National Council wants to tackle print and online promotion together

The decision in the large chamber was made by 109 votes to 84 with one abstention. The National Council's Telecommunications Committee must now deal with the bill again. It has the task of preparing the package of measures in favor of the media submitted by the Federal Council and already adopted by the Council of States.

The proposal of the committee minority was accepted with votes from the SP, Greens, GLP and a majority of the center group. They are of the opinion that media funding should be geared more towards the growing use of digital media. "We doubt that funding for online media will be promoted in any other way," said Isabelle Pasquier-Eichenberger (Greens/Geneva). All channels are affected by the structural change in the industry, so all channels should also be supported.

Controversial constitutionality

The SVP and FDP advocated separate treatment of print and online promotion. They doubted that the planned promotion of online media is constitutional. "We cannot pass laws for which we have no constitutional responsibility," said Gregor Rutz (SVP/ZH).

Christian Wasserfallen (FDP/BE) also said that the first-time promotion of online media should be carefully considered. More hearings are needed and alternative support models must be examined. In order not to lose any time on the uncontroversial parts of the bill, it would make sense to shorten it.

Offensive by the media associations

In the preliminary consultation committee, this argument had still convinced a narrow majority. The State Policy Committee (SPK) had also spoken out in favor of tightening the package in a joint report.

In the meantime, the wind has changed. The lobbying offensive by various media associations does not appear to have failed to have an effect. They warned that splitting up the package would jeopardize the entire bill. In addition to the SVP, which rejects state support for the media for fundamental reasons, left-wing representatives also threatened to vote no in the overall vote if online funding was excluded.

Against pure structural maintenance

The Center Group tipped the scales. A majority supported the rejection motion. "A package should not be unnecessarily unraveled," said Martin Candinas (CVP/GR). In addition, the Federal Council's online funding concept was well thought out. The offers would remain independent and there would be no performance mandates.

"Media funding in 2020 that does not take digital media into account would not be in keeping with the times," said SP parliamentary group spokesperson and former journalist Matthias Aebischer (SP/BE). Supporting only the printed press would be pure structural preservation, said Katja Christ (GLP/BS). "Even a parliament with an average age of over 55 years that can still get something out of the daily trip to the letterbox should recognize this."

"Beautiful gift basket"

Fundamental opposition to media funding was only voiced by the SVP. Rutz described the bill as a "hodgepodge of different concerns" and a "nice gift basket with something for every taste".

However, the other parliamentary groups see a need for action. "The media are the fourth estate in the state, they monitor and inform," said committee spokesperson Philipp Kutter (CVP/ZH). The industry has a problem: "Readers are only slowly getting used to the fact that digital media channels also have to be paid for." This structural change must be slowed down and support from the state is needed.

No quick solution in sight

After being referred back to the committee, the National Council will probably discuss the bill again in the winter session. The media package could be finalized in spring 2021 at the earliest; according to the usual deadlines, entry into force would be realistic at the beginning of 2022 at the earliest.

The timetable is not insignificant. The coronavirus pandemic has further accelerated structural change in the media industry. Many newspapers are struggling to survive, with hundreds of jobs being cut in the coming months and years.

Three-pillar model

The Federal Council had already put together the package of measures for the media before the coronavirus crisis. It consists of three pillars. Firstly, a revision of the Postal Services Act is being proposed, which would expand the existing indirect press subsidies. This is intended to provide more comprehensive support for the printed press and allow more titles to benefit from reduced postal delivery rates.

To this end, an increase in funding of CHF 20 million to CHF 50 million per year is planned. The Council of States and the National Council's preliminary consultation committee also want to include support for the early delivery of newspapers, including the Sunday press, in the package of measures. This would cost the federal government an additional CHF 40 million per year. The association and member press will now receive CHF 30 million per year instead of CHF 20 million.

30 million francs for online media

Secondly, a revision of the Radio and TV Act will finance new measures that will benefit the entire media system. These include support for journalistic training and for news agencies as well as a funding pot for IT projects in the sense of industry solutions. Two percent of the radio and television levy, around CHF 30 million per year, is earmarked for this purpose. This part is uncontroversial.

Thirdly, the Federal Council is presenting a new law for the promotion of online media. This is intended to support paid journalistic services that offer professional digital public service journalism for ten years. CHF 30 million per year has been budgeted for this purpose. The models are indirect, with no performance mandates. According to the Federal Council, editorial freedom will be preserved. (SDA)