Allianz Pro Medienvielfalt: Independent journalism under pressure
Seven years ago, the Swiss electorate rejected the No Billag initiative by a clear majority. Today, the next attack on media diversity is already imminent with the halving initiative. A broad alliance of organizations and individuals is opposing it.
The No Billag initiative aimed to prevent the abolition of the radio and television levy and thus the financing of the SRG. Its failure in 2018 was a clear commitment to media diversity. But the world has changed since then: Autocratic regimes are gaining influence and the pressure on independent media is growing. Developments in Russia, Hungary and the USA show how media are first gradually weakened, then censored and finally banned.
In Switzerland, the halving initiative is once again shaking up the financing of the SRG. According to the Alliance for Media Diversitya coalition of 18 organizations and 3900 individuals to date, it is an indirect continuation of the No Billag initiative. A Yes vote would lead to massive cuts and significantly weaken public service broadcasting.
The Alliance is therefore launching a new subject. It is supported by creative artists such as Franz Hohler, Ursus & Nadeschkin and Gardi Hutter, among others. Their aim is to set an example for independent journalism and a diverse media landscape in Switzerland.
