Swiss news, offered worldwide
In 1999 SWI swissinfo.ch was launched as the online service of Swiss Radio International, a unit of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).
The site provides multimedia news on a wide range of topics including politics, business, culture, society and research. It also offers commentary and Swiss views on global events and developments. This adds further appeal to its audience of international business and investments professionals and government officials - over 1.9 million expats living in Switzerland, as well as around 750,000 Swiss nationals living globally.
Publishing content in 10 languages, SWI swissinfo.ch reaches more than 80% of the world’s internet users and retains a strong social media community of over 1 million.
As the only 10-language information source on Switzerland, we focus on creating relevant and valuable context for our readers. That’s why the FT’s expert in-depth content plays such an important role.
Head of Communication and Marketing, SWI swissinfo.ch
The need for quality content
Reaching a large audience of the world’s internet users is one thing. Attracting and maintaining a highly intellectual, international audience is another. To do this, SWI swissinfo.ch realised the need to supply a continual flow of high-quality, relevant and engaging content.
Amr Huber, Head of Communication and Marketing at SWI swissinfo.ch says, “Amidst the flood of information that today’s reader’s face, we want to become a more informed source for our international and intellectual business and political audience by curating more high-quality content.” So in 2013, when new editorial guidelines allowed SWI swissinfo.ch to start using third- party content, the Financial Times was a natural choice.
The FT is recognised worldwide as being a trusted source for independent and authoritative intelligence on world affairs, business, finance and politics. Its global network of almost 600 journalists deliver opinion and analysis that’s both relevant and exceptionally well-informed.
Around 100 media businesses worldwide benefit from republishing FT content to grow their readership, brand and revenue. By becoming a Financial Times republishing partner, SWI swissinfo.ch now supplements its own content with high quality articles, reports and commentary that fulfils a growing demand from its international readers for global in-depth reporting and informed perspectives.
As an addition to the partnership, SWI swissinfo.ch has the exclusive right to translate FT content into multiple languages before republishing, as well as benefit from a range of branding opportunities to show association with the FT’s highly acclaimed name.
Adding variety to engage a global audience
SWI swissinfo.ch chooses from the wide variety of FT journalism that’s most relevant to their needs. With the new FT Republishing tool, content available for republishing is easily identified on FT.com, and can be downloaded via the customised FT Republishing Platform in a variety of popular formats.
Dale Bechtel, Head of the English Service (Editorial) Department states, “The content we tend to syndicate most is the FT’s in-depth articles on major Swiss industries such as banking, watches, and pharmaceuticals.”
However the FT’s coverage also includes international news, updates on companies and markets, expert insight and analysis, a varied selection of special reports, lifestyle and leisure content, and up to 400 videos produced ‘from the field’ each month. Including FT content on SWI swissinfo.ch’s website has not only increased the quality of editorial coverage, it also adds an international perspective from outside Switzerland that helps to further draw its niche audience.