Editor interview: Dr. Matthias Laasch

The editors working in the European electronics media are genuinely interesting people. I’ve wanted to put together a series of interviews and am delighted to have finally started this project. Even better, the first editor I talked to was Dr. Matthias Laasch, the hugely experienced editor who recently took over the helm at Elektronik Informationen:

What do you most enjoy about your new job?
Working with Elektronik Informationen is a challenge for several reasons.
First, it is a 40 year old magazine which I have known for more than a decade. For me personally, it has been a reliable information source on electronics. Clearly it will be an exciting challenge to continue and (hopefully!) improve on the success of this established periodical. Second, when I started my career it was with F&M ten years ago, when the magazine was strongly dedicated to electronics. We drove it to focus more and more towards mechatronics and automation, but now, with Elektronik Informationen, I’m returning to my “editorial roots”. I enjoy working in this extremely dynamic and competitive marketplace.

Which areas of electronics interest you the most?
I spent years with magazines that covered mechatronics; photonics and micro production; industrial applications; and opto electronics and micro systems, such as MEMS or MOEMS, so these are in my personal focus. But from the editor’s point of view, any true innovation is worth being considered – as long as it concerns electronic engineering.

Do you have any plans to enhance the magazine or website over the next year?
Yes, of course! We have many plans to extend the editorial content, enhance the editing and improve the crosslink between print and online. But as I started only three weeks ago, it is too early to be specific. In my previous job, I established new publications and hopefully, Elektronik Informationen will benefit from this experience.

What is the main factor that makes a press release interesting?
First of all, it has to meet our editorial focus, electronic engineering. It must concern the engineer. The second criterion is up-to-dateness. Is the product or information really new or is it raked up? We also appreciate PRs that particularly address the core editorial themes of an issue. Generally, serious product information is better than a collection of marketing statements. A fact-bound, brief description is better than a blown-up novel.
Moreover, as we address German-language markets only, we appreciate press releases in German.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time, when you’re not editing Elektronik Informationen?
At the moment, there is very little time left. My major hobby is our 10 month old baby boy who is the most exciting experience I ever had. Hopefully, in a few years, we will share my favourite activities, such as sports (badminton, soccer, cycling, skiing), travelling, mountaineering or photography. Besides changing baby’s nappy, I love everything I can do outdoors.

Do you personally prefer to get information in print or online?
Online! Online information is faster and much easier to handle. As a matter of fact, simply including the text in the message and attaching the pictures is the very best way – the easiest, fastest and most comfortable way. I would not recommend providing the files via a website or virtual press room because the download takes additional time and, in some cases, I can spend even more time searching for a password. And time is the most critical parameter to any editor.

What is your favourite gadget?
When our son was born, I bought a high-definition camcorder, as probably everyone does at this stage of life. Well, it is a great toy, and we will certainly be happy having stored all these exciting moments in our baby’s first months. I recorded hours and hours… but never thought about cutting and making something like a movie from all the material. Will I ever do it?
Once again, time is the limiting parameter …

Tags: Digital Magazines and Print Publications, Germany, Interviews, Online