Federal Council wants to shed more light on the future of news agencies
The Federal Council is prepared to present models in a report on how a national news agency could be operated and financed in the spirit of public service. It proposes that a corresponding postulate be accepted without comment.
The motion was submitted by SP National Councilor Jon Pult (SP/GR). 14 National Councillors from the ranks of SP, Greens, CVP and GLP have co-signed the postulate. The Federal Council is ready to prepare the postulated report, as it announced on Monday in its response to the proposal.
Pult is asking the government to develop scenarios for the future supply of Swiss media with news agency services for all parts of the country and for all national languages. This task is currently being performed by the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The recent history surrounding the enterprise shows how fragile the existence of such a basic media infrastructure is, Pult notes. "Without significant government support, this agency would probably no longer exist in its current form." What the future holds in the already very volatile media market is uncertain, despite the current stabilization of Keystone-SDA.
In addition, fundamental questions of state policy also arose with regard to the ownership of a news agency of national importance. For these reasons, politicians would be well advised to consider various future scenarios for this basic media service at an early stage and without prejudice, Pult continues. (SDA)
