Change and resilience in Swiss newspapers and broadcasting, 2002 and 2022: Towards a critique of media concentration indices

Abstract

This paper examines and compares the Swiss broadcasting and newspaper markets in 2002 and 2022, before and after digitalization transformed traditional media markets. It analyses differences and continuities over the two decades, the loss of relevance of national companies, and the increasing weight of foreign companies. Also, it focuses on the dynamics of media concentration and proposes a comparative historical approach to better capture its mutations over time and its impact on pluralism.

The paper uses various concentration measures, including the Concentration Ratio (CR) and the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), but also highlights the limitations of these indices, particularly but not only in the case of small countries such as Switzerland.

The analysis includes data on circulation, audience and advertising markets for both 2002 and 2022, highlighting the complex nature of media market research. Ultimately, the paper contributes to the understanding of the changing media landscape in Switzerland and suggests avenues for future research on its implications for democratic pluralism.