Observed Signal · Jun 9, 2026 · Conference / Panel Discussion · Source: persoenlich.com News · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Valais Publishers Invest in Young Journalism Talent
At a local media conference in Valais (Wallis), Swiss media educators and editors discussed declining applications for journalism positions and shrinking student numbers in local journalism programs. Panelists argued the issue stems from an industry image problem, limited career and pay prospects, and years of publishers deprioritizing training. CH Media’s training lead Christian Mensch warned that editorial downsizing has eroded entry-level pipelines and specialist knowledge. By contrast, the Walliser Bote highlighted a proactive approach: school outreach, short taster internships and paid summer internships (CHF 3,500/month), with several interns returning multiple times. Panelists agreed the problem is less a lack of talent than the inability to retain and fund new journalists, driven by a wider financing crisis in local media.
Highlights recruitment and training shortfalls at local publishers which can reduce editorial supply and affect publisher monetization and inventory quality; important for regional publishing strategies but limited immediate effect on global AdTech.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- MAZ’s local journalism diploma programme currently counts about 20 students, roughly half the number from ten years ago.
- Christian Mensch (CH Media) said publishers neglected training during years of newsroom shrinkage, contributing to recruitment gaps and reduced specialist knowledge.
- Walliser Bote runs school visits, 1–2 day taster internships and paid summer internships (€CHF 3,500 per month); three of six summer interns returned for a third time.
- Joel Widmer (co-founder of Hauptstadt) said Tamedia’s title fusions in Bern removed many traditional entry-level pathways into journalism.
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Schawinski Urges Aid for Swiss Local Media
Roger Schawinski, founder of Radio 1, warns in a guest essay for the NZZ that Swiss local and regional media face an existential crisis as advertising revenues have collapsed. He says online advertising now yields only about 5% of former print revenues, paywalls have had little effect, free local papers have disappeared and consolidation in radio has thinned offerings. Schawinski calls on cantons, foundations and private patrons to provide targeted support for local media before regional outlets vanish; he notes some western cantons (Fribourg, Vaud, Geneva) already subsidize regional media. As an example, he reports Radio 1 now brings in about CHF 2.4 million annually and that he has not taken a salary as managing director.
SwissMediaForum: Survival Struggle and Cooperation Culture
At the SwissMediaForum panel in Lucerne, leaders of Switzerland’s largest media houses debated which titles can survive digitally and how to respond to AI and platform disruption. Participants included Pietro Supino (TX Group), Felix Graf (NZZ), Susanne Wille (SRG), Michael Wanner (CH Media) and Marc Walder (Ringier), moderated by SRF journalist Eveline Kobler. Marc Walder argued only Blick, NZZ and 20 Minuten will survive digitally, prompting pushback over his interpretation of CH Media’s subsidy-backed results. Panelists broadly agreed on the need for clear copyright rules for AI — Walder cited high journalistic input into models and backed the Motion Gössi — while SRG’s Susanne Wille offered to open SRG distribution to private media to share reach. NZZ stressed expansion (including Germany) and “liquid content” formats powered by AI; CH Media reported stabilized total subscriptions in H2 2025 and referenced a Reuters finding that digital payment willingness in German‑speaking Switzerland rose to 22%. Views on SRG cooperation remain mixed.
Local Media Conference: Quality and AI as Trump Cards
On 10 June 2026 more than 80 media professionals attended the Lokalmedientagung, jointly organised by the Verlegerverband Schweizer Medien and the MAZ. The 2026 conference focused on three themes: the advertising market, artificial intelligence and talent development for local journalism. Silvano Oeschger called for greater consolidation in the digital advertising market, arguing strength lies in collaboration. Reto Vogt, Chief Product Officer at MAZ, explained that AI can automate distribution while keeping content creation human. Christian Mensch of CH Regionalmedien highlighted the potential of young entrants despite financial pressures and recommended hands-on initiatives such as trial and summer internships to attract talent to local journalism. The article includes a photo gallery from the event.
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