Council of States does not want to use fees for press promotion
The cap of CHF 1.2 billion on SRG fees is not to be enshrined in law. Also, no regional and local print media are to be subsidized from radio and television fees. A corresponding motion from the Council of States was withdrawn.
The motion of Beat Vonlanthen, a member of the Council of States for the CVP in Fribourg, wanted to further restrict the SRG, including in advertising and online offerings, in order to strengthen media diversity. Vonlanthen has now withdrawn his motion. He was convinced by the arguments of Media Minister Doris Leuthard. According to her, most of the concerns are being examined within the framework of the media law. However, according to the Federal Councillor, there is no constitutional basis for indirect press funding from the fee pot. In her statement, Leuthard also recalled that SRG was not responsible for the declining advertising revenues of the press. These would flow to the large platforms abroad.
Wait for new media law
Also off the table is a proposal by Géraldine Savary (SP/VD), SP member of the Council of States for Vaud. She wanted to commission an additional report on the financial support of the Keystone-SDA agency. She said that the staff cuts at Keystone-SDA were once again "endangering media diversity, independence, and ultimately the entire journalism profession. Savary nevertheless withdrew her postulate. She was satisfied with the answer of the Federal Council, according to which the creation of a legal basis to be able to support news agencies is being examined as part of the development of the new law on electronic media. The consultation draft is to be presented soon.
Prologue to the actual debate
The almost hour-long debate in the Council of States gave a foretaste of this legislative project. Various speakers did not focus on the proposals on the agenda, but marked out the terrain in terms of media policy. Once again, it became clear how far the ideas of the various political camps diverge. The central question is how far the state should interfere in private-sector processes. The leftists argue that the media crisis should be countered at least somewhat with federal money, while the conservative parties want to stay out of it for the most part. (SDA)
