Öffentlichkeitsgesetz.ch also for French-speaking Switzerland
A good half a year after the launch of Öffentlichkeitsgesetz.ch, Swiss journalists are expanding their initiative to French-speaking Switzerland: Loitransparence.ch went live today.
About Loitransparency.ch media professionals from French-speaking Switzerland can now use an online tool to submit a request for access to federal and cantonal files with just a few clicks of the mouse. Applications can be managed and deadlines monitored via the website. The website provides a quick introduction to the federal and cantonal freedom of information laws. It now also informs media professionals from French-speaking Switzerland about legal practice, precedents and revelations that could be realized with the Freedom of Information Act.
The aim of the initiators is to integrate publicity laws into the everyday work of media professionals. Last year, Öffentlichkeitsgesetz.ch received the 2011 Media Award for the "best quality initiative in Swiss journalism".
The internet forum is operated by an association that is independent of publishers. The project also receives financial support from the Gottlieb and Hans Vogt Foundation, Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), the Swiss Media Association, whose members publish around 300 newspapers and magazines, the Swiss Syndicate of Media Professionals (SSM), Konsumenteninfo AG, which publishes Ktipp and Saldo, as well as Maz - The Swiss School of Journalism and the Ringier School of Journalism. The Oertli Foundation made a significant contribution to loitransparence.ch with a translation grant. The Conference of Editors-in-Chief, in which the editors-in-chief of the Swiss print and electronic media are organized, has taken on a patronage for the project.
