Number of complaints to UBI remains high
In 2021, the Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television UBI recorded 30 new complaints cases. In six cases, which concerned five broadcasts from SRG programs, it found a violation of the principle of fairness. As in the previous year, most of the complaints concerned reports on the coronavirus.
Although 30 cases represent a decrease compared to last year's record year (43), the number is still above the long-term average, according to the UBI's activity report published on Friday.
With 18 cases, more than half of the complaints received in the reporting year concerned television broadcasts. Radio broadcasts were objected to seven times and online content three times, according to the UBI. SRG content from the social medium Instagram was objected to for the first time.
Complaints were only received about SRG publications, i.e. Swiss Radio and Television SRF (23 times), Radio Télévision Suisse RTS (4 times) and Radiotelevisione svizzera RSI (3 times). According to the UBI, the complaints concerned news programs and other informative formats.
In the 37 complaint procedures settled in 2021 (previous year: 36), the UBI found a violation of the law in six cases (2020: 5).
Coronavirus in focus
As in the previous year, government coronavirus measures were the main focus of the publications in question. However, other current political, economic and social topics such as 5G, consumer protection and upcoming referendums also occupied the UBI. Most of the complaints focused on the principle of fairness, as the UBI wrote. This is intended to protect the public's freedom of opinion.
The eight ombudsman offices upstream of the UBI recorded a total of 1,200 complaints last year (2020: 1,194). According to the report, 2.5 percent of cases before the ombudsman offices resulted in a complaint to the UBI in the reporting year.
The UBI has been in existence since 1984 and is an extra-parliamentary commission of the federal government. On complaint, it must determine whether the content of radio and television broadcasts by Swiss broadcasters, as well as the rest of the SRG's offering, has violated provisions on the content of editorial publications. Decisions of the UBI can be appealed to the Federal Supreme Court. (SDA)
