2023-11-15 07:00:13
I had the opportunity to meet Thérèse Obrecht, former president of Reporters Without Borders Switzerland, historian, journalist specializing in Eastern countries and former alpine ski champion, to debate press freedom. Thérèse Obrecht lived in Russia for seven years, where she experienced the collapse of the USSR, the hope of democracy and the disillusionment that followed.
Thérèse Obrecht: Russia specialist
At the beginning of the 1990s, following the fall of the USSR, Boris Yeltsin decreed freedom of the press and it developed in an extraordinary and very qualitative way. Thérèse explains to us that today, “everything is finished. All independent media are either closed, banned or have emigrated abroad. There is no longer any independent information in Russia itself. Russians can get information via Telegram or VPN from Russian journalists who work abroad, in emigration newspapers and television stations. These journalists are doing remarkable work also broadcast in Russia. But it’s a small drop in an ocean of propaganda.
Reporters Without Borders: press freedom vs media quality
Thérèse Obrecht tells us that Reporters Without Borders is very committed “to journalists and press freedom around the world, but the NGO does not guarantee the quality of the media.” Those are two different things. Indeed, she adds that “we can fight for press freedom and help journalists (paying lawyers in trials, etc.)”, but we cannot change the media and influence their quality.
A lack of commitment from journalists
“I fought with many colleagues here. My great disappointment is that many journalists do not join Reporters Without Borders. They don’t understand that it’s important to use our freedom to defend the freedom of others. They are not united, nor committed, because they do not feel concerned,” Thérèse Obrecht explains to us.
Funding and Verification of Information
The media needs money and subscriptions are not enough. It is that pays the media. Then, the media and especially migrated to the Internet and social networks. “Large brands therefore rely on online influencers, rather than in .” Funding is a problem even for major international newspapers.
The other problem comes from the sources of information. “People get information anywhere, they read anything on the Internet, even though the sources are not verified. This is really worrying. »
Freedom of expression
Each year, Reporters Without Borders draws up a list of countries where press freedom is most respected. The first countries on the list are always the Nordic countries, then the Dutch, the Irish… Switzerland is generally around tenth place.
In Europe, despite small problems, freedom of the press exists. What’s missing is the readership. Around 5% of the population at most gets their information via the press. The big problem is misinformation, whether fake news, trolls, etc.
Advice for young journalists
“Journalism is more than a profession, it is a vocation. I have always found it an extraordinary privilege to be able to go to countries, meet people, tell their stories,” Thérèse Obrecht tells us.
Previously, journalists trained by working in a newspaper, on radio or on television, following completing studies. It was a very good system.
“It is essential to have good training. Theory is important, but you also need to know how to write and tell stories, and also love people and have empathy for them. »
Written or audiovisual press
Thérèse Obrecht really likes the written press. It’s an art in itself to be able to stand out. “Audiovisual gives you other means.” She was able, for example, to go to work in Russia, thanks to dual employment, with Le Nouveau Quotidien and television.
The future of the press in Switzerland
Switzerland is very small, so it is very difficult to have newspapers, journalists and editorial staff for such a small audience. Thérèse Obrecht is pessimistic, particularly for the future of the press in French-speaking Switzerland.
The importance of languages
Thérèse Obrecht has a diploma as an interpreter for English, German and French, she then studied literature in Geneva and also studied Russian, because she found this language beautiful, although very difficult. His advice is to “work hard” to learn a language.
Former ski champion
Ski racing gave him “a boost of energy for the rest of his life.” By studying on the side, it “allowed her to go beyond herself, to make a great effort and that stays with you for life. »
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Photo credit: Zhenishbek Edigeev
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