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international international

“but overall, swiss media have
managed to avoid falling into the

opinion press trap, where the

readership and audience rating
take over the quality of informa-
tion in terms of priorities. ”

Château Cortils And speaking about neutral journalism, Webster Geneva Campus. What advice would
you give those who might be interested in
how neutral/impartial is journalism today as
you know it, in Switzerland? In this regard,
studying at Webster Geneva Campus?
Un cadre discret pour ateliers et retraites could you comment on the record number Webster Geneva Campus is a not-for-profit
foundation that puts students at the center.
of signatures that have been collected for the
neutrality of Switzerland? And if you were As such, our programs are tailored to the
asked such questions during your international expectations and ambitions of the students,
relations course, what would you answer? helping them to reach their academic and later
Le Château Cortils est un domaine situé dans la campagne wallonne, entre Maastricht et Liège. In terms of traditional media, I think the professional objectives. The institution also
Le lieu offre de l’espace, du calme et une certaine distance par rapport aux rythmes quotidiens, Swiss landscape is relatively impartial. Of mirrors International Geneva: it is multicultural
ce qui le rend adapté à des ateliers, des retraites et des rencontres en petits groupes. course, full impartiality in news coverage is and heterogeneous in both its student body
impossible. Actually, talking of impartiality is and faculty. Our students represent up to 90
L’hébergement est réparti dans plusieurs nearly nonsensical when it comes to journalism countries at present and possess many different
bâtiments sur le domaine, pour une capacité because articles are written by human beings, academic backgrounds and interests. As for the
faculty, in addition to teachers coming from
who are biased by definition, and are dedicated
totale d’environ 65 personnes. to human consumption, impacting the editorial all around the world, Webster Geneva Campus
Des espaces communs avec cuisines sont line. But overall, Swiss media have managed to provides an interesting mix of practitioners
disponibles, ainsi que des salles pouvant être avoid falling into the opinion press trap, where and theoreticians of international relations and
utilisées pour des ateliers, des réunions ou des the readership and audience rating take over other disciplines. Some of us, myself included,
temps de retraite. the quality of information in terms of priorities. belong to the latter category, while other
Regarding neutrality, it is difficult for me to give faculty members have accumulated years of
Le domaine s’étend sur environ 76 hectares, a clear answer, and this for a simple reason: the experience in international organizations and
comprenant des zones boisées, des espaces definition and especially operationalization of non-governmental organizations. This results
ouverts et un parc paysager avec roseraie et étang neutrality are obscure. I think Swiss people need in students being exposed to both the academic
naturel. Le site se prête à la marche, à la réflexion to have a serious debate about what it means to and practical dimensions of international
et à un usage extérieur informel. Un court de be neutral as a country. The months that followed politics, endowing them with the necessary tools
tennis et un terrain de pétanque sont présents sur Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when the Swiss to perform in a future career. Lastly, Webster
le domaine. “neutrality” came under tremendous pressure, Geneva Campus is part of Webster University’s
should have been exploited to hold a constructive, global network of campuses, which are
Le Château Cortils convient particulièrement nationwide debate. Missed opportunity. Because currently in eight countries outside the United
à des groupes recherchant un environnement the reality of geopolitics makes it impossible for States. Thanks to this network, students have the
non commercial, où le cadre soutient la a country to be purely neutral, neutrality should opportunity to spend semesters abroad and get
exposed to other people and environments.
be defined in such a way that it is understandable
concentration, l’échange et la prise de distance.
by domestic and foreign audiences. It should
also be properly conceptualized in order to
provide the Swiss government with a normative
Pour plus d’informations : instrument around which to build a potent
Chemin de Cortils 1, 4670 Blegny (BE) foreign policy, while mitigating accusations of
info@chateaucortils.com double standards.
Vera: +32 468 38 91 05
Many children of diplomats and
United Nations officials have studied at

Un cadre permettant le recul, l’échange et le temps de réflexion.
w w w. d i va i n t e r n at i o n a l . c h w w w. d i va i n t e r n at i o n a l . c h
www.chateaucortils.com