New foundation establishes media quality rating
The «Stifterverein Medienqualität Schweiz» aims to establish a foundation that, by setting up and operating an independent evaluation body, will assess the quality of the Swiss media in a neutral and fair manner and compile a rating of Swiss media outlets.
The information offered by the 50 national press titles, news sites and information formats of the electronic media (radio/TV) with the widest reach is to be scientifically analyzed, compared and evaluated according to a predefined grid with regard to relevant quality aspects. The rating assesses the quality of the major titles and broadcasting outlets in the three major language regions of Switzerland. It is intended as a guide and external reference for all persons and institutions involved in the media. It is also aimed in particular at the media professionals themselves.
The founding members of the Founders' Association Media Quality Switzerland are four personalities from the media, politics and business: Sylvia Egli von Matt, previously Director of the Swiss School of Journalism Maz, Andreas Durisch, Managing Partner Dynamics Group, Bruno Gehrig, President of Swiss International Airlines, and former Zurich Cantonal Councillor Markus Notter. The latter was recently elected as the first president at the founding meeting. "The quality of the information media is of fundamental importance in our democracy. The quality of the media is directly reflected in the quality of public discourse. Our aim is to promote a culture of quality in the media industry," says Markus Notter.
Scientific approach
The quality of the media is assessed using scientific methods. The rating comprises three parts:
1. the organizational quality assurance of the media houses.
2. the reporting quality of the media.
3: The perception of quality among stakeholders and the public.
Vinzenz Wyss, Professor of Journalism Studies, Institute of Applied Media Studies at the ZHAW Winterthur, Mark Eisenegger, Co-Head of the Institute, Fög-Forschungsinstitut Öffentlichkeit und Gesellschaft at the University of Zurich, and Diana Ingenhoff, Professor of Media and Communication Studies at the University of Fribourg, are responsible. This approach pools and networks the expertise of three specialists and evaluates media quality in three key dimensions. According to a press release, this process promises significant added value in terms of informative value and objectivity. In the next step, the Founders' Association aims to gain 30 to 50 members for the project by the end of the year. At the same time, the Swiss Media Quality Foundation will be established and the necessary foundation capital of around two million Swiss francs will be raised to finance the project for an initial period of three years.
According to the press release, the aim is to collect the necessary data for the first time in 2015 and to present the results in the first and only comprehensive quality rating of Swiss information media in spring 2016.
