Planned merger of Radio DRS and SF causes trouble
The organizational merger of Radio DRS and Swiss Television planned by the SRG is not universally welcomed on the radio side. Some do not believe TV Director Ingrid Deltenre is capable of producing quality journalism, others fear for the radio’s in-depth knowledge of specific topics, and still others do not want to end up as net contributors to meet the growing needs of television. The general sentiment is that everything is happening much too quickly.
The organizational merger of Radio DRS and Swiss Television planned by the SRG is not being welcomed by everyone, particularly on the radio side, as reported by the NZZ am Sonntag and the Sonntag. The general sentiment is that things are moving too fast. Last week, the media union SSM called on the SRG to pause the planned project, titled «Media Convergence,» thereby echoing the concerns of numerous Radio DRS employees.
Radio professionals fear a loss of in-depth knowledge and a general decline in quality as a result of the dissolution of specialized newsrooms. These newsrooms supply content to individual radio programs, whereas on Swiss television, every news program has its own editorial team, as the NZZ am Sonntag reports. In radio, there are now fears that the industry will follow the practices of television.
Will Deltenre be the first head of the merged SRG German-speaking Switzerland region?
Furthermore, several radio employees told *Sonntag* that while they were «favorable» toward the merger, there were media-specific differences that needed to be discussed in detail. Now, however, the radio stations apparently find themselves faced with a fait accompli. The SRG Board of Directors is scheduled to decide on the project on March 18. Furthermore, one radio employee criticized the fact that they had no desire to have to cover the growing financial needs of television as a wealthy junior partner.
According to *Sonntag*, TV Director Ingrid Deltenre is also set to become the first director-general of the merged SRG German-speaking Switzerland region. The newspaper writes that this is a farce insofar as SRG Director General Armin Walpen wants to promote Deltenre to this position—the same Walpen who, as recently as the end of last year, had spoken disparagingly about Deltenre («she makes commercial television»). This personnel decision is also drawing criticism from radio insiders, as the NZZ am Sonntag reports. Deltenre, who is tasked with implementing the merger, has not made a name for herself as a guarantor of quality journalism in her role as head of television. According to the Sunday edition, Radio Director Walter Rüegg will forego his early retirement and take on the convergence dossier.
Radio professionals fear a loss of in-depth knowledge and a general decline in quality as a result of the dissolution of specialized newsrooms. These newsrooms supply content to individual radio programs, whereas on Swiss television, every news program has its own editorial team, as the NZZ am Sonntag reports. In radio, there are now fears that the industry will follow the practices of television.
Will Deltenre be the first head of the merged SRG German-speaking Switzerland region?
Furthermore, several radio employees told *Sonntag* that while they were «favorable» toward the merger, there were media-specific differences that needed to be discussed in detail. Now, however, the radio stations apparently find themselves faced with a fait accompli. The SRG Board of Directors is scheduled to decide on the project on March 18. Furthermore, one radio employee criticized the fact that they had no desire to have to cover the growing financial needs of television as a wealthy junior partner.
According to *Sonntag*, TV Director Ingrid Deltenre is also set to become the first director-general of the merged SRG German-speaking Switzerland region. The newspaper writes that this is a farce insofar as SRG Director General Armin Walpen wants to promote Deltenre to this position—the same Walpen who, as recently as the end of last year, had spoken disparagingly about Deltenre («she makes commercial television»). This personnel decision is also drawing criticism from radio insiders, as the NZZ am Sonntag reports. Deltenre, who is tasked with implementing the merger, has not made a name for herself as a guarantor of quality journalism in her role as head of television. According to the Sunday edition, Radio Director Walter Rüegg will forego his early retirement and take on the convergence dossier.
