Referendum "No to state-funded media" is launched
On Tuesday, the «No to State-Funded Media» committee launched a referendum against the package of measures in support of the media. The media funding approved by Parliament was described as constitutionally unacceptable, harmful to the state and democracy, and distorting of competition.
In the summer session, the National Council and the Council of States decided that the media in Switzerland should now receive CHF 120 million more in direct and indirect funding over seven years than before (Werbewoche.ch reported).
For the referendum committee, which presented its arguments at a media conference in Bern on Tuesday, this media promotion is unnecessary, wrong and dangerous. "The independence and credibility of the media - and of each individual journalist - are at stake," explained Philipp Gut, communications consultant and publisher and managing director of the referendum committee. If the state fed the media, they would become state media.
Unacceptable under constitutional law
Peter Weigelt, former FDP National Councillor from St. Gallen and President of the referendum committee, declared that the media subsidies were unacceptable under constitutional law, harmful to the state and democracy and discriminatory in terms of competition policy. This direct media funding was a taboo and a breach of the constitution.
Article 93 of the Federal Constitution establishes a state-funded radio and television broadcaster. However, the other media are not defined in the constitution, nor have the people ever expressed their opinion on their subsidization.
Weigelt described the deliberate exclusion of free newspapers and free online media from the subsidies as particularly offensive. "The state is thus cementing the existing media monopolies at the expense of small private offerings and local and regional initiatives," said Weigelt.
Damage to young people and democracy
The Young Liberal politician Evelyn Motschi emphasized that young people are dependent on obtaining information free of charge. "The media subsidy law may be well-intentioned, but it is counterproductive. It harms young people and democracy," said the law student.
If the package of measures in favor of the media is accepted, free online media would not receive a single centime in subsidies, complained Alec von Barnekow, a member of the Fribourg Young Liberals. On the other hand, their direct competitors would receive generous subsidies. However, it is not the job of politicians or the state to favor one model over another.
Weigelt emphasized that the referendum committee had not yet sought contact with parties, politicians or associations and had never actively participated in the debate. The aim had been to start collecting signatures on a broad front in parallel with publication in the Federal Gazette. During the voting phase, however, the referendum committee wanted to open up and seek contact with parties and associations. (SDA)
