According to information from “Krone”, Matthias Schrom has just resigned from his position as editor-in-chief of ORF-2. As reported, Schrom ran into chats with ex-Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache (FPÖ) and had therefore already said goodbye to a spontaneous holiday. The internal pressure against a possible return as responsible for “Zeit im Bild” etc. has now apparently become too great, his departure – at least from this post – has been confirmed since Wednesday.
ORF Director General Roland Weissmann confirmed the resignation – he accepted it. Nevertheless, Weißmann described Schrom’s previous administration as “flawless” and the ORF’s information formats as highly successful. Schrom’s position will be taken over for the time being by deputy editor-in-chief Eva Karabeg, who had already been appointed interim editor-in-chief when Schrom went on vacation.
In addition to the great “breaking news” of recent years, the ORF management mentions in particular that young journalists have been brought into the “ZiB” team under Schrom who have proven themselves excellently. These include Tobias Pötzelsberger, Margit Laufer, Martin Thür, Matthias Westhoff, Simone Stribl, Peter Teubenbacher, Stefan Lenglinger and Alexandra Wachter.
Under Schrom, the format “ZiB 2 am Sonntag” and various information sheets were also introduced. The daily Zeit im Bild at 7.30 pm has also been modernized in terms of content and appearance, and that is also praised. All this “with great public approval, as the increase in reach for the ORF info formats impressively demonstrates”.
Editors went on the barricades
Despite all the praise afterwards, the editor-in-chief’s conversations with ex-FPÖ boss Heinz-Christian Strache had especially deeply shocked the ORF staff. “Many colleagues are outraged at being dragged into something they have absolutely nothing to do with,” Dieter Bornemann, chairman of the ORF Editors’ Council, said only in the morning. A vote of confidence was also given in a press release.
Strache did not like a “ZiB 24” report in 2019. Schrom responded with approval: “Of course you can’t.” Schrom wrote about the radio’s content at the time: “We already have enough to do and it is tedious every day, but it is getting slow, and those who believe the SPÖ will save should become less.”
Chatlogs leaked by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption also recently troubled Rainer Nowak, who has temporarily suspended his positions as editor-in-chief and publisher of the “Presse”.
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.
