UBI rejects complaint against "DOK" report on SVP

The report was broadcast on October 27, 2011 - after the federal elections and before the second round of voting for the Zurich Council of States. The focus of the report is on three active SVP members from the Zurich Unterland region. But the then candidate for the Council of States, Christoph Blocher, also appeared in the feature.
 
The complaint criticized that the film did not convey a representative and accurate picture of the SVP. It merely confirmed prejudices and clichés. Moreover, the timing of the broadcast was problematic. The film had diminished Christoph Blocher's chances as a candidate for the Council of States.

Milieu study - not a party portrait
However, the UBI did not accept the complainant's arguments. The article had not violated any of the requirements for balanced and factual reporting. The interviewees had been able to express themselves freely. Moreover, the report was not a party portrait, but a milieu study. According to UBI President Roger Blum, TV viewers were able to form their own opinions. Regarding the criticized broadcasting time, Blum said that media should be allowed to make federal elections a topic of discussion. In the end, the complaint was unanimously rejected.

UBI Anniversary Meeting
The UBI has existed since 1984, its predecessor being the Complaints Commission for Radio and Television. On Friday, it celebrated an anniversary with its 200th meeting. According to Blum, a total of 668 complaints have been received since 1984. The UBI is composed of nine part-time members elected by the Federal Council and a secretariat. It has its headquarters in Bern. Within the scope of its duties, it is not bound by any instructions from the Federal Assembly, the Federal Council or the Federal Administration. It must submit an annual activity report to the Federal Council. Administratively, the UBI is attached to the General Secretariat of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications. (sda)