Basel Grand Council wants to maintain cantonal media funding
Contrary to the government’s position, the Basel Grand Council intends to maintain cantonal media funding. In addition to the Green Liberals, who had introduced the motion, the SP, the Green-Alternative Alliance, and the Center/EVP caucus opposed the motion to dismiss it.
Economic Director Kaspar Sutter (SP) described Basel's media landscape as diverse despite the generally perceived crisis in the industry. The promotion of regional media, if necessary at all, could not be the task of a canton, because otherwise they would be exposed to the danger of political dependence on the state.
This argument was also taken up by the speakers of the FDP and SVP. Luca Urgese (FDP) pointed out the problems in defining the funding criteria. And Joël Thüring (SVP) said that regional media simply had to be geared towards the needs and consumption habits of users.
The proponents of the proposal were well aware of the precarious situation of regional media and local journalism, as Johannes Sieber (GLP) put it. Lisa Mathys (SP) mentioned the training of journalists as a possible funding vehicle, which could minimize the risk of dependence on the state.
Sieber submitted the motion following the rejection of the referendum on the "Federal Act on a Package of Measures for the Media" on February 13, 2022. At the time, Basel-Stadt voted yes with over 55%. The motion was referred for reporting by the Grand Council in April 2022 by 57 votes to 33 with one abstention.
With the same ratio of 57 to 33 votes and one abstention, the Council rejected the government's request to write off the motion. (SDA/swi)
