Media in Switzerland: Albert Rösti says he is worried about the press

Federal Councilor Albert Rösti expressed concern on Wednesday about cuts in the media, especially in French-speaking Switzerland. Good framework conditions and indirect aid are needed, “but we cannot save the private press with money from the Confederation alone,” he stressed.

“Over the last 15 years, the circulation of Swiss newspapers has fallen by half,” recalled the Minister of Communication during the 5th edition of the French-speaking Media Forum (FMR), in Lausanne.

“We must do everything to ensure that journalism does not become an endangered species, otherwise democracy will be in danger,” said the minister. The government is committed to good framework conditions, for example the regulation of internet giants or artificial intelligence (AI).

Indirect aid not contested

Albert Rösti said he was aware that the amounts of savings in the media far exceeded those of the Confederation’s press aid. It is especially the private media that will have to take the majority of measures to ensure their future, for example in the area of ​​digital transition, warned the federal councilor.

Despite the 3 billion francs in savings necessary for the Confederation, the Federal Council has given up on tracing indirect aid to the press, argued Albert Rösti. However, such a cut was proposed by a group of experts. The government was content to propose reducing this aid by 5 million, from 30 to 25 million.

However, during the autumn session of the Federal Chambers, the National Council decided to increase these amounts paid to the Post Office, which makes it possible to lower the bill for newspaper distribution. “No one wants to question this aid,” noted Albert Rösti.

Media education: new initiative

During this 5th edition of the FMR, a new initiative was presented in the field of media education. It is supported by the Intercantonal Conference on Public Education and Culture of French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino (CIIP), the SSR (RTS and RSI), French-speaking publishers Médias Suisses, French-speaking regional radio stations as well as TV French-speaking regions.

The idea is to create a foundation responsible for promoting media education in schools in French-speaking Switzerland, through workshops organized in collaboration with local media. “This is not a measure to help the press, but a tool for understanding allowing the media to take their social responsibility,” underlined the director of Radio Chablais, Florian Jeanneret.

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