To the point: The surprise
Nun ist es endlich so weit, der neue SRG-Generaldirektor wurde gewählt. Dies rund ein Jahr nachdem Armin Walpen nach 14 Jahren seinen Rücktritt auf Ende 2010 angekündigt hatte. Nach monatelangem Geheimhaltungstheater und einer daraus resultierenden Spekulationslust der Medien ist die Sache nun endlich vollbracht.
Anyone who thinks of post-Stalinist conditions in this kind of election is not entirely wrong. The game of hide-and-seek in the run-up to the election, which is explained by the obligation to maintain secrecy vis-à-vis the candidates, led to a complete lack of transparency. A lack of transparency that cannot be accepted by a media company that is organized under private law but financed to the tune of about 75 percent by fees. After all, the election of the SRG Director General is the most important position in the Swiss media circus. But it still turned out well!
Roger de Weck was elected by the Board of Directors as the new SRG Director General on Tuesday by the highest SRG body, the Delegates' Meeting, and confirmed in his future office.
The fact that this important post will be filled today by a real top man almost makes us forget the unspeakable election theater. The 56-year-old Roger de Weck will take up his post on January 1, 2011. "Sternstunden" host de Weck was editor-in-chief of Zeit and Tages-Anzeiger and a member of Tamedia's Executive Board. He is president of the Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (Graduate Institute) in Geneva and a freelance publicist. Born in Fribourg, he grew up bilingually in Geneva and Zurich. De Weck studied economics at the University of St. Gallen and completed a traineeship in publishing in Hamburg. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Lucerne.
For once, it's not a functionary at the helm of SRG, but a media maker. A man who, as a top journalist, knows the media inside out. What remains to be seen, however, is his ability to impose the necessary tough cost-cutting measures on the SRG colossus while at the same time improving quality. Implementing cost-cutting measures was not necessarily de Weck's strong point during his time at Tamedia.
So this will not be an easy task. All the more so because a sharp wind will be blowing against him from the political right. The liberal pro-European stance of de Weck has long been a thorn in their side.
And we will hear the eternal story of the left-wing infiltration of Swiss television even more often in the future. I don't think that will bother de Weck.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
Roger de Weck was elected by the Board of Directors as the new SRG Director General on Tuesday by the highest SRG body, the Delegates' Meeting, and confirmed in his future office.
The fact that this important post will be filled today by a real top man almost makes us forget the unspeakable election theater. The 56-year-old Roger de Weck will take up his post on January 1, 2011. "Sternstunden" host de Weck was editor-in-chief of Zeit and Tages-Anzeiger and a member of Tamedia's Executive Board. He is president of the Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (Graduate Institute) in Geneva and a freelance publicist. Born in Fribourg, he grew up bilingually in Geneva and Zurich. De Weck studied economics at the University of St. Gallen and completed a traineeship in publishing in Hamburg. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Lucerne.
For once, it's not a functionary at the helm of SRG, but a media maker. A man who, as a top journalist, knows the media inside out. What remains to be seen, however, is his ability to impose the necessary tough cost-cutting measures on the SRG colossus while at the same time improving quality. Implementing cost-cutting measures was not necessarily de Weck's strong point during his time at Tamedia.
So this will not be an easy task. All the more so because a sharp wind will be blowing against him from the political right. The liberal pro-European stance of de Weck has long been a thorn in their side.
And we will hear the eternal story of the left-wing infiltration of Swiss television even more often in the future. I don't think that will bother de Weck.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
