Biggest Success Factors

According to Jacoby, the primary success factor for Tsüri.ch is its community-driven approach, epitomised by its "Civic Media" philosophy. This approach not only underpins two of the main revenue streams but also shapes the trajectory of the third, advertising. It is deeply ingrained in Tsüri.ch's overarching strategy and mission.

Another crucial element of success is the organisation's steadfast focus on newsletters as key journalistic products. Jacoby emphasised the pivotal shift when Tsüri.ch decided to prioritise the dissemination of a daily newsletter to engage its audience. He explained that relying solely on the website for content distribution was insufficient, as individuals typically don't proactively visit the site daily. The synchronised delivery of content via newsletters ensures simultaneous access for subscribers, unlike platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, where content dissemination may be delayed. Additionally, transitioning to newsletters helped Tsüri.ch achieve independence from social media platforms, mitigating the risk associated with reliance on third-party platforms like Facebook, whose abrupt changes can significantly impact traffic.

A third contributing factor to Tsüri.ch's success is its collaborative engagement with other independent media outlets in Switzerland. Tsüri.ch is a founding member of the Swiss association "Medien mit Zukunft" (Media with a Future), which comprises approximately 30 independent online media entities. This association plays a dual role: advocating for media policy reform and funding mechanisms in Switzerland while also serving as a collaborative platform for member media organisations. This supportive network has proven instrumental in Tsüri.ch's development and expansion.