National Action Plan for the safety of media professionals in Switzerland

In close cooperation with the media industry, OFCOM has drawn up a National Action Plan (NAP) on the safety of journalists in Switzerland. The NAP comprises nine specific measures in the areas of awareness-raising and prevention, protection and support in cases of violence and threats, and also examines the legal framework.

The National Action Plan is being overseen by Federal Councillor Albert Rösti. It consists of recommendations and is not legally binding. OFCOM is providing support by raising awareness, providing information, bringing the various actors together and searching for and implementing solutions. Fundamental importance is attached to the independence of the media.

The Action Plan’s main aim is to put the issue of the ‘safety of journalists’ on the public agenda and to raise awareness in society and among politicians of the challenges facing journalists and of the fundamental importance of the media as part of an effective democracy in Switzerland.

The Action Plan focuses on four specific concerns of journalists:

• Better recognition of the role and profession of journalists
• Greater protection against threats and hate speech online
• Improved physical protection:
• Better understanding of the challenges relating to abusive lawsuits against journalists (Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation, SLAPPs)

Areas of action and measures

OFCOM and the media industry have jointly drawn up the Action Plan’s measures and will implement them in cooperation with the actors concerned. As far as possible, the measures tie in with activities already being undertaken in the media industry and by OFCOM and can be implemented with existing resources.

Three areas of action and nine measures were identified.

Area of action 1: Awareness-raising and prevention
One of the Action Plan’s aims is to promote social recognition for journalism as a profession and highlight the importance of the media to effective democracy. Recognition of journalism forms the basis for the safety of journalists.

• Measure 1: Raising the awareness of young people about the value of the media (Websters)
• Measure 2: Round table with journalists and the police
• Measure 3: Collection of data on the safety of journalists
• Measure 4: Industry dialogue on the standardization of press passes

Threats and violence against journalists restrict journalistic freedom of opinion, especially when issues are addressed less critically, to a lesser extent or even not at all due to the attacks. Restricting freedom of speech and media freedom can thus also restrict the public’s access to free, critical and open reporting.

• Measure 5: Industry website on the procedure for dealing with threats and violence
• Measure 6: Support from Swiss representations abroad
• Measure 7: Regulation of communication platforms

Area of action 3: Legal framework

The legal framework in Switzerland must allow media professionals to carry out their journalistic activities without fear of criminal prosecution and abusive lawsuits. The protection of sources must remain inviolable.

• Measure 8: Analysis of abusive lawsuits in Switzerland
• Measure 9: Action against abusive lawsuits at European level

Various associations, trade unions, media companies and non-governmental organizations in Switzerland have already undertaken measures to support and ensure the safety of journalists (see Chapter 2.2 of the NAP ‘Existing measures’).

Drawing-up of the Action Plan

In June 2021 the member states of the Council of Europe – including Switzerland – adopted a Resolution, which calls for the development of national action plans (NAPs)on the safety of journalists. The government department responsible – the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) – then tasked OFCOM with drawing up and coordinating the Action Plan together with the relevant stakeholders.

In an initial step, OFCOM carried out a non-representative online survey in February 2022 among journalists (as well as employers, associations and trade unions). From the 198 responses received, it emerged that 42% of the participating journalists had previously been attacked physically or psychologically. 75% of respondents thought a NAP would be useful.

Members of the Sounding Board

• Corinne Bachmann, Schweizer Syndikat Medienschaffender SSM
• Martina Fehr, MAZ – die Schweizer Journalistenschule & Press Council
• Daniel Hammer, Médias Suisses, association des médias privés romands
• Simon Jacoby, Verband Medien mit Zukunft VMZ
• Marc-Henri Jobin, Centre de formation au journalisme et aux médias CFJM
• Denis Masmejan, Secretary General of the Swiss Section Reporters sans frontières
• Nicolas Roulin, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR
• Urs Thalmann, Impressum
• Stephanie Vonarburg, Syndicom
• Philippe Zahno, Radios Régionales Romandes RRR
• Andreas Zoller, Verlegerverband Schweizer Medien VSM

OFCOM also involved the Federal Media Commission (FMEC) and consulted other relevant bodies at federal and cantonal level, namely the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO), the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Conference of Cantonal Police Commanders of Switzerland (CCPCS).

Implementation and evaluation

The measures will be implemented gradually with the involvement of the relevant actors. The Sounding Board will continue to exist and is responsible for the implementation of the Action Plan by the media industry. OFCOM will coordinate the evaluation of the National Action Plan. In 2027, OFCOM and the Sounding Board will jointly decide whether and, if so, how the Action Plan should be continued.

If you would like further information or have any suggestions, please contact the project team at OFCOM: nap@bakom.admin.ch Journalists can direct their enquiries to OFCOM’s media office (link).

• You can order the brochure “National Action Plan for the Safety of Media Professionals in Switzerland” under this link.

To examine this issue in greater depth, OFCOM commissioned the Institute for Communication and Media Research at Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) to conduct an independent analysis. The aim of the study is to provide some insight into the presence and impact of SLAPPs on journalists in Switzerland.

The approach of this analysis is based on several criteria. The study sheds light on the realities and challenges faced by media professionals in Switzerland when faced with SLAPPs.