"Kassensturz" rejects accusations about "cancer gala
Swiss television is responding to the statement issued by PresseTV and Ringier, which accused the program «Kassensturz» of biased and one-sided reporting. Editorial Director Wolfgang Wettstein says that is simply not the case.
Swiss Television has responded to the communiqué from PresseTV and Ringier, which had accused "Kassensturz" of one-sided and biased reporting on the "Krebsgala" and its producers: There can be no question of one-sided and biased reporting, explains "Kassensturz" editorial director Wolfgang Wettstein. The consumer magazine found a lack of transparency in the financing of the fundraising gala and mainly criticized this. The donors did not know that the program had been purchased by the Cancer League. The accusation made by PresseTV and RingierTV that Swiss television had abused its monopoly position on its own behalf in order to denigrate its unwelcome competitor Presse TV was absurd. This is not how Kassensturz works, Wettstein continued: "We don't do corporate journalism. We are interested in good stories". The report on the "opaque financing" of the "Krebsgala" is a good story.
PressTV Managing Director Fibo Deutsch and Ringier's media office were invited several times to comment on the accusations in front of the camera, explains Wettstein: "This would have given Ringier a better opportunity to put forward its own point of view. But Ringier declined to do so. In addition, Managing Director Meili from the Cancer League was able to comment on the points of criticism for more than eight minutes in the television studio. The Cancer League had had its say in detail and had been able to put forward its point of view.
Incidentally, Fibo Deutsch again disagrees with Wettstein: Kassensturz had announced that it wanted to investigate the Cancer League's fundraising methods. However, Deutsch told Werbewoche that he was not aware that the SRG's financial contributions to PresseTV would also be discussed in the program.
PressTV Managing Director Fibo Deutsch and Ringier's media office were invited several times to comment on the accusations in front of the camera, explains Wettstein: "This would have given Ringier a better opportunity to put forward its own point of view. But Ringier declined to do so. In addition, Managing Director Meili from the Cancer League was able to comment on the points of criticism for more than eight minutes in the television studio. The Cancer League had had its say in detail and had been able to put forward its point of view.
Incidentally, Fibo Deutsch again disagrees with Wettstein: Kassensturz had announced that it wanted to investigate the Cancer League's fundraising methods. However, Deutsch told Werbewoche that he was not aware that the SRG's financial contributions to PresseTV would also be discussed in the program.
