UBI corrects Telebasel: requirement of fairness violated
The Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television (UBI) has upheld a complaint filed by the Baselland Cantonal Hospital against Telebasel. The UBI found that a news report by Telebasel violated the principle of accuracy. However, other complaints against SRF and RTS were dismissed.
Over the course of two days of deliberations, the UBI reached a total of 34 decisions on complaints against Swiss Radio and Television SRF, Radio Télévision Suisse RTS and Telebasel. The Telebasel report, which was broadcast in the program "punkt 6" on 1 December 2023, dealt with unjustified compensation payments to the management of the Baselland Cantonal Hospital. As the point of view of those affected was not sufficiently taken into account, the UBI considered the principle of fairness to have been violated and upheld the complaint by five votes to three.
Other complaints against SRF and RTS were rejected. A "Tagesschau" report from March 5, 2024 on the 13th AHV pension and an SRF online article on individual taxation remained within the scope of the principle of fairness. The UBI also unanimously rejected a complaint against an RTS report on cases of abuse in the Saint-Maurice monastery.
The blocking of commentary accounts on SRF online articles was particularly controversial. While the UBI saw no violation of freedom of expression in several cases, it partially upheld eight complaints and one account blocking.
The UBI has been operating as an extra-parliamentary commission for over 40 years and monitors whether media content complies with legal requirements. Its decisions can be appealed to the Federal Supreme Court.
