Rhineland-Palatinian Minister-President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) is urging a new attempt at state support for newspaper publishers after the advance federal elections. “The topic of press promotion should be taken up again by a new federal government” Schweitzer said to the Funke Media Group newspapers (Wednesday editions).
He regrets that the coalition government did not implement a corresponding proposal. “Local and regional daily newspapers really need this support for delivery. Not because they don’t have a business model, but because they are affected by the so-called ‘digital transformation’ and the increase in the minimum wage for delivery also hits them hard.” The SPD politician added that he would have liked the outgoing government to develop this “good idea” together with the affected media companies. A “journalistic patronage” is not intended.
The coalition parties originally agreed in their coalition treaty to examine which support options are suitable to ensure “the widespread supply of periodical press products.” The idea of state support for delivery was not pursued due to budget constraints. The discussion also includes the possibility of reducing the value-added tax on press products.