Ordinance of the State Council on information - Scope

1. This regulation governs the relationships between the government council and the directorates with respect to the press, radio, and television.

2. The press, radio, and television are regarded as responsible intermediaries of information between the authorities and the public.

1. This regulation aims to promote the relationships between authorities and the public and to provide citizens with the foundation for forming their political opinions.

2. The public shall be informed about government and administrative activities in accordance with the general interest.

3. The information should be open, comprehensive, objective, and understandable.

1. The activity of providing information is limited by conflicting public and legitimate private interests, as well as by the duty of official secrecy in matters that are confidential by their nature or according to a specific regulation.

1. Press, radio, and television are generally treated equally.

1. The State Chancellery is responsible for the information activities of the Government Council.

2. The head of the directorate is responsible for the information activities of the directorates. He may delegate his authority to heads of departments.

3. The State Chancellery maintains a directory of all information offices of the cantonal administration.

1. The government council appoints an information officer; likewise, each directorate designates an information officer.

2. The information officers have the following duties

a. They coordinate the information activities of the government council and the directorates.

b. They establish the connection between the government council or the directorates and the press, radio, and television.

c. They advise the government council or the heads of directorates and the managers of the offices on matters of information.

3. The information officers meet periodically for sessions under the chairmanship of the information officer of the government council.

1. Written press releases from the government council and the directorates shall concisely inform about the essential aspects of a matter or situation. They must be drafted in clear, generally understandable language.

2. If, in exceptional cases, particular emphasis is placed on the verbatim reporting of a press release by the press, radio, and television, the introduction shall be formulated as follows: "The government council or Directorate X announces."

3. Embargo times must be clearly highlighted (indicating day and hour), taking into account the publication deadlines, including those of the local press, wherever possible.

4. A copy of each press release from the directorates must be provided to the information officer of the government council.

1. The proposals of the government council to the cantonal council are to be delivered to the council members as well as to the press, radio, and television at the same time.

2. For extensive proposals and those of particular significance, the directorates of the state chancellery must provide text suggestions for the written press releases.

1. Decisions regarding the execution of press conferences and inspections are made by the heads of the directorates. The government council shall be informed.

2. Press conferences on topics that exceed the jurisdiction of a directorate are convened by the government council.

3. The dates for press conferences and inspections are determined in consultation with the government council's information officer. This officer maintains an agenda for the press conferences and inspections of the government council and the directorates. The officer coordinates the dates of important press conferences with those of the Canton of Basel-Stadt.

1. Upon request, oral information may be provided.

2. The information officers of the government council and the directorates forward inquiries to the competent specialist authorities.

1. Participation in informative radio and television broadcasts occurs through the provision of relevant documentation or through the personal involvement of members of the Government Council in discussions and interviews.

2. Senior officials may participate in broadcasts with the consent of the head of the directorate.

1. The submissions of the Government Council to the Cantonal Council, as well as press releases and invitations to press conferences, are provided free of charge to

a. the editorial offices of local newspapers,

b. the editorial offices of regional Basel daily newspapers,

c. radio and television service stations,

d. press and photo agencies,

e. journalists registered in the State Chancellery directory (§ 13),

f. other persons and institutions who demonstrate significant interest in the press releases and are registered in the State Chancellery directory.

1. The Information Officer of the Government Council maintains a register of all recipients of information and makes it available to the directorates.

2. The decision regarding inclusion in the register is made by the Information Officer of the Government Council.

1. The submissions of the Executive Council to the Cantonal Parliament may also be delivered to recipients other than those mentioned in § 12. The State Chancellery decides on the cost assessment.

1. Recipients of information who misuse communications and information, violate the duty of care and truthfulness, fail to make requested corrections, or disregard embargo periods may be warned by the Government Council or temporarily or permanently excluded from receiving information services.

2. The recipients of information must be heard before the Government Council issues a ruling.

1. As an advisory body, the government council elects an information commission, consisting of the government council's information officer, two information officers from directorates, and three representatives from the press, radio, and television. The chair is held by the government council's information officer.

2. The information commission deals with general issues of information practice and the specific problems arising from the relationship between the government council and the directorates on one hand, and the press, radio, and television on the other hand.

3. The information commission meets at least once a year.

1. The Directives of the Executive Council on Public Information dated 30 January 1968 are hereby repealed.

1. This regulation shall come into force on March 1, 1978.