Company

In the picture since 1953

KEYSTONE was established in 1953 as the Swiss subsidiary of the American KEYSTONE View Company that was originally founded in 1891. Today, KEYSTONE is an independent joint-stock company held by APA (60%) and SDA (40%). As the largest picture agency in Switzerland, KEYSTONE currently has a staff of 80 employees.

KEYSTONE represents internationally renowned photographers and the world's leading picture agencies for news, special interests, and stock images exclusively in Switzerland. At a national level, over 20 full-time as well as numerous freelance photographers supply images for distribution to the Swiss print media (all of Switzerland's daily newspapers as well as most of the weekly and monthly magazines) and new media (Internet portals and Swiss television) through a network of ten regional bureaus. A large number of advertising agencies and communication departments at the major banks, insurance companies, service and industrial enterprises complete KEYSTONE's customer base.

The range of images offered by KEYSTONE encompasses catalogue and historical images besides news and theme pictures. Today, over 4 million images are available for download from KEYSTONE's digital database. In addition, the agency's historical archives provide over 11 million images.

Headquarters

Zurich

Regional Bureaus

Basel, Bern, Chur, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, Luzern, Neuchâtel, Sion and St.Gallen

KEYSTONE stands for image competence through quality. The fastest possible delivery of image material and competent, personal support from image specialists are the core mission of KEYSTONE.

KEYSTONE supports young photographers through the "vfg Nachwuchsförderpreis" (Award for young photographers) as well as the Swiss Solidarity. KEYSTONE is involved in promoting Swiss Sports and supports the "Swiss Olympic Association" and the "Swiss Soccer Association". Furthermore KEYSTONE is partner of the "Swiss Sports Aid Foundation".

Distribution

KEYSTONE subscribers (Swiss news media) are supplied with the latest images day and night over KEYSTONE's own data transmission network (around 700 images per day). In addition, customers can log-in using a personal password (Member Login) and access over 4 million high-resolution images for quick downloading and convenient processing. On request, images can be made ready in a personal lightbox via a mail link to the digital database by issuing a research order.

PPR Media Relations

PPR Media Relations AG - a KEYSTONE subsidiary - offers its services via three business lines: Photopress, Brand PR und People PR - www.pprmediarelations.ch.

The business line Photopress produces PR images as well as press releases and manages them for its customers in the multimedia database www.photopress.ch. If required the pictures can be distributed to the media's news desk systems via KEYSTONE's network immediately.
The business line Brand PR assists national and international companies in all questions regarding PR. Its range of services includes not only the creation of professional media documentation and the production of the corresponding image portfolios but also the conception and implementation of PR action plans - www.brandpr.ch.
With its individual consulting services, the business line People PR covers the personal communication sector and thus tops off PPR Media Relations' palette of services perfectly - http://www.peoplepr.ch.

EQ Images

EQ Images is an independent news photo agency specialised in sports. A permanent team of around ten photographers and pictured editors ensure a highly qualified photo reporting on sports and other current topics in Switzerland. KEYSTONE holds an interest of 70% in EQ Images.