Can the traditional media still fulfill their role as watchdog in a direct democracy when social media increasingly set the pace? A panel with four prominent speakers at this year’s Aarau Democracy Days in Switzerland came up with some interesting insights, highlighting the fact that journalists have to engage with social media if they want to be heard.
By Renat Künzi, swissinfo.ch
It was a frank but fair exchange of opinions between Susanne Wille, a renowned political journalist at Swiss public television SRF, the media entrepreneur and private media pioneer Roger Schawinksi, Peter Wanner, chairman of the AZ Medien publishing house, and Iwan Rickenbacher, communications expert and former political party manager.
The event in the Swiss town of Aarau at the Centre for Democracy Studies was opened by a German communications expert from Hamburg University. Katharina Kleinen-von Königslöw presented new research results about the rapidly changing media and the impact of digitalisation on media use.
Here’s a selection of statements, originally in German
“Digitalisation has speeded up the media and brought more diversity and sovereignty. But an increasing number of ‘disconnected citizens’ use the larger offering and the new freedoms for non-political information.”
Katharina Kleinen-von Königslöw, Hamburg University
“My job has changed a lot through the presence of social media. Major debates on social media start right after my report has been aired. Television viewers give both criticism and praise. It is the duty of journalists to engage in these debates on social media.”
Susanne Wille, journalist SRF public TV
“For those who get their information exclusively online, Facebook and the 20 Minutes freesheet have taken over the role as medium of integration from Swiss public television SRF.”
Katharina Kleinen-von Königslöw
“The motives for working as a journalist have remained the same: to inform, research, ask critical questions and create transparency. And to entertain people.”
Iwan Rickenbacher, communications expert and former party manager
“It’s dreadful to read readers’ feedback. The media have a responsibility to set limits. Serious media have started doing this but more needs to be done.”
Roger Schawinksi, media entrepreneur and private media pioneer
“The biggest responsibility lies with Facebook, which even allows crime. It has to intervene more strongly: not through censure but through curation.”
Peter Wanner, chairman of the AZ Medien publishing house
“Democracy means giving space to different opinions. Social media allows me to hear these opinions more clearly and gets us journalists more in touch with voters.”
Susanne Wille
“It is a journalistic craft to generate clicks. Well-researched stories are also published on online media, but they have to be sold well. It takes great skill to write good titles and do good storytelling. But many are not yet up to the job.”
Peter Wanner
“Nobody can afford to ignore the interest of the greater public because nobody has sovereignty of interpretation or the absolute power in their own distribution area. This promotes quality.”
Iwan Rickenbacher
“It is a core task for the media to create transparency. Particularly in a direct democracy, because it is a demanding system.”
Katharina Kleinen-von Königslöw
The conference in Aarau was held in partnership with the media platform for direct democracy, #deardemocracy of swissinfo.ch. This article was originally pubslished there. It is also available in German, French and Italian.
