Like a dog and a stick

 
Column The consultation on the distribution of radio and television licenses is purely a question of power, which is currently being played out in front of and behind the scenes. 
The uptight relationship between many politicians and the media has once again been exemplified, this time on the occasion of the consultations on the distribution of radio and television licenses. In a democratic state in which the media are supposed to control the powerful, it is actually quite absurd that these powerful people should also decide on the distribution of control mandates. It would be like Euro 08, where the referees change the rules during the match so that they can score goals themselves. It was striking how badly the stations of the major publishers Ringier (Energy) and Tamedia (Tele Züri, but above all the highly profitable and market-leading Radio 24) came off in this consultation concert and who received credit and praise for this: the still blameless Radio 1 of Roger Schawinski (probably for future good conduct) and the Winterthur Top Group (for proven good conduct, as one must assume).) In the background of these statements, you can sense the two forces that are always at work when politicians deal with the media: Fear and envy.
Markus Gilli has long been regarded as the most powerful man among Zurich politicians, as he determines access to "SonnTalk" and therefore to one of the most effective self-presentation stages for anyone who wants to be elected. Jealous party strategists have long since done the proportional calculations, but nothing countable has come of it. Only the CVP cantonal president has so far gone out on a limb and accused the Zurich TV station of partisanship. Gilli was able to counter easily, and when viewed in the light of day, there is no doubt about his journalistic, effect-driven approach and therefore his integrity. Gilli confidently and unwaveringly pursues his course and tackles interesting topics with polarizing discussion partners. He is concerned with his quota, the politicians are concerned with theirs - the rest is a question of power, and that is exactly what is now being played out in front of and behind the scenes.
Politicians of all colors should actually know how communication works and how it works, because their job is by definition communication. They have to find majorities for their projects and for themselves. In our circumstances, this always means having to convince those of other faiths of their projects. In the run-up to the National Council elections, SP politicians Chantal Galladé and Daniel Jositsch demonstrated beautifully and successfully how this can be done. Their spectacular pirouette on the issue of youth violence paid off immediately. They used the media with aplomb: they said the unexpected, created news value and associated their names with content that has positive connotations for a large majority.
It is not the problem of Tele Züri, Radio 24 or any newspapers that only a few politicians master their communication job with a similar mixture of opportunism and professionalism and know how to make their content marketable in the media. Most still try the old method of treats and sticks, familiar from the long-gone days of the party press and dog training: Incentive and threat for the purpose of appropriation. The politician is the master: He calls, he lures and feeds - and if the puppy doesn't parry, he is threatened or given a slap.
First and foremost, of course, it is about the profitable radio frequencies in the greater Zurich area, and less about television, which will never be big business under the current circumstances. The largely depoliticized programming output of Radio 24 and Energy cannot be the real reason for the magisterial act of punishment. The intention is simply to show the corporations behind it - the all-powerful Tamedia in Zurich and the large Ringier with its unpredictable Blick Group - once again who holds the power.
It will be amusing to see how Media Minister Leuenberger decides. He is known to be a touchy gentleman who likes to pick up sticks, and not just rhetorically. The listeners will not be asked here; they have long since decided, with remote control and channel selection.
Karl Lüönd is a freelance journalist and author