"We would be interested in the Basler Zeitung".

The distribution of the printed newspaper by Swiss Post is particularly close to his heart, reveals the newly elected president of the Association of Swiss Media (VSM) in an interview. The medium is - despite all the discussions about the future - by far the most important media genre for the democratic formation of opinion in Switzerland.

"Roger de Weck has not understood the problem".

Another concern of Supino's is - unsurprisingly - the "distortion of competition by state providers. The prospect of publicly financed competition would, in the long term, discourage private individuals from investing in media diversity. The renewed, "well-intentioned" announcement by Roger de Weck that he wants to join the association is "perplexing" and shows that the SRG Director General does not understand the problem. The SRG is not a private company and does not have to compete with the private media houses or enter into cooperations with some of them. Supino sees the role of SRG clearly defined: The complementary offer must be limited to what would not otherwise be available. Cooperations with SRG should also be open to all interested parties - exclusive contracts like the one with Ringier would further increase market distortion.

"Actually a case for the Press Council itself".

The new VSM president is clearly in favor of "the important institution" of the Press Council. The news spread by the NZZ that Supino had been part of the minority in the association's executive committee that had voted against the continued payment of contributions was "a newspaper hoax" and "actually a case for the Press Council itself". The support of the Press Council had never been up for debate, only the manner in which it was provided: Through the financially weakened association or directly through the publishing houses. Supino's preference would have been the second option, because on the one hand it would have relieved the association and on the other it would have created greater proximity between the Press Council and the publishers.

The association had announced in August that it was withdrawing from all associations and institutions for reasons of economy (Werbewoche.ch reported). The cancellation of the 36,000 Swiss francs paid annually to the Press Council subsequently caused harshest criticism at the VSM. At the general meeting in Lucerne, it was decided that payment should continue (Werbewoche.ch reported).

Tages-Anzeiger and BaZ move closer together

The Tages-Anzeiger and the Basler Zeitung are to move closer together. Currently, a trial cooperation is underway in the business sections, which exchange articles on the pharmaceutical and banking industries. Here, Supino sees an opportunity to benefit from the different competencies of the two economic regions and to optimize costs at the same time. Other areas of cooperation - for example, in the field of culture - are conceivable, "as long as it doesn't involve any area in which politics is made," says Supino, alluding to BaZ owner Christoph Blocher and his editor-in-chief Markus Somm.

In principle, Tamedia would be interested in buying the Basler Zeitung from Blocher if it were for sale, said Supino. However, the rumors spread by the NZZ am Sonntag that the media group itself wanted to sell newspapers were false - the Sonntagsblatt has since corrected itself and apologized to Tamedia.

"The worst is not behind us".

Supino's outlook for the future tends to be positive - at the moment, he says, most Swiss media companies are doing well in terms of publishing and business and have developed well over the last ten challenging years. In contrast to the general tenor, the Tamedia publisher does not see the current uncertainty about how the media industry will look in ten years' time as negative, but as neutral: "We will continue to be able to find our way. What is necessary, however, is that structures are permanently revised, he says, because technological developments are leading to "incredible cost pressure." "The worst is not behind us. The speed of change will increase," Supino warns. He worries about how many jobs there will even be in ten years - not just in the media industry, but in general. Society will therefore have to think about an unconditional basic income again - despite the vote being launched too early. (hae/SaS)

Image Pietro Supino: Tamedia