Media Relations
Staying Visible in the Ocean of Media
Mobile internet and social networks have caused the volume of information available to consumers, companies and opinion leaders to grow beyond measure. Anyone who wants to remain visible, or become visible, in this ocean of media offerings must engage across a wide range of channels and adapt their media relations to the rapidly changing needs of their audiences.
One-way announcements have been replaced by interactive two-way communication, and sender-focused press texts have given way to storytelling across all forms of media. While the information monopoly once held by traditional media belongs to the past, journalists and editorial teams still play an important role in selecting and weighting the news.
The same principle applies in media relations: thinking and acting in an audience-focused way. Both the content and form of the information must be aligned with the needs and working methods of the different target groups.
Tailored, Coordinated, Effective
Companies, event organisers, associations and individuals need efficient solutions for their media relations, tailored to their specific needs and seamlessly integrated into their broader communications and leadership work.
With more than 30 years of experience, we are your partner for media relations. Together with you, we analyse your needs, the goals of your media work and your core messages. Based on your target groups, we select proprietary and external channels through which we want to deliver your messages to your audiences. We align traditional media relations with internal communications, stakeholder communications and your presence on social networks.
We brief and train your company leadership for media appearances and help you build your own press office. Where needed, we can act as your external press office, taking over your entire media relations function and supporting you with crisis communication.
Public Relations
The building and maintenance of relationships, goodwill and trust between an organisation and its various stakeholder groups, such as customers, employees, media professionals, investors, suppliers and public authorities, is referred to as public relations (PR). Public Affairs is regarded as a specialist discipline within PR.
PR typically focuses on the creation and distribution of media content, including text, images and video, through traditional media, social networks and the organisation’s own media channels. It also involves maintaining relationships with media professionals in traditional newsrooms and with opinion leaders on social networks.
Messages that land. Audience-focused media relations
Media Relations for the Brienz Slide
The “Brienz slide” above Tiefencastel threatens the mountain village of Brienz/Brinzauls and therefore regularly attracts the attention of regional, national and international media professionals.
Christian Gartmann is the municipality of Albula/Alvra’s information and media officer. He supports all specialist and mass media and keeps residents and the wider public informed through monthly bulletins, media briefings and responses to media enquiries.
InnHub La Punt Innovation Centre
The “InnHub La Punt” was planned to be built in the Upper Engadin village of La Punt by 2021. The new centre, with workspaces, seminar and sports facilities, retail space, a restaurant and underground parking, is privately financed and supported by the canton, the region and the municipality. The architect is the world-renowned Lord Norman Foster.
The local population will vote on a rezoning of the building land and a building lease agreement. Christian Gartmann was mandated by the project initiators to support the project in public affairs and media relations.
Engadin Skimarathon
Christian Gartmann advises the organiser on media matters, year-round media relations and overall communications. During the event week, he supports national and international media professionals, conducts the press conferences and, where needed, leads the crisis communications.
With more than 15,000 participants each year, the Engadin Skimarathon is the largest sporting event in Switzerland.
Klinik Gut AG
Klinik Gut AG is the leading private operator of orthopaedic and trauma surgery clinics in Graubünden, with two clinics in St. Moritz and Fläsch (GR) and specialist practices in five additional locations. Since 2022, it has been part of the Graubünden Cantonal Hospital Foundation.
Christian Gartmann advised Klinik Gut for 13 years on communications, media relations and crisis communication, and supported the group’s new-build projects from a communications perspective.
Re-election of Christian Jott Jenny
Four years after his surprise election as Mayor of St. Moritz, cultural entrepreneur and tenor Christian Jott Jenny was elected to a second term in office.
Christian Gartmann developed the content for his second election campaign as well and supported the tactical campaign and media relations through to election day.
Swiss Helicopter Association
The industry association representing Switzerland’s commercial helicopter companies advocates for their interests in politics, in dealings with public authorities and in the public sphere.
Christian Gartmann developed a new communications strategy and supports the association’s leadership and executive management in communications and media relations.
Internationally High-Profile Family Celebration in St. Moritz
In honour of the bridal couple, an Indian family staged a major family celebration in St. Moritz. Large festival tents and a fairground with rides were set up across four event locations; 850 guests travelled from around the world and celebrated for three days and nights. The event became a major topic in national and international media.
Christian Gartmann acted as the family’s spokesperson and coordinated the media relations of the organisers, the municipality, the tourism authorities and the hotel sector.
Swiss Epic Graubünden
The Graubünden destinations Arosa-Lenzerheide, Davos-Klosters, Engadin Scuol, Flims-Laax and St. Moritz are the stage locations of the new Swiss Epic Graubünden. The mountain bike stage race is open to both professionals and amateurs and is part of the Epic Series built around the legendary Cape Epic in South Africa.
The involvement of the destinations and the canton of Graubünden is a five-year tourism project. Christian Gartmann developed the concept for and led the communications and media relations during the launch phase.
JUNKERS Flugzeugwerke AG
Die JUNKERS F 13 war 1919 das erste Ganzmetall-Verkehrsflugzeug der Welt. Es setzte Massstäbe, die noch heute in der Luftfahrt gelten. Die JUNKERS Flugzeugwerke AG baute die JUNKERS F 13 nun in Handarbeit nach und vertreibt sie weltweit. In Europa vertreibt die Unternehmung zudem die Produkte der WACO Aircraft Corporation, welche klassische Doppeldecker neu baut.
Christian Gartmann betreute die Kommunikation und Medienarbeit der JUNKERS Flugzeugwerke AG und der WACO Aircraft Corporation in der Lancierungsphase 2019/2020.
The Sky Over Nine Columns in St. Moritz
On behalf of the international gallery Beck & Eggeling, Christian Gartmann was responsible for the media relations surrounding the public exhibition of Heinz Mack’s large-scale sculpture “The Sky Over Nine Columns” in winter 2016/2017. The sculpture was installed on the shore of Lake St. Moritz and attracted thousands of visitors.
An international press conference was held for the opening. Media professionals on site were personally looked after.
Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz
On behalf of the new organiser, gartmann.biz built an entirely new media service, ran the tournament’s press office throughout the year, and was responsible for media operations and media relations during the event. In 2017, more than 200 media professionals came to St. Moritz to cover the tournament, and the estimated media reach of this niche sporting event already exceeded 23 million gross impressions.
The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is the world’s best-known snow polo tournament, both in sporting and social terms.
Grace St. Moritz Hotel
The St. Moritz hotel La Margna is being comprehensively renovated and expanded and will reopen in 2019 as the boutique hotel “Grace St. Moritz” within the globally active Grace Hotels Group.
On behalf of Grace Hotels Group, Christian Gartmann oversees communications and public affairs for the project from the public vote on the construction through to the opening. The 2015 public vote was won with more than 89% in favour. Up to the hotel’s opening, he is responsible, among other things, for media relations and serves as the project’s spokesperson.
Engadin St. Moritz Mountains AG
Christian Gartmann supports the Board of Directors and executive management in media relations and public affairs for the introduction of a new corporate strategy.
Definition of the media strategy and key messages, production of media materials, and briefing and support for those responsible at press conferences and in connection with specific media enquiries.
Graubünden 2022 Olympic Bid
Under this mandate, Christian Gartmann was responsible for communications and marketing for the Graubünden 2022 Association and served as its media spokesperson. The association’s purpose was to secure a bid for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Graubünden.
Together with specialist agencies, Christian Gartmann developed the overall communications and media strategy and personally implemented the media relations. As part of the referendum campaign, more than 20 national and cantonal press conferences were held, for which Christian Gartmann was responsible for the content and which he personally led. He also supported the CEO of the bid throughout his extensive media work.
The information campaign ahead of the public vote became the most comprehensive dialogue platform ever seen in a cantonal referendum in Switzerland. In March 2013, however, the voters of Graubünden decided not to proceed with the bid.
The Blue Miracle
Swiss water ambassador and ultra-swimmer Ernst Bromeis campaigns for the UN-recognised human right to clean water. His striking swimming expeditions generate the media attention he needs to advocate for his cause.
In 2014, Bromeis became the first person to swim the entire length of the Rhine, from its source to its mouth. In 2015, he swam from Tenero (TI) to Milan. In 2020, he attempted to swim the full 800-kilometre length of Lake Baikal in Siberia, but had to abandon the effort. Before that, he had already swum across 200 lakes in Graubünden in 2008 and the largest lake in each Swiss canton in 2010. In 2019, he set out to take on Lake Baikal.
Christian Gartmann supports Ernst Bromeis in his media relations work and serves as media spokesperson for his expeditions.
Home of Triathlon St. Moritz
Together with St. Moritz Sport, the Home of Triathlon association organises the annual St. Moritz Triathlon, a sprint-distance race consisting of 500m of swimming in Lake St. Moritz, 20km of cycling in the Upper Engadin and a 5km run through the Staz forest, as well as the St. Moritz Duathlon and the Kids Cup by Nicola Spirig.
Christian Gartmann is a founding member of the association and is responsible for its media relations and for the media relations of the competitions mentioned above.
