Audience Council: Good marks for changed "Arena"

The "Arena" discussion program on SF 1, which has changed slightly since the summer break, has been well received by the Audience Council. The new decor and the more flexible structure were met with approval by the majority, as was the new flexibility regarding the number of panelists at the main desk. It allows the editors to invite those people who really have something to say on the respective topic, according to a statement on Friday.
The choice of topics for discussion is usually rated as "mostly comprehensible". The focus should be on topics that require political action. So-called "soft topics" are better placed in the "Club" on Tuesday evenings, writes the Council.

Praise for presenter Reto Brennwald
Presenter Reto Brennwald masters his task with aplomb and strives for fair discussions, according to the majority of the council. In addition, his discussion style, his brief summaries and his intervention in the event of unclear or incorrect arguments contributed significantly to the comprehensibility of the program.
Some council members would like Brennwald to be even more assertive when it comes to keeping "political strongmen" in check among the invited discussion partners and voters with the potential to inflate.
The street statements are perceived by a majority of the Council as an element that loosens things up. However, there is no consensus on the usefulness of the recordings. The role of the audience is also controversially discussed in the Council.