The House of Representatives on Wednesday ironed out final differences over the long-discussed support package for the Swiss press, which has been agreed for a seven-year period.
Online press organisations will benefit from up to CHF30 million a year of federal money to help them cope them with the fast-changing digital transformation of their industry – the shift from hardcopy newspapers and magazines to online news services.
Parliamentarians agreed that federal support could amount to up to 60% of a media organisation’s annual turnover – the Federal Council (executive body) had initially proposed 80%.
Additional funds are planned for new media start-up organisations.
The financial package also foresees CHF120 million in reduced postal charges to help media organisations cover the delivery of daily newspapers, weekly magazines, and other publications.
Changes to the law discussed in parliament also include a clause aimed at ensuring that in future the Swiss media landscape is better balanced between larger press groups like Tamedia and Ringier and smaller media companies.
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“Why should we report about Barack Obama?” Urs Gossweiler asked. “We don’t. Our users are certainly interested in Obama, but for that they have other sources. We want to bring them what they expect from the Jungfrau Zeitung: local content.” Gossweiler is publisher of the Jungfrau Zeitung, an online newspaper with a twice-weekly print edition,…
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