To the point: Shitstorm or scandal?
According to Wikipedia, the term “shitstorm” refers, in German-speaking countries, to an internet phenomenon in which objective criticism is drowned out by numerous subjective posts, and is usually directed at large corporations and, in some cases, at individuals.
What's it all about? An article appeared on Tagesanzeiger.ch this week accusing SRG Director Roger de Weck of putting SRG critic Natalie Rickli under pressure. The article was based on statements made by Klaus Kappeler, CEO of Goldbach and thus the employer of the active National Councilor, in an interview with the Tages-Anzeiger.
The article generated more than 250 comments within a few hours. No wonder, because it contains two absolutely irritating words: SRG and SVP. As you would expect from online comments, they cover the whole spectrum of pros and cons, from balanced and level-headed to below the belt.
The article leaves some questions unanswered. What is behind the article? Why is it being published now? After all, the conversation between de Weck and Kappeler apparently took place at the beginning of February. Why would de Weck want to work with Goldbach at all (Kappeler: "He would also like to work with us. "), after all, he has Publisuisse. Why did de Weck not want to comment to the Tages-Anzeiger. After all, these are serious accusations that are being made. And the answer of SRG spokesman Daniel Steiner, "These statements are absurd," is not exactly revealing. Are these all just aftershocks of de Weck's election? After all, this election was quite a talking point, de Weck was actually only accepted by the SP and the CVP, the SVP fired from all guns against the "EU turbo squared", said the Zurich SVP National Councilor and Auns managing director Hans Fehr to the SDA at the time.
If Kappeler's statements are true, and we have to assume that they are until we have proof to the contrary, then this is all a huge mess, because attempts by the fee-financed SRG to exert pressure on individual politicians or private-sector companies in the media industry are completely unacceptable. I'm curious to see how the whole thing continues, because you can't leave it all like this. SRG would be well advised to provide clarity here as quickly as possible.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
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