The Press Council reprimands Heute and Blick
According to the Swiss Press Council, *Heute* and *Blick* violated their obligation to hold a hearing in their reporting on a serial rapist.
The Swiss Press Council has criticized the reporting of Heute and Blick in the case of a rapist who attempted to sexually assault call girls while on prison leave. The two newspapers failed to obtain a statement from the man concerned, according to a report by the news agency SDA. For the Press Council, they would have been obliged to do so because the person concerned was at least recognizable to those close to him due to the reporting. In addition, Heute had also violated its duty to tell the truth. It had written that the man was guilty of rape instead of attempted sexual assault while on parole. Heute defended itself by arguing that the legal difference was irrelevant for readers. The Press Council did not accept this. For the Council, it is particularly important that journalists use precise terms when dealing with criminal allegations.
