20 years of Fritz+Fränzi: Our anniversary issue in October
Dear reader
Our anniversary issue is now in front of you: 100 pages long and packed full. 20 years of Fritz+Fränzi - that's 168 issues, around 2,000 topics and more than 4,500 texts. In this issue, we look back at what was. And look ahead to what's coming: How does family work? What are the big parenting issues? What future challenges await parents and schools?
For the anniversary issue, my colleagues Evelin Hartmann and Virginia Nolan and I spent many hours rummaging through old issues. We marvelled at the bold covers («Störfall Kind?»), provocative cover stories («Friss oder stirb!») and spectacular illustrations («Mein letzter Wille»). And we have realised that parents of school-age children are just as concerned about the same issues in the past as they are today - even if some new ones have been added: Media consumption, needs-orientated parenting, cyberbullying.
«Today, the desire for opinions, explanations and analyses, the longing for classification is greater than ever,» I wrote here four years ago. That is and remains our credo: we don't try to solve problems, we don't point fingers, we don't promise quick solutions. We do our research carefully and take you, dear reader, seriously.
Children need our confidence. And reliable boundaries.
Alain Di Gallo, Head Physician for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Basel
We stand for «inspiring journalism» and endeavour to inform you with our service and advice pieces. And to inspire you. We help you to make important decisions; dialogue with you is important to us. If, after reading our articles, you have more knowledge and say to yourself: «I've never thought of it like that before», that makes us proud. And this message should resonate with every topic, no matter how difficult: Fritz+Fränzi is your life companion - in good times and in challenging times with your children. You are not alone. Despite all the effort, being a parent is a joy. And often it even makes you happy.
What is happiness? «Happiness has to do with the feeling of having created something that goes beyond me. The idea that something can go on,» says philosopher Barbara Bleisch. How can you experience more strongly that something will continue than when your own children grow up? The idea that my life is not over, that a new generation is emerging, is incredibly meaningful for me, even comforting. I hope it is for you too.
It remains for me to say thank you: thank you to Ellen Ringier and Thomas Schlickenrieder, thank you to the Elternsein Foundation, the publisher of Fritz+Fränzi, for the legroom that the editorial team has enjoyed for many years. Thank you to our supporters, companions and authors. Thank you to Patrik Luther and his fantastic publishing and sales team, thank you to my fantastic editorial colleagues from print and online for their sensitivity, their passion and their great commitment. And many thanks to you, dear reader, for your loyalty. Stay confident. And stay with us.
Yourssincerely, Nik Niethammer
