Blast effect Monday afternoon at ORF: Managing Director Roland Weißmann confirmed the allegations against ORF III Managing Director Peter Schöber that were revealed by the “Krone” during a staff meeting. The TV boss is now essentially on probation for “problematic leadership behavior.”
After a report was made to the whistleblower agency for anonymous tips in the summer of last year, the explosives investigation at Küniglberg began. Approximately 50 former and current employees testified as witnesses about the “Schöber System” to the independent and non-directive compliance agency. This included some shocking statements that the director of ORF III allegedly made during internal meetings. This climate of fear is also the reason why almost half of the station staff have left the station in recent years. Research shows that there is a high staff turnover at the station.
Statements about intervention for politicians
Other accusations, all of which Schöber vehemently denies: He always had a strong say in who should appear in what story and who should not. It would have been the order of the day for one or two politicians to have to come up with an original sound bite. The actually strong editorial statute was not always taken so seriously.
This also meant that the boundaries between professional and private life were not taken very seriously. It once happened that a colleague had to supervise Schöber’s painting work at home during her working hours. Also tough was a business trip where someone had to take a charging cable from the station manager to his private apartment at the Ottenstein reservoir.
Disempowerment in personnel issues, no more intervention in the program
In any case, the test report is now ready – and contains a lot of explosive material! Because the study actually partially confirmed “problematic leadership behavior.” That is why ORF general manager Roland Weißmann was forced to take action, he announced during a staff meeting on Monday.
The consequences for the TV boss, who with an annual salary of 283,000 euros is one of the top 10 salary emperors in the media giant’s subsidiary: Peter Schöber remains director of ORF III, but is closely monitored and is de facto powerless. Due to a change in the structure, direct intervention in program issues is no longer possible. When it comes to personnel issues, there is no longer an option to go it alone. Decisions are only possible by consensus with the second director Kathrin Zierhut.
“Probation” also includes a regular mediation process and training for all employees. As well as its own arbitration committee. Managing Director Weißmann will be regularly informed and assumes that “from now on there will be no more misconduct by the leadership.”
Source: Krone
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