A plan to support Swiss media with a CHF150 million (A$228 million) yearly lifeline has been knocked back by voters, some of whom believe it might do more harm than good.
The government plan to support broadcast and print media – including almost CHF70 million (A$106.5 million) for early-morning newspaper delivery and online media – was rejected by 56 per cent of voters according to exit polls, the Associated Press has reported.
The plan been passed by Swiss in June, but opponents petitioned for a referendum on the subject. They claimed it would waste taxpayer money, benefit big newspaper chains and the media moguls who run them and hurt journalistic independence by making media outlets more dependent on state handouts and thus less likely to criticise public officials.
It was also said to be “discriminatory” because free newspapers would not benefit.
Switzerland’s largest newspaper publishers were said to have made profits of more than CHF300 million in 2020, “even during the COVID-19 crisis”.
Supporters argued that journalism – especially in some local areas – should be considered a public service, “like many public radio and TV broadcasters in Switzerland and around Europe”.
More than 70 Swiss papers have disappeared since 2003, with advertising revenue falling by 42 per cent between 2016-2020.