Jura triple box

Regional newspapers The Journal du Jura, Express and Impartial are moving closer together In mid-April, Marc Gassmann, publisher of the Journal du Jura (JdJ) and the Bieler Tagblatt, gave his French-language paper a fresh facelift and made it more attractive - and it has already found two new lovers in Impartial and Express. No wonder, the ties between the two publishers are already strong: Gassmann AG is a minority shareholder in the Société Neuchâteloise de Presse (SNP), which belongs to the French Hersant Group and publishes Express and Impartial.Until now, the three titles have been competitors, at least in the peripheral areas, but from June 1, 2003 they will now work together editorially there. This applies in particular to the districts of Courtelary and La Neuveville, where one correspondent will work for each title in future. This will lead to two redundancies at SNP, while an internal solution has been found at the JdJ.
SNP and Gassmann have already announced further areas of cooperation: For example, an agreement on the advertising market and printing cooperation is to follow. The latter is only about mutual protection in the event of breakdowns, explained JdJ publishing director Joachim Tillessen. In terms of advertising cooperation, nothing has been decided yet. However, it is possible that the combination of Impartial (20940 copies) and Express (29028) will be expanded with JdJ (12935). It is also possible that the 4×4 combination, which expires at the end of the year and includes the three titles and the Quotidien Jurassien, will be renewed.
No changes to the shareholder structure of SNP or Gassmann are planned, nor are any cross-shareholdings, according to a communiqué. However, the companies want to "consult with each other on all matters that affect them and develop joint positions".
Freshly revamped, the Journal du Jura strengthens its alliance with the SNP.
Markus Knöpfli