The \u00abNo Billag\u00bb initiative, extreme as it is, has had the merit of raising some interesting questions about the media in Switzerland, the most important of which is: do we want to finance state-run radio and TV channels? The democratic debate that has taken place is only the beginning - we hope - of a broader discussion about public service missions and journalism in Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
In addition to the fundamental issue of the role of the state in relation to information, this obviously raises the question of journalism in general. One question among many: why should radio and television benefit from a national structure, financed by a tax on citizens, but not the written press?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We've heard it said, perhaps too often, that the traditional media are in danger in French-speaking Switzerland, as publishers face economic diversification and the press is by no means their main priority. One of the consequences of this situation is staff cutbacks, a rule to which the French-speaking press is not subject. Le Temps<\/i>, is no exception. What's more, advertising is gradually moving away from newspapers and onto the Web, threatening their funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n