The Confederation supports publishing houses, the creation of contemporary literary works, their translation, dissemination and promotion both in and outside Switzerland. Since 2016, the Federal Office for Culture has implemented a specific strategy (mainly financial) to support Swiss publishing houses and their cultural activities. According to the results, for the 2019-2020 period, 35 small publishing houses benefited from this strategy.
Encouragement based on linguistic diversity is an important factor, as well as the translation of works in one another languages.
The diversity of the Swiss press reflects the federalist and multilingual structures of Switzerland. However, the printed press faces challenges due to diminishing numbers and concentration of newspapers due to closures. In response to this situation, the Federal Council agreed on the 29th April 2020 on the importance of new measures of support to the printed media, by broadening the conditions of previous measures. The package of measures adopted in 2021 (120 million CHF) includes, among other things, more money for cheaper delivery of daily and weekly newspapers; for the first time, money for online media; and finally, more support for the media system as a whole – for news agencies or for the training of media professionals.
New challenges await the book market as well through the digitalisation changes. This includes the birth of new literary forms that need to be considered (especially ones that use interdisciplinary methods) and a decreasing trend in book sales.
Support measures announced in the 2021-2024 Culture Dispatch include funding for writing and editing processes, championing the role of translators, and support for publishing houses in a Swiss and international context.
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