Conclusion
Main features and development trends
- Over the last 30 years, regional press monopolies have been established in almost all regions. In some regions the media concentration has resulted in a monopoly situation.
- The nation-wide media landscape is dominated by very few commercial media companies and public service providers. The corporate concentration is especially problematic where the internal diversity and internal editorial media freedom is not organisationally underpinned.
- The declining advertising and readership leads to rounds of cost-cutting measures, which usually result in declining quality and a reduction in plurality. For the remaining media workers, the pressure on jobs grows and the working conditions for editors are deteriorating. Moreover, the average income of journalists and freelancers in Switzerland is stagnating or even declining. Tariff-based salaries for journalistic work are being undermined, while in German-speaking Switzerland and Tessin there are no collective agreements at all.
- In view of the digitisation and changing media usage habits, the Federal Council would like to develop the current Radio and Television Act into a law on electronic media, because a law which covers only radio and television is no longer keeping pace with developments.
- In 2018, voters are likely to have the final say concerning the proposed abolition of licence and household fees.
- The status and public service remit of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) are challenged by the publishers of traditional media, neoliberal and right-wing political parties, as well as special interest groups. A fundamental discussion on the role of the public core media seems to be inevitable and pressing.