Parliament decides on expansion of indirect press funding
Published: Tuesday, Jul 2nd 2024, 17:30
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The National Council committee responsible wants to extend indirect press subsidies for a limited period of seven years. It has passed a bill to revise the Postal Services Act accordingly. Now the Federal Council and then parliament can comment on the matter.
The National Council's Committee for Transport and Telecommunications (KVF-N) wants smaller publishers to be given financial leeway for digital transformation, the parliamentary services announced on Tuesday. However, the economic situation of the media is increasingly deteriorating. Therefore, "rapid and forward-looking measures are needed to maintain media diversity".
The bill aims to increase the annual contributions from general federal funds for the daily delivery of subscription newspapers and magazines in the regional and local press from the current CHF 30 million to CHF 45 million. For the membership and foundation press, these contributions are to rise from the current CHF 20 million to CHF 30 million.
In addition, the early delivery of subscribed daily and weekly newspapers in the regional and local press during the week is to be promoted. The Confederation is to temporarily provide CHF 30 million a year from general funds for this purpose. These proposals take up elements of the media package that was rejected by the people at the ballot box on February 13, 2022.
At the same time, the National Council committee also wants to push ahead with the long-term future of media funding - and passed two motions to this end. Firstly, online media that are not subject to a performance mandate should also receive financial support in future. Secondly, indirect press subsidies for the membership and foundation press should also be granted for items that are delivered via Swiss Post or other registered providers of postal services.
Two weeks ago, the Council of States' sister committee (KVF-S) passed a bill for more money for regional radio and TV stations, the Press Council, journalism training and news agencies. Parliament will also decide on this soon.
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