Neuchâtel municipality boycotts two local journalists
Weil sich die Exekutive der Neuenburger Gemeinde Val-de-Ruz in Artikeln der Zeitung L'Express/L'Impartial ungerecht behandelt fühlt, boykottiert sie zwei Lokaljournalistinnen. Die Zeitung protestiert und will sich nicht daran halten.
The background to the dispute is the introduction of alcohol tests for employees of the municipal administration. The measure, which was announced at the end of May, was not well received by the staff associations. The tests are currently suspended because both parties are waiting for a report from the Neuchâtel data protection authority. In the articles and commentaries of 23 and 26 May, the newspaper described Claude-Henri Schaller (FDP), the municipal councillor responsible for personnel, as the author of the alcohol tests. However, the decision to carry out these tests is a matter for the entire council, the municipal executive defends itself. It is a thorn in their side that one person is being played. The municipal council therefore no longer wants to answer questions from the two journalists.
Newspaper does not give in
They are a journalist responsible for the region and the deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper. They are also no longer allowed to attend the municipality's media events. Nicolas Willemin, editor-in-chief of L'Express, wrote that the municipal council wanted to silence media professionals because of a "lèse majesté".
L'Impartial, in a commentary on Wednesday. However, the newspaper will not adhere to the boycott. The local council cannot choose journalists to work with at its own discretion.
The professional association Impressum described the boycott as absurd and condemned it in the strongest possible terms. Considering female journalists as "persona non grata" violates the freedom of the press, Impressum stated in a press release on Wednesday. (SDA)
