and 52L mean «Six to win» and «Five cific measures you derive from that?» We will conduct to lead». More than ever, we consistently want to focus a methodical survey to this end. In early 2019, further on our customers, our profitability, digitalization, measures will follow. market opportunities and collaboration. You have also defined five leadership principles. Honestly, which of them could you personally do Will any editor in Asia better at? care about guidelines All of them. Most of all when it comes to focus. We are supposed to be a from Zurich? What do we need a strat- profitable company. Isn’t We, the members of the Group Ex- egy paper for? that self-evident? ecutive Board, are very close to the The media industry is changing In ten years, we have invested close to two billion Swiss various companies, in my opinion. rapidly. Ringier as a company wants francs, and we will have to keep investing and trans- We work closely with every country to drive rather than be driven by forming. That is only possible if we have the capital to and we all benefit from each other’s change. We have defined guidelines back it up. And that is what we need to earn. It is essen- knowledge and experience. The to provide orientation for all of us. tial that our employees keep this in mind. strategy is a framework, not a strat- They’re specific, comprehensible – egy defined for each and every one and applicable. It's not about creat- of our companies. It is now up to all ing an entirely new strategy but the Ringier companies to adapt this about defining and clarifying a framework to their own business strategy we have already been fol- model and culture. lowing. 4 | DOMO – September 2018 DOMO – September 2018 | 5 62W & 52L The 6 points of the company strategy framework What is Ringier How do you want to doing right, what measure whether people will Ringier need implement and abide by A customer-focused A profitable, Driver of digitalization to do better? these principles? media company sustainable company We want to exploit the opportunities MW: When it comes to European media MW: Management and employees should ask them- In publishing and in marketplaces. In order to be able to invest our own digitalization has to offer, and we want to companies, we are actually in the top selves in the future whether their decisions support We create the best content and services, capital, we want to be a financially stable be leaders in monetization. Technology & bracket. This is good, but we can't rest corporate strategy: Am I customer-oriented in my be- because our customers are the basis and sustainable company. data are a top priority. on our laurels. What we can do better? havior? Am I doing my job in a way that is sustainable of our success. Learn something new every day and and of course profitable? Am I bearing in mind the is- implement it, both on the small and sues concerning digitalization? This will be the bench- the large scale. At a management con- mark by which we will judge our employees in future. ference some time ago, we put this in It may be stipulated in the target agreement, be incor- a nutshell: drive change. After all, porated in further training or be practiced as part of change is the one great constant. our management culture. How great is the risk that such a paper will simply be shelved and forgotten? MW: Great. Anything you resolve to do risks being forgotten or de-prioritized. That is equally true of resolutions like «I want to do more for my health» as it is of «six to win» and «five to lead». An agile, international company. Top employer and An independent family business We behave like entrepreneurs, center of collaboration We want to be independent of seizing attractive opportunities We promote personal responsibility, treat political parties and interest groups, and investing where promising our employees with respect and facilitate in all geographical markets and opportunities arise. collaboration across all borders and business areas. boundaries. Five to lead – The leadership principles The five leadership principles have been worked out by the Group Ex- ecutive Board in order to establish a consistent understanding of leader- ship. These principles are important to management and employees alike, because they define a direc- tion and set guidelines. By estab- Further information is available on the lishing clear principles, Ringier 62W&52L landing page. Simply scan the wants to base its leadership on a Focus Communication Development Trust Entrepreneurship QR code to receive further information solid foundation, creating guide- on the Ringier company strategy and the lines as they are required in today’s leadership principles. Illustrations: Flaticon fast-changing world. 6 | DOMO – September 2018 DOMO – September 2018 | 7 BLOCKCHAIN The next big challenge Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies may be shaking up the financial markets, but Swiss media companies are also taking a close look at blockchain technology Text: Marc Badertscher hen the value of Bitcoin and But let’s go back to the beginning, W other cryptocurrencies went and indeed to Bitcoin.