MAZ has to reduce its range under pressure to save money

The MAZ School of Journalism has been forced to make savings as a result of the budget debate in the National Council and Council of States. The Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) is cutting its contribution to the training center by CHF 70,000, which corresponds to a fifth of the previous subsidies. According to SDA, the school received 350,000 francs in 2005, this year it is still receiving 280,000 francs. According to the MAZ, the reason for the cut was a parliamentary decision to cut half a million francs from the Bakom for training and further education. The applicant was FDP National Councillor and Jean Frey CEO Filippo Leutenegger. The MAZ will now discontinue or shorten some radio and television courses that were subsidized by Bakom. Among other things, the ten-day radio journalism course, which served as an introduction for new radio employees, will be discontinued. The measures have been approved by the Board of Trustees of the School of Journalism. They were carried out in consultation with the Swiss Private Radio Association (VSP).
In addition to the journalism school in Lucerne, other institutions are also affected by the cost-cutting measures. For example, the French-speaking Swiss counterpart to the MAZ, the Centre romand de formation des journalistes (CRFJ) in Lausanne, will also receive a fifth less. According to the CRFJ, the subsidy amount is now CHF 64,000. No courses will be canceled.