- The used 20-minute newspaper boxes were distributed on Saturday.
- Many people brought a piece of nostalgia home.
- They make minibars, mailboxes or vinyl holders out of them.
- Musician Marius Bear also secured a box as an accessory for his music studio.
The printed 20 minutes is history, its boxes live on: On Saturday, the now obsolete newspaper boxes were distributed at the Bubenberg printing center in Zurich. It took 20 minutes.
Marius Bear: “A contemporary testimony with history”
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Singer-songwriter Marius Bear also wanted to “claw a box,” as he says. “20 Minutes is a part of my youth and cult.” He likes a slightly rusty, stickered box best: “I like things that show that they have lived.” His plan: The box goes to his music studio in Appenzell. «As a contemporary testimony. Maybe she’ll inspire me to write new songs.”
His head was on the front page three times: “About my ESC nomination, my performance and my first album; always positive headlines!” He therefore misses the print version, but still enjoys reading 20 minutes online: “Good journalism must not die out, especially in this day and age. We shouldn’t just inform ourselves via social media.”
Jan Löning, content creator at 20 Minuten, also took a box home with him. “I remember how I used to run to the box when I was 13.” He actually wanted a Zurich box, “but apparently they’re all pretty messed up. “In Zurich, the pits lived more dangerously,” he jokes. He finally decided on one from eastern Switzerland.
An AI edition for your work colleague every morning
Computer scientist Axel (25) from Basel has a particularly unusual approach. His box ends up in the office – for a work colleague who loved the 20-minute newspaper. “That’s why from now on we’ll print out an AI-generated 20-minute newspaper for him every morning and put it in his box.”
Vinyl, shot minibar and almost tears
For Budi (27) from Zurich, the box becomes a vinyl record holder. «And as a souvenir of old times. The first thing in the morning used to be the newspaper from the box on the doorstep.” He also continues to read online for 20 minutes.
Fabian (23) from Hombrechtikon ZH is partying: “We’ll make a minibar out of it.” The box goes into the basement between the guests, filled with shots – including interior lighting.
Things got very emotional for Valentina (24). The box is a Christmas present for her boyfriend Noray (22). “He was really sad when the 20-minute newspaper was discontinued,” she says. “When I told him about my gift on Christmas Eve, he almost had tears in his eyes.” The box is now next to the cat tree in the couple’s living room.
Mailbox, waste paper deposit – and investment?
Vanessa (25) and Damian (27) from Dussnang TG became aware of the call via social media. As loyal 20-minute readers, they didn’t hesitate and traveled all the way from eastern Switzerland: “We want to make a mailbox out of it,” they say. “We don’t yet know whether this will really work.”
Daniel (55) from St. Gallen has already filled the box with the last 30 printed issues. “I miss the morning ritual of picking up the 20-minute newspaper.” The box is now in the entrance area of his car garage – between other nostalgic pieces: “Me and my work colleagues have been loyal 20 Minute readers since the first issue.”
Sandro (30) from Adliswil ZH grabbed three boxes. “20 minutes is just cult.” He uses them in the store to store flyers and waste paper – and thinks about their potential resale value in the long term. “And if not, they’re always nice to look at.”
Have you also secured a 20-minute newspaper box? Then send us a photo of it and tell us briefly what you did with it – we are looking forward to your ideas.
Thomas Sennhauser (ths), has been working for 20 minutes since 2020. He started as a video journalist and after two years moved to the News & Society department, where he writes about social issues and analyzes of events abroad.
