LRingie School of Journalismr is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and is honoring this anniversary with a special film project. Four students from the current class produced the documentary film “The House on the Hill,” which offers an overview of the history of this prestigious training institution and highlights the challenges and developments in journalism education.
An institution in German-speaking Switzerland
The documentary, produced during the two years of training of Janik Leuenberger, Vanessa Nyfeler, Joschka Schaffner and Yara Vettiger, follows the class of 2022/24, from the entrance exam to the graduation ceremony. The film takes a behind-the-scenes look at daily teaching in the magnificent Villa Römerhalde, located high above Zofingen in the canton of Aargau, which has always been the headquarters of the School of Journalism.
The film gives voice not only to current students, but also to former students who are today key figures in the media sector. Among them, Silvia Binggeli, editor-in-chief of “Schweizer Illustrierte”, Marc Walder, CEO of Ringier, and publisher Michael Ringier. They all share their experiences at the School of Journalism and explain how this period shaped their careers. Frank A. Meyer, chairman of the board of the Hans Ringier Foundation, which supports the school, also describes the values and visions of this unique institution.
The film also focuses on the school’s three successive directors: Fridolin Luchsinger, Hannes Britschgi, and current director Peter Hossli, who reflect on the evolution of journalistic training over the decades and the changes in the requirements of the profession.
These perspectives are complemented by Samuel Beljean, the gardener of Villa Römerhalde, who charmingly describes the particularities of this historic house which has strongly marked the history of the formation of the school since its foundation.
The film was produced under the direction of Peter Hossli, with the support of Magdalena Kauz, a former student of the School of Journalism, now a successful director, who had the idea for this project and advised the team.
“House on the Hill” is now available on YouTube. This one-hour film is a declaration of love to journalism, a tribute to the many talents that have been nurtured by the School of Journalism and an impressive period document on the transformation of the media industry and the passion that drives this occupation.
NB: you can activate the translation of subtitles into French
