Government Rösti expresses concern about austerity measures in the media

Federal Councillor Albert Rösti expressed his concern on Wednesday about the plans to cut costs in the media, particularly in French-speaking Switzerland. Good framework conditions and indirect help are needed, but the private press cannot be saved with federal funds alone, he said.

"Circulation has halved in the last 15 years," emphasized the Communications Minister at the 5th Forum of French-speaking Swiss Media in Lausanne. He continued: "We must do everything we can to ensure that journalism does not become an endangered species, otherwise democracy is in danger."

The government is committed to good framework conditions, for example the regulation of internet giants or artificial intelligence. Rösti also pointed out that the amount of money saved by the media exceeds the federal government's press subsidies many times over.

The private media in particular would have to take the majority of measures to secure their future, for example in the area of digital transformation.

SDA