Stories around the campfire

When the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) broadcast, the whole of Switzerland used to watch or listen. From our favourite Saturday afternoon radio programme, to live coverage of the skiing – SRG SSR was the metaphorical campfire around which we all sat. Nowadays, the flame flickers behind a wall of interactive features. We consume media on the go, on the side, and in completely separate spaces.

An emotive debate is raging over the future of SRG SSR. The “CHF 200 is enough” initiative aims to slash the annual radio and television licence fee for private households, but would effectively halve the SRG SSR budget in one fell swoop. SRG SSR is already going through the biggest upheaval in its history, with 900 jobs expected to be cut as the organisation becomes more streamlined and adapts its content. This also has implications for the “Fifth Switzerland”.

All of us stand at the heart of this debate – a society looking for our own “campfire” while algorithms distract our attention and AI hallucinations are presented as fact. Today’s teenagers move effortlessly through digital spaces, but rarely with any guidance. How do we help them to develop media literacy, and how can we find high-quality content amid the overload?

If the fire still burns, it does so in the form of podcasts in our pocket, live streams on the train, or our soundtrack in the kitchen. But one thing still matters: the desire for reliable information and stories that connect us. This is precisely the content that I hope to present to you in future in my role as editor‑in‑chief.

I would not be who I am today were it not for this magazine, which used to be the only link I had to my father’s home country while growing up as a Swiss Abroad. All the more reason for me to thank my predecessor Marc Lettau for his outstanding work. Roman Häfliger will keep a low profile but play a valuable role as our new graphic designer. It is a new chapter for both of us.

WALTER SCHMID, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF