Last but not least: "Save the federal government" - now more than ever
To date, more than 11,000 readers and supporters have signed the petition to save *Der Bund*. This is by no means a weak response to Tamedia’s plan to strip the long-established newspaper of its editorial autonomy.
The Bund has been threatened with the loss of its editorial independence as a Bernese daily newspaper for some time. However, more than 11,000 readers and sympathizers have now signed the petition to save the traditional paper, as the NZZ reported on Sunday. Not exactly a weak reaction to Tamedia's plan to strip the Bund of its editorial autonomy. However, with a circulation of 55,000 copies and a balance sheet that is generally in the red, it is difficult to force Tamedia to continue such a project - not even with 20,000 signatures. Opinions are still divided on the possible concepts of an editorial cooperation with the Zurich Tages-Anzeiger or a merger with the Berner Zeitung. However, the suggestion by journalist Karl Lüönd from Uri that the 11,000 petitioners could make a solidarity contribution of CHF 1,000 to the federal government instead of signing the petition is convincing. At the very least, it cannot be denied that without such proof of action from readers or the media, the petition would appear to be more of a symbolic attempt at a rescue - and would not make the bill any better.
