Upheavals and reforms also affect the media world, the end of the “Wiener Zeitung” in print caused a lot of commotion. Most recently, however, the ORF’s “blue page”, the news portal orf.at, has been the center of criticism. The site is too similar to the online offerings of the daily newspapers – even though the new ORF law prohibits state radio from publishing electronic newspapers. But: There is nothing wrong with a printed version, explained Gerald Grünberger, director of the newspaper association VÖZ.
“The reporting may not be in-depth and in terms of overall presentation and design not comparable to the online offering of daily or weekly newspapers or monthly magazines and may not contain a news archive,” says paragraph 4e of the new ORF law. However, a look at orf.at so far shows otherwise – ORF director Roland Weißmann therefore announced a “transformation” of the “blue page” in the Ö1 program “Im Journal zu Gast”.
ORF as a newspaper publisher?
VÖZ director Grünberger drew attention in the “Journal” with another suggestion. He could imagine that the ORF would take over the “Wiener Zeitung”, which was formerly state-owned, and continue it as a print newspaper: “You will be amazed and I now make a suggestion that I also made in advance: we had could even imagine that the ORF, as a foundation under public law, would have taken over the ‘Wiener Zeitung’ as a medium under public law and could then have actually offered the printed word.”
That would not conflict with the ORF law, Grünberger emphasises. With regard to the online offer, this is carefully checked and a complaint to the EU Commission in Brussels is also being processed. In the course of this, Grünberger reminded that the ORF would receive “710 million euros in compensation, which is 40 million more than before, and another 260 million from the public sector over the next three years if it performs certain tasks such as a compensation substitute for sales tax”, said: “This is a significant starting advantage over the private sector.”
“Wiener Zeitung” published in print
The “Wiener Zeitung” has been published since 1703 and the newspaper derives most of its turnover from publications in the official gazette, namely between 85 and 90 percent. Interested parties for a takeover or privatization of the “Wiener Zeitung” have reportedly come forward, but according to managing director Martin there have been no serious projects in which the editors and the newspaper could have continued in their previous form of meat chopper. On Thursday, the federal government finally sealed the end of the “Wiener Zeitung” in print in the National Council.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
