SOCIAL MEDIA SOURCES:
Social Media Source #1: The Local – Switzerland’s News in English
Language: English
*When you arrive at thelocal.se website, at the top you can click on “Switzerland” by the Editions tool bar. This then changes the website link to: https://www.thelocal.ch – which is the Swiss based online code. [like google.com versus google.de or google.ch]
The first web page offers most of the same information as the second page, except for the fact that thelocal.se webpage offers more information geared towards English users. For example: they have many links on the first page that: help English speakers obtain a job in various cities in Switzerland, and ways to adapt in Switzerland as an English language speaker.
The Local is a new media source that is text based and also interactive for the user. This source provides English translation of Swedish news articles. There are also various tabs on the webpage that redirect the user towards different things. You can view News in Switzerland, Jobs that are available, Homes that are for sale, Galleries which include photos of various cities, Dating which takes the user to The Local dating app, and a Community tab that shows the user items for sale within different cities.
The News articles that are provided give the reader a glimpse into the local news occurring in towns throughout Switzerland, but there are also articles dealing with issues that affect the country as a whole. For example, today there is an article available titled, “Swiss government wants to end tax penalty for married couples”. There is some mention of the political parties and government throughout the news articles. You can also find articles that are more information and entertainment based on the website – for example you can find information about celebrities in Switzerland or events going on.
This source is valuable to those wishing to learn more about Switzerland, because of the information offered on the site. The site is also intriguing because of the various activities you can take part in when using the site. It gives a more in depth look into how one may communicate with others over a form of Social Media offered in Switzerland [the “The Local dating site”, Jobs offered, and the community posting]. The news offered on the website is far above other websites, that I have found that are considered a “Social Media” source. There are many interactive details offered on the website, but the news provided is relevant and true to what is going on within the country. There is a local point of view based on the dating site provided and some of the other local stories that are written about in the news section, but there is also a national point of view concerning the country as a whole. The target audience for this source is someone who does a light search on an event [political, social, etc] concerning Switzerland, and finds an article on this website that gives some more information about the topic. They are not a nationally acclaimed news broadcaster, but if you are looking for interesting stories, events, or even just to get a little bit more information about a national story, this website will do that for you.
Social Media Source #2: The Swiss Info.ch Twitter page
https://twitter.com/swissinfo_en?lang=en
Language: English
The Swiss Info’s twitter page offers news reports and information from current Swiss citizens in real time in an efficient tweet. A huge strength of this source is the ability for the user to see all of the other top Swiss news contributor’s pages on their feed. For example, you can view the House of Switzerland’s twitter feed, and the Switzerland News twitter feed. Both of these offer news reports concerning my country. The twitter feed of all three is a great Social Media source because of the ease of finding information, and the fast rate at which information is being updated on every page. This source, along with the other Swiss pages you can view on twitter, is updated very regularly on a daily basis. Since it is updated daily, it would be best for those who want to use this source to either: create a Twitter account to follow them, or follow the account from their own personal page. If you turn on your notifications, you will be able to get the most up to date information provided from the Twitter account as it happens.
This source is valuable for those wishing to learn more about Switzerland, because of the relevance and popularity of twitter as a news media source. It was very easy to find Swiss news sources on twitter, and to see how regularly information is updated. This brings a sense of comfort knowing that you, as the user, can feel like you are getting the most up to date and current information from the pages you are following.
NEW MEDIA SOURCES:
New Media Source #1: SWI – Swiss Web Info
Language: English
This website has been mentioned in many different articles that I have read during my research about Switzerland. It is a hub of Swiss news, that is offered in nine different languages. The swissinfo.ch website used to have a radio show, the Swiss Radio International [SRI], which had its last programming on 30 October 2004. The SRI show was one of the longest lasting radio shows in Swiss history, airing for over 70 years. This information is listed on the SWI website, because the information that was broadcasted on the radio show, was transferred over to a web only platform. A strength of this source is the authenticity it holds. The transition of the SRI to the SWI signals to one that the Swiss Info has been a long-used source for news and information concerning the country.
The information offered on this website consists of: national topics, political spheres, human interest pieces, law, and business/tech savvy articles concerning Switzerland and other countries. You can find articles that concern only Switzerland, but they offer information and stories that have occurred outside of the country. When reading those particular stories, there is always a tie back to Switzerland, for example a story about an event that occurred in France is listed on the website, because when you click on it you find that it involves someone who is a Swiss Native or used to work in Switzerland. This is a strength of the source, because you get to see local, and national news coverage from within Switzerland, but there is also an outreach to other countries close or around Switzerland. The contributors are trying to make sure that each article or news presented on the website has something to do with Switzerland in some small way.
This source is valuable to those who are wishing to learn more about Switzerland, because they offer news that is both good and bad for the “image” of Switzerland. You are able to find pieces that celebrate the wonders of the country, but you are also able to read pieces that highlight certain downfalls. This is a definite strength of the website. If a student is ever wanting to read about a news event, and see the other side of the issue, they would be able to find that on this website. It does not provide only a “squeaky clean – Switzerland is great!” point of view.
New Media Source #2: Deutsche Welle Online
http://www.dw.com/search/en?searchNavigationId=9097&languageCode=en&origin=gN&item=switzerland
Language: English
This source is based in Germany, but the expanse of information provided to the reader about Switzerland is amazing. They have current stories, as far back as a few days to a week ago concerning the country. There is a wide variety of different topics covered in the online news articles offered on the DW website. This is a strength of this source concerning Switzerland because, you are able to get a point of view from a contributor that is outside of the country. This is essential when reading about important news articles, so that one can get a different opinion, bias, and outlook concerning the: politics of their country, the tech industry of Switzerland, and it’s sometimes-controversial tax requirements. The contributors of this information are sharing information about events going on in Switzerland, but from an outside the country point of view. There is some bias towards Switzerland in this source, so when reading articles about Switzerland on the DW website, you can sometimes feel a sense of “one country is better than the other”, but there is a mix of perspectives that do compare and contrast the two countries [these countries being Germany and Switzerland].
This source is valuable for one who is wishing to learn more about Switzerland because; the reasons mentioned above, but also, you are able to get “outside the bubble” of only using sources that are generated from inside the country. In order to get a different point of view, one should consider including a new media source from a country that is different from their own, but close enough that it can be compared in some ways.
DATA SOURCES:
Data Source #1: Europa World PLUS
http://www.europaworld.com/entry?id=ch&go_country=GO
Language: English
The Europa World PLUS websites offers information profiles for countries all over the world. When you go to the website, you are able to find a profile for Switzerland that provides you with general and in-depth information about Switzerland. For example, one can view the current government officials in office, GDP, and population. There is also a detailed chronology of the history of Switzerland available. A strength of this data source is that it offers factual information that will aid one in their understanding of Switzerland. One can learn about its long history, how the government is run, the countries statistics, and the economy.
Since this source is updated every six-months to a year, a student could save this source to their Favourites in their Bookmarks. This source is valuable to those wishing to learn more about Switzerland, because it is a fact-based source. This is vital for one to use if they need a source that they can regularly go back to, in order to answer any fact-based questions that they may have. This would be a great source to use in order to make reference to any facts or statistics, but it can also be used to answer any questions or clear up any confusion one may have when researching Switzerland.
Date Source #2: The Credo Reference website
https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/columency/switzerland/0
Language: English
The Credo Reference Website, found via the OSU library page can give one many different data sources about Switzerland. You are able to find many different publications that offers only facts about Switzerland, and you are able to find sources that come from the year 2017, with others from as far back as 1985. Almost all of the contributors on the Credo Reference website are all credible and noteworthy – for example one can find a page about Switzerland from the Columbia Encyclopedia. Of course, you must know how to work the OSU library search page in order to find the Credo Reference website, but it is not difficult and there any many people on staff at the libraries that can help. This source is valuable for one wishing to learn more about Switzerland, because it is a scholarly source. New and relevant information is posted on the site as soon as it verified and becomes available. This source is also vital for one to use if they need a source that they can regularly go back to, in order to answer any fact-based questions that they may have. This would be a great source to use in order to make reference to any facts or statistics, but it can also be used to answer any questions or clear up any confusion one may have when researching Switzerland.
Data Source #3: The World Economic Forum
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/archive/switzerland/
Language: English
The World Economic Forum is offered in many different languages including: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and Japanese. The World Economic Forum is a not-for-profit initiative that is “committed to improving the state of the world by engaging in business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas”. The headquarters for the World Economic Forum is in Geneva, Switzerland. You can search many different countries on this website – when one searches for Switzerland you are provided with information about the country – and the goals of the non-profit because of its roots in Switzerland. A strength of this source is that you can view the country and read about different initiatives that are focused in many different aspects – for example, goals and initiatives in: politics, business, academia, etc. You are given a broad spectrum of information – this source can be used to curate ideas and questions about Switzerland because, it provides you with factual information about the country and its current status in many different spheres. This source is valuable to one wishing to learn more about Switzerland because, it can provide you with factual and statistical information about the country. This source also provides information that is less biased because of its factual necessity.
Data Source #4: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Switzerland
Language: English
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Switzerland is a data source where one can find relevant details and contact information of all the cantonal Chamber of Commerce and Industries that are part of the Switzerland network. This is a strength of this source because, Switzerland has a complex network of regions that make up the entirety of the country. It would be beneficial to one who is researching Switzerland to have a source that can provide more specific information about certain areas or Cantons within Switzerland – if they need to do so. This source is beneficial for one who wishes to learn more about Switzerland for the reasons mentioned above, but also because it can provide one with an opportunity to learn more about the Cantons that make up the country. A strength of this source is that you are also given an opportunity to learn more and gain understanding about the network of regions in Switzerland – which is helpful because it is a complex system. The information provided on this website is non-biased, because it is fact and statistic based. One can also use this source as a reference to gain any facts or statistics that are relevant to their research concerning Switzerland.
Data Source #5: Swiss Firms Database – Corporate Directories
Language: English
The Swiss Firms Database – Corporate Directories is a source that allows one to search international and national companies based in Switzerland. When you visit the webpage for this source you can type in the search box a specific company and you are directed to a page that provides you with a list of all relevant information pertaining to the Swiss based company. A strength of this source is that if you needed to research a specific Swiss company: you are able to find more information about the company, and you can check credibility of a Swiss company that you may have found via a different source. This allows you to see facts and statistics about a company, and answer any questions that you may have about the company [that you may not have been able to find on the company’s website]. A weakness of this source could be: if you are trying to find a certain company that is new and/or has not been added to this source, you will not be able to use this source to gain any further information. This source is valuable to one who is wishing to use this source because, you are able to look up specific companies which can help you in many different fields of research. For example: if you are looking up facts about top companies in Switzerland and you need more data that is econ based, this source would be perfect for you. If you are having a hard time navigating a Swiss based company website, you are also able to use this source as a way to gain more information that you otherwise would not have been able to find. The information provided through this source is non-biased because it is fact and statistic based.
TRADITIONAL SOURCES:
Traditional Source #1: News Bank inc: Access World News – Historical and Current
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/?p=WORLDNEWS
Language: English
The News Bank website is a source that provides the user with newspaper articles concerning a specific subject. One is able to find many different newspapers on the website about Switzerland – most of which are current, but also some that are older. A strength of this website, that is essential in one’s research of Switzerland, is that it offers multiple different newspapers that one can view concerning this country. Another strength of this source is that there are many different contributors providing one with information concerning Switzerland. For this reason, anyone who uses this source is getting many different points of view – those that are positive and those that are negative. You can also use their search tool bar to enter in specific key words to narrow your search for articles with the same subject matter. This website is updated very regularly, because of the many different newspapers it offers [found all over the world]. This source is valuable to those who are wishing to learn more about Switzerland because, you are getting a glimpse of all of the most current news available about the country, from many different contributors which offers one many different points of view.
Traditional Source #2: The Pages from BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=switzerland
Language: English
The Pages from BBC News is an online forum that provides newspaper articles online about a topic that you specify. When one goes to this website, you are able to be more specific by typing in the search bar: “Switzerland”. After doing so, you are provided with numerous articles that deal with Switzerland. These all included articles and reports made by BBC news or other outside contributors. This can give you a broader range of point of views, as well as, stories that one can read concerning the country.
This source is valuable for those wishing to learn more about Switzerland because, it is BBC news which is considered a very credible and reliable news source that it is outside of the country. This source is then able to provide you with many different perspectives. This way one can get more information about their country from a source, that is not specifically based inside of Switzerland.
Traditional Source #3: UN News online newspaper
https://news.un.org/en/search/Switzerland%20
Language: English
Switzerland is a part of the UN, so it only seems natural for one to find an online newspaper source that deals with the UN [as it also deals with the specified country]. On the website, you are able to find news sources that come from Switzerland, or deals with countries that Switzerland has a lot of contact with – this is a strength of this source. Another strength of this source, is that the contributors seem to be online writers from different web sources, as well as, people who write about topics concerning the UN. Since most of the contributors are different, this is a strength because, you are able to get many different points of view and perspectives. This source is valuable for those wishing to learn more about Switzerland because, this source is from an entity that is a huge part of Switzerland’s world presence. Since Switzerland is a part of the UN, it is vital for one to use this source as a way of gaining perspective into the organization and how it views the country. This could bring about many interesting and different point of views concerning Switzerland.
AUDIO SOURCES:
Audio Source #1: World Radio – Swiss Radio in English
Language: English
This source offers a wide variety of news and information about Switzerland. It has a wide overview touching on many different subjects. Those of which include: religion, politics, entertainment, classifieds, and radio shows. What can be appreciated the most about this source, is that it is the web edition of a radio show that is streamed in Switzerland. It is offered online in English, with a text base version of the news piece, that one can read while listening to the radio show. The reports concern local, and national news pieces that are deemed “popular”. For example, the local reports you can listen to, are usually about something crazy or super interesting that happened in a small canton or town in Switzerland. On the national level, there is a lot of broader stories being talked about, which concern the general populous. The contributors do not seem to be biased, but there is a lot of stories that only involve Switzerland, and not a lot of mention about the other countries they are involved with. This could be a weakness of this source, because you might be getting one-sided/one point of view reports which could be missing key information that would aid in your understanding of the event being reported on as a whole. This source is valuable for those wishing to learn more about Switzerland because, of the duality that this source holds. One can argue that many more people are willing to listen to a radio report of the news because, it is easier. You as the navigator of this website are able listen to the news reports while reading the text provided, but you can also compare the text stories from this source with those from another – with the added bonus of being able to listen to a contributor speak their report. This is a huge advantage when navigating the Global Info Society because, you are allowing yourself to see more than one perspective at the same time when using this source.
Audio Source #2: SWI swissinfo.ch – YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/swissinfovideos/videos
Language: English
This source is perfect for the Audio Source category because, the content is produced by the same contributors from the swissinfo.ch source. The SWI YouTube channel is set up the same way as every other channel available on YouTube. When you arrive to the channels page, you first see their highlighted video of the week, which is either a video they are trying to promote or is a very popular video for the week. You can then click the Videos tab to see their videos in order of newest to oldest. There is a WIDE variety of information and topics covered in these videos on the channel. From entertainment pieces, cute cartoon videos made by a Swiss artist, to news reports dealing with current topics and issues. Since there is so much variety offered throughout the SWI YouTube channel, there are many different points of view being displayed – this YouTube channel does not appear to be very biased, but the information provided is mainly about Switzerland, with little mention of other countries. The contributor is showing a wide variety of different Swiss related topics – some are serious and some are cute and funny. This is a definite strength of this source.
This source is updated every day – with the most current video having been uploaded only 5 hours ago. Since the source is updated every day, one can subscribe to the SWI channel in order to get the most out of this source. This source is valuable to those wishing to learn more about Switzerland because, it is a very convenient source for one to keep up with, but also because it shows a different perspective of how the SWI is sharing and conveying information and news concerning their country. As an Audio and Visual source, this would be the most entertaining and easy to use – as YouTube is a huge part of our everyday culture, but also because you are able to: listen to, watch, and read the information that this contributor is sharing. This source can broaden one’s understanding of the country, and provide more insight about how news is presented within the country.