2024-02-21 15:54:06
In addition and for a period limited to four years as well, the State will cover 50% of the subscription costs of regional media to the national press agency Keystone-ATS. The canton of Friborg also plans support in the area of media training and young people’s access to the media. For all these measures, the canton will pay a maximum of 3.75 million francs.
Desired federal proposals
The canton of Friborg indicated that it was taking these measures due to the absence of new federal proposals in the short term. The canton of Neuchâtel also believes that a federal solution is needed and wants to commit to helping with the distribution of newspapers at this level.
“It is not relevant to legislate at the cantonal level” to ensure the existence of impartial and quality media in the canton, declared Wednesday the president of the Neuchâtel Council of State Alain Ribaux, questioned at the Grand Council.
His answer was not convincing. An urgent cross-party motion has been tabled to enshrine aid for regional media in law, providing amounts to support them.
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In February 2022, the people refused the media aid package concocted by Parliament. Since then, several projects have been proposed to Parliament. The Federal Council recalls that it does not have the possibility of introducing additional aid instruments. The legal bases must be created by Parliament.
In a report published Wednesday in response to a postulate, he outlines several models for aid independent of the distribution channel. Currently, media aid mainly targets traditional media, such as newspapers, radio and television. Online media are not entitled to any support.
In the short term, the government is proposing general aid measures for all electronic media. They benefit press agencies, training, the Swiss Press Council as well as the digital development of the online offering and can be quickly implemented. They aim to improve the general conditions of the entire sector.
Today, the Keystone-ATS agency benefits from aid of 4 million per year from radio-TV licenses. The agency offers regional and local media a basic service for national and international news coverage, allowing them to concentrate on their core activity, covering regional and local events.
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A general extension of aid to all electronic media would make it possible to broaden the circle of media benefiting from the agency’s services also to online media. Its position in the Swiss media landscape would also be strengthened. Such measures had not been contested in Parliament.
Electronic media
The amount of new aid to all electronic media might be determined according to the number of journalists or turnover. Small media would be favored. And this option would make it possible to support the digital transformation of the written press. Online offerings might also benefit.
This new aid might replace immediately or in stages the discounts on distribution in favor of the local and regional press (30 million per year). It might also be introduced alongside the rebate while awaiting an evaluation. This option does not require modification of the Constitution.
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Another option would be a new media law. Radio and television stations which do not have a performance mandate might obtain financial assistance, as might independent publishing houses or publishers. A “non-priority” option, according to the government.
The association of German-speaking publishers Schweizer Medien (VSM) welcomes these new support possibilities. However, these should not be designed to the detriment of indirect aid to the press, she warns. Distribution discounts are to be extended for the next seven years to ensure the supply of information in the regions and at the same time enable the digital transition.
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