Create, challenge, change: my profession, my passion
I have been working in the media business for over 35 years – as a journalist, reporter, photographer, freelancer, producer, program developer, showrunner, executive producer, editor-in-chief, director of programs and deputy CEO. From working with lead typesets for a local newspaper to filming and editing on the mobile phone for instant worldwide publishing, I had the privilege of being part of an ever accelerating journey of technological change and productive organizational disruptions that has kept me on my toes every day of my professional life.
Some of my most formative experiences include:
As director of programs and deputy CEO of Swiss Radio and TV SRF developing a digital strategy for the company and trying to truly live agile transformation in my department of 400 plus employees. We had lows of course, but also many highs – and market success was often spectacular.
While editor-in-chief and head of news and current affairs of Swiss TV SRF being appointed co-project leader of the merger and convergence of the formerly separated Radio and TV branches of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. Transforming, merging, and rebranding them into one company with digital as a shared and growing core operation. A culture shock for almost 3000 employees.
As program developer and head of magazines, talkshows and documentaries co-creating some of the formats and shows that are still prime-time TV more than a decade later.
Producing news on 9/11 and hardly leaving the studio for the next couple of days, as the world changed forever in front of our eyes.
Working on the founding team of start up TV3, a joint venture of Swiss TA Media and international SBS. We aimed at market leadership and ran out of money fairly quickly – but the experience was priceless.
Covering the historic handover of Hong Kong as a foreign editor and reporter for the main evening news. I will never forget the sound of the boots of the first Chinese Soldiers entering the New Territories in otherwise eery silence.
Writing my first Movie Screenplay in just a couple of weeks in New York – under the very competent guidance of the New York Film Academy.
Being a member of the International Board and the Presidium of Input, a global Public Media Organization, for the last ten years. I wouldn’t want to miss the insights and inspiration of the yearly conference. Input is simply special: www.input-tv.org
And the best create-challenge-change-experience of all: raising five kids with my wonderful wife.
