And n rest. There is hardly a message about news ticker. The offices, desks of Swiss Dispatches Agency (SDA) are empty, staff are outside, in alley: Strike! Trade unionists in light vests, banners and whistles. Chanting.
These are memorable scenes that will be played in Bern last Tuesday. A permanent strike, by journalists – and this in Switzerland.
It is also a memorable thing: SDA announced at beginning of year that it had to delete radical positions: from 150, 36 editors should disappear. Not gradually, cushioned by "natural fluctuations", as euphemistic Managersprech means. No, board of directors and its CEO want to get rid of ir employees as quickly as possible.
But SDA is not just any company. It is Switzerland's most important news agency. She is chronicler of country. If your editorial staff is too small, you will not be able to accomplish this task soon. So it is feared.
That is why politicians now demand from left to right: The state must step in!
This article dates back to time No. 06/2018. Here you can read entire output.The Social Democratic National Council Matthias Aebischer wants confederation to become a "strong shareholder" so that agency can "survive with current journalistic quality".
The free-minded Vaud Council of state Pascal Broulis wants to meet SDA directorate and talk about support from public funds: "It is about Cohésion national."
The state should ensure a basic supply of news: but is that its job – and how is it so rich?
At first glance, re seems to be no chance. The publishers have been wortstark against state aid for years. At beginning of March, Swiss decide on no-Billag initiative. She wants less, no more state in media industry. And already in autumn session, Parliament referred two motions to ensure more market and less regulation.
At same time, Federal Council is planning a new Media act which will also cover online offers. Activists have established a new lobbying group, media Forti, which calls for "an infrastructure program to strengn journalism". and Independent Commission of Experts (EMEK), set up by Federal Council, writes in a recently published report: "An active policy for shaping Swiss media landscape in public interest is possible and can be based on legitimate public interests. " Liberated from Schwurbel, that means: politicians, do what! You have our blessing.
Date Of Update: 05 February 2018, 12:02
