Federal Council to examine subsidies for digital newspaper subscriptions

The public consultation on the new Electronic Media Act concluded in October. The Federal Council’s draft bill provides for direct funding of online media as well—but only if they primarily publish audio and audiovisual content and fulfill a public service mandate. It justifies this primarily on the grounds that the Federal Constitution leaves no room for direct funding of print media. Only funding for electronic media is provided for. The draft law was criticized during the consultation process.

Without a constitutional amendment
The Federal Council now intends to examine, as part of drafting its message, which measures could strengthen the press. It states this in its responses to parliamentary motions published on Thursday. As the Federal Council notes, these measures must be feasible within the existing constitutional framework. Approaches such as temporary subsidies for digital subscriptions and more targeted indirect press support to promote media diversity—for example, through free delivery of a certain number of copies per issue—should be explored in greater depth, according to the response to a motion by BDP National Council member Bernhard Guhl (AG).

Skeptical About the Coupon System
The Federal Council has expressed skepticism about the idea that license fee payers should decide for themselves which media outlets receive a portion of their money. A demand-driven funding system would raise many questions, it writes. These would concern quality criteria, the appropriate consideration of smaller publications in outlying regions, and planning certainty for media outlets. The Federal Council notes that there are various proposals for a partial right of co-determination. These differ, for example, in terms of the amount that can be freely allocated or the requirements that a media outlet must meet in order to be eligible for funding. It is not clear under any model how this co-determination would affect the SRG.

Media Under Massive Pressure
SP National Council member Matthias Aebischer (BE) and GLP National Council member Jürg Grossen (BE) had inquired about a possible system of co-determination. Grossen argues that if fee payers were granted a partial right to have a say in the distribution of the household fee, this could strengthen the legitimacy of the system as a whole. Aebischer notes that print media are under massive pressure, which is leading to a decline in quality and diversity. He would like to instruct the Federal Council to examine options for promoting print and online media in a report. The Federal Council is recommending that the National Council reject the postulate. (SDA)