Editors-in-chief do not believe in the return of the political press
According to the editors-in-chief of leading media companies, political influence on daily newspapers is not on the rise. Despite indications to the contrary, the return of the political press in Switzerland is not on the agenda.
Independence remains a central pillar for journalism, Felix E. Müller, Editor-in-Chief of the NZZ am Sonntag, Res Strehle, Editor-in-Chief of the Tages-Anzeiger, and Markus Somm, Editor-in-Chief of the Basler Zeitung, said in unison at a panel discussion in Zurich on Tuesday. The discussion took place as part of the Epiphany conference of the Association of Swiss Media. A newspaper is allowed to have a political stance. And of course a publisher appoints an editor-in-chief he trusts. But a smart publisher does not interfere in the day-to-day business of journalism. Plurality on an editorial board is enormously important, said Strehle and Somm in unison in response to a corresponding question from moderator Norbert Neininger.
Somm denied that he had ever said that he was Christoph Blocher's deputy. He had never received any instructions from Blocher. For him, diversity of opinion in an editorial office is important - not who is for or against Blocher. All newspapers have a political stance. That is a good thing. Müller made no secret of the fact that he has always held a liberal basic position. That is in line with the NZZ statutes. Somm had recently held talks with the NZZ Board of Directors for the succession to the NZZ's editor-in-chief, but later withdrew. He is a member of the FDP.
For Strehle, who described the political stance of the Tages-Anzeiger as eco-social liberal, the separation of facts and commentary is important. The task of journalism, he said, is to control the powerful. This also applies to the red-green dominated Zurich city council, he said, which is not always very happy about the critical reporting of the Tages-Anzeiger. (SDA)
Markus Somm on the far left, Felix E. Müller on the far right: #mi3k15 pic.twitter.com/QpNFZKFpEQ
- Patrik Mueller (@patrik_mueller) January 6, 2015
Panel with Markus Somm, @resstrehle, Markus Somm, Moderator @nneininger and Felix E. Müller #mi3k15 pic.twitter.com/TSDGuru9v4
- Philipp Landmark (@plandmark) January 6, 2015
