Josef Ritler
Encyclopedia
Josef Ritler also known as "Sepp Ritler" or "Seppi Ritler", is a Swiss journalist
, who worked as a writer and photographer for the newspaper Blick
for 40 years. Today, he works as a video journalist for the central Swiss
television station Tele Tell.
. Because of bullying, he was forced to change to a school in Brig
. In his free time he often assisted his father in his work, who was a foreman, wanting to follow his father's profession when older. During his apprenticeship as a mason
, he learnt that he had an allergy
to cement
and had to quit the course.
But he discovered his passion for photography
and began photographing everything that crossed his way. He moved to Lucerne
as it was one of the few locations where photography apprenticeships were offered. When Ritler accidentally photographed a film set producing an army propaganda
film for the Swiss national exhibition "Expo 64", the paper Blick became interested in hiring Ritler as a journalist. The chief editor
of the time, Werner Schollenberger, invited Ritler to write for the paper. Ritler was hesitant due to the reputation of Blick as a tabloid. He eventually accepted the job offer for one year only initially. Eventually he would work for Blick for forty years.
The journalist managed to become something of an intermediary between the more conservative people of central Switzerland and the modern Zurich
team of Blick. Ritler's character attracted a considerably amount of curiosity and trouble; on occasion he was chased by farmers with pitchforks, his tyres were slit, he received death threats and for a while was only able to work under police protection.
One of Ritler's attributes is his curiosity for the "people behind the headlines", such as in the case of the chainsaw vigilante
where Ritler was keen to find out more about the person behind the story.
Ritler was only interested in real news. Because of that, he often held interviews after conferences, not during. When the Kapellbrücke
was on fire, Ritler was there.
At the age of 64, Ritler was retired early (one year before the regular Swiss retirement age) and had to leave Blick. He had a number of job offers and finally accepted the offer of Tele Tell, where he is now working as a video-journalist.
For the first time, Ritler is working for TV. Within this young team, Ritler has a reputation for being a "total professional who knows central Switzerland like no one else" and who has an "eye for the perfect picture".
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, who worked as a writer and photographer for the newspaper Blick
Blick
Blick is a German-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Zürich, Switzerland since 1959 by Ringier.It has a circulation of 275,000 and a readership of 750,000 . Only the free daily 20 Minuten has a higher circulation in Switzerland....
for 40 years. Today, he works as a video journalist for the central Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
television station Tele Tell.
Life
Ritlers was born in the canton of Valais. He went to the local primary school in his place of birth, NatersNaters
Naters is a municipality in the district of Brig in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-Geography:Naters has an area, , of . Of this area, 16.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 9.0% is forested...
. Because of bullying, he was forced to change to a school in Brig
Brig, Switzerland
Brig, officially Brig-Glis is a municipality in the district of Brig in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.The current municipality was formed in 1972 through the merger of Brig , Brigerbad and Glis.-History:...
. In his free time he often assisted his father in his work, who was a foreman, wanting to follow his father's profession when older. During his apprenticeship as a mason
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
, he learnt that he had an allergy
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
to cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
and had to quit the course.
But he discovered his passion for photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and began photographing everything that crossed his way. He moved to Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
as it was one of the few locations where photography apprenticeships were offered. When Ritler accidentally photographed a film set producing an army propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
film for the Swiss national exhibition "Expo 64", the paper Blick became interested in hiring Ritler as a journalist. The chief editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of the time, Werner Schollenberger, invited Ritler to write for the paper. Ritler was hesitant due to the reputation of Blick as a tabloid. He eventually accepted the job offer for one year only initially. Eventually he would work for Blick for forty years.
The journalist managed to become something of an intermediary between the more conservative people of central Switzerland and the modern Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
team of Blick. Ritler's character attracted a considerably amount of curiosity and trouble; on occasion he was chased by farmers with pitchforks, his tyres were slit, he received death threats and for a while was only able to work under police protection.
One of Ritler's attributes is his curiosity for the "people behind the headlines", such as in the case of the chainsaw vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
where Ritler was keen to find out more about the person behind the story.
Ritler was only interested in real news. Because of that, he often held interviews after conferences, not during. When the Kapellbrücke
Kapellbrücke
The Chapel Bridge is a covered wooden footbridge spanning diagonally across the Reuss River in the city of Lucerne in central Switzerland. Named after the nearby St. Peter's Chapel, the bridge is unique since it contains a number of interior paintings dating back to the 17th century, although many...
was on fire, Ritler was there.
At the age of 64, Ritler was retired early (one year before the regular Swiss retirement age) and had to leave Blick. He had a number of job offers and finally accepted the offer of Tele Tell, where he is now working as a video-journalist.
For the first time, Ritler is working for TV. Within this young team, Ritler has a reputation for being a "total professional who knows central Switzerland like no one else" and who has an "eye for the perfect picture".
Awards
- 1997 "Swiss Press Foto"
- 2003 "Ringier Medienpreis"
- 2007 Lifetime-Award Schweizerischer Berufsfotografenverband