Press Council rejects complaint against Ticino newspapers

The three daily newspapers Corriere del Ticino, Giornale del Popolo and La Regione Ticino have not given special treatment to the electronics chain Media Markt. This was decided by the Swiss Press Council following a complaint by the Ticino association of electronics consumer specialists ASEC.
The ASEC accused the three Ticino newspapers of violating editorial independence because they had given Media Markt the opportunity to respond to critical letters to the editor about Media Markt advertising. The association also suspected preferential treatment because the company places numerous advertisements in the print media.
The Press Council will not take up the ASEC's complaint, the body announced in a communiqué on Wednesday. The mere suspicion is not sufficient to accuse the newspapers of violating editorial independence.