The Swiss Press Council strongly reminds media professionals to respect the privacy of the victims and their families in their coverage. The victims of the fire disaster are not public figures. There is no necessity to publish their names or photos. The Journalism Code prohibits any sensational portrayal that reduces people to mere objects, whether in image, text, or sound. Journalists should also respect the suffering of those affected and the feelings of their kin, who are in an absolute exceptional situation.
In a 2012 statement, the Swiss Press Council issued guidelines for fair reporting in such situations. Following a coach accident in the canton of Valais where 28 people, mostly children, lost their lives, footage of the victims was sometimes excessively published.
In its leading decision at that time, the Press Council stated: "It is disproportionate and exceeds what is ethically permissible when an editorial team systematically scrutinises the private surroundings of those involved after an accident." Essentially, "it is permissible to show images of deceased victims of a traffic accident, as long as the family members explicitly agree to the publication and provide the photos." People, however, react differently to tragic events and blows of fate. "While many wish to be left alone with their grief, it helps some to share their suffering and allow others to empathise," the Press Council noted in its statement back then. When family members are still in shock, consent should not be assumed lightly.
In principle, the privacy of those involved – unless they are public figures and the reporting relates to their public activity – must be respected even in high-profile incidents, crimes, and catastrophes.
Annik Dubied, the Vice President of the Swiss Press Council, discusses in the RTS programme 'PointJ' how journalists can report on such events ethically. The broadcast will be available from 7 January 2026 at the following link: https://www.rts.ch/audio-podcast/2020/emission/le-point-j-25000806.html
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