Indispensable in democracy, the media must defend their interests as do peasant circles, said Federal Councilor Beat Jans on Thursday. Commenting on restructuring in the sector, he called on publishers to assume their responsibilities.
“Do like the Swiss Peasants’ Union, which demands help with confidence and audibly, because agriculture is important for the supply of the country. You have the same importance,” launched the minister in a video message during the traditional Epiphany meeting in Zurich, organized by the association of German-speaking publishers Schweizer Medien (VSM).
“Our democracy needs you,” underlined the head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), hoping that publishers were aware of this responsibility when announcing their savings measures in the editorial offices.
“Good journalism is expensive”
The Basel resident also warned “that profit targets cannot be the only goal”, while such criticism was addressed in particular to the Tamedia group last year, after a new restructuring of its titles. “Journalism goes beyond material gains,” he said.
“Good journalism is expensive,” insisted the federal councilor, launching an appeal to publishers: “defend serious journalism, based on facts, which focuses on relevance and not above all on sensationalism and controversy”.
In terms of press assistance, Beat Jans focused on the issue of neighboring rights, a standard comparable to copyright which would allow publishers to demand money from platforms like Google or Facebook for the use of their contents.
Such compensation will bring a “breath of air and a little time” to the sector, but will not alone solve all the problems, Mr. Jans stressed. He noted that neighboring rights were generally welcomed in consultation, but that there was also opposition. The Federal Council is, however, convinced of the need for such a standard. He will present a message by the summer, said the minister.
Beat Jans was reserved about the possibility of claiming, in this same context, compensation also from the giants of Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT, who largely exploit journalistic content to fuel their responses. “You have to be careful not to overload the boat,” he warned.
Call for a “counter-movement”
The discussion on AI must, however, be conducted “intensively”, stressed Beat Jans. The Federal Council has tasked the Federal Department of Telecommunications (DETEC) with carrying out an inventory of regulations in Switzerland. The government will soon provide “first indications” in this area.
The minister criticized the decision of internet giants like X or Facebook to remove the fact-checking function on their platforms. But he felt that this was an opportunity for journalism: “If big tech no longer wants to sort the true from the false, then you, the media, come into play”, underlined Beat Jans, calling for “one against -movement” in the face of the surge of “fake news”.
This article was automatically published. Source: ats
