Seven participants at the Hans Dichand Academy have recently been able to call themselves academic journalists. These include the editor Elisa Torner (Kronen Zeitung Salzburg) and the online editors Mara Tremschnig and Katharina Wurzer (both Vienna). During the course you looked at, among other things, how stories can be told in an exciting way and what effect images have. In addition, everyone has written a thesis.
Elisa Torner has been responsible for culture and society at the Kronen Zeitung in Salzburg for 2.5 years. “Especially in my department, there are many stories written by life, but certainly not by the actors’ agents and PR agencies. It is all the more important that I get an idea of the situation on the spot. “By talking to people, the really important and exciting stories come to light,” Elisa is convinced.
That was also the subject of her dissertation. The editor explained why journalists still have to leave the office even in the age of social media and the like and the disadvantages of relying solely on press releases and the like.
Danger of staging
For example, information material about politicians can be staged, says online editor Mara Tremschnig. In her dissertation she investigated how politicians, news agencies and the like try to influence reporting in their favor. How can desired messages be conveyed successfully and why is that important at all?
Mara’s work not only answers these questions, but also addresses how awareness about message control can be created. The Carinthian native has been working for krone.at since 2006, reporting on current events in Austria and around the world.
Values under pressure?
In daily journalism, there is often no time to spend longer and more intensively on one topic because the next one follows, says Mara’s colleague Katharina Wurzer. She has been working at krone.at in Vienna for 1.5 years. “The academy was an opportunity to go in depth, try things out and get to know other fields, such as social media and data journalism.”
A topic that particularly interested her was ethics in daily editorial work. On the one hand, Katharina’s work examines the question of what values and self-image Austrian journalists have. On the other hand, she looked at the influence that economic and time pressures have on ethical issues in everyday life. Sources include the Austrian Journalism Report and a survey of colleagues.
“Defensive media are now the only guarantee for orientation and opinion formation,” says director Gerhard Valeskini of “Krone”. This is especially important in times of global political and economic crises that cause uncertainty.
Eight more participants started the course at the beginning of October. The program for the next two semesters includes content such as social media and the mutual influence of society and the media.
Nina Auer, Verena Höchstätter, Marcel Tratnik and Magdalena Winkler also completed the course. Their work is presented in the first part.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
