Return of the Zurich Journalism Prize 2007 demanded
The Campaign for Media Freedom is calling on the Zurich Journalism Prize Foundation to revoke the 2007 Zurich Journalism Prize—worth 7,000 francs—awarded to Charlotte Jacquemart and Daniel Hug. The prize was awarded to them for a series of articles on the merger of Swissfirst and Bellevue Bank.
Aktion Medienfreiheit is calling on the Zurich Journalism Prize Foundation to deny Charlotte Jacquemart and Daniel Hug the 2007 Zurich Journalism Prize, which is endowed with CHF 7,000. The prize was awarded to them for a series of articles on the merger between Swissfirst and Bellevue Bank. The NZZ am Sonntag journalists had claimed that the pension funds had been damaged to the tune of millions as a result of the merger. It was even suggested that bribes had been paid. All of these allegations proved to be false.
Last Sunday, the NZZ am Sonntag had to apologize for this series of articles. The series of articles meant a serious violation of personality for Thomas Matter, who was pilloried as a journalist at the time. He had to resign, Swissfirst no longer exists and dozens of jobs were lost. The credibility of the Zurich Journalism Prize as well as its sponsor, the Zurich Press Association, has been called into question, according to a press release. The prize should therefore be withdrawn from the journalists.
Monika Menne, Managing Director of the Zurich Journalism Prize Foundation, told Kleinreport.ch on Thursday that the Foundation Board had taken note of the appeal by Aktion Medienfreiheit and would discuss the issue with the jury at the next joint meeting. This meeting will take place later this month.
Last Sunday, the NZZ am Sonntag had to apologize for this series of articles. The series of articles meant a serious violation of personality for Thomas Matter, who was pilloried as a journalist at the time. He had to resign, Swissfirst no longer exists and dozens of jobs were lost. The credibility of the Zurich Journalism Prize as well as its sponsor, the Zurich Press Association, has been called into question, according to a press release. The prize should therefore be withdrawn from the journalists.
Monika Menne, Managing Director of the Zurich Journalism Prize Foundation, told Kleinreport.ch on Thursday that the Foundation Board had taken note of the appeal by Aktion Medienfreiheit and would discuss the issue with the jury at the next joint meeting. This meeting will take place later this month.
