VSM: Withdrawal from all associations
The Swiss Association (VSM) is putting on the brakes and canceling all its memberships. The Press Council is also affected.
Following the withdrawal of Ringier and the non-entry of Ringier Axel Springer (magazine JV), the association is forced to implement drastic cost-cutting measures, according to CEO Andreas Häuptli. One of them is the withdrawal from all associations and institutions.
Withdrawal from Press Council
The cost-cutting measures also affect the Press Council, to which the association announced and justified the suspension of payments for three years on Tuesday. The reasons for this step lie in SRG's "aggressive expansion in the advertising market," according to the letter, which was obtained by Werbewoche. "By initiating the advertising marketing company Admeira, it has driven a wedge between the private media companies and thus also damaged the VSM." The consequences of Ringier's termination would be felt "in full consequence" in the 2017 budget year. The necessary savings had already been initiated in 2015, but further far-reaching steps were necessary for 2017.
Contributions and services not affected
The cost-cutting measures will not only affect the Press Council, but all national and international associations and institutions of which the VSM was previously a member. "We are aware that this is also a painful financial cut on the part of the organizations affected," Häuptli writes in the letter of termination. Efforts are therefore being made to improve the VSM's funding base and it is hoped that financial support can be provided again from 2020.
Through the savings measures already implemented and those still planned, the Swiss Media Association is ensuring that neither membership fees will have to be increased, nor will existing services (e.g. legal services) have to be cut or eliminated in 2017. (hae)
