Like the Styria Media Group on Monday informed, provided Nowak its functions suspended by its own decision. There is also an anonymous complaint about benevolent reporting and interventions. Because of the allegations, it was decided to initiate an internal investigation. Florian Asamer, deputy editor-in-chief of “Presse”, will be in charge of the editorship until the results of the investigation are available.
From chat excerpts published in the course of the WKStA report, it is clear that Nowak had ambitions to get to the top of the ORF and he apparently hoped for support from Schmid. For example, Schmid, then General Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, wrote: “Now you’re still ORF boss”https://www.nachrichten.at/”Dude – but then it’ll go off”https://www.nachrichten.at/”Thanks for all.” Nowak responded with: “A matter of honor. Now you have to help me with the ORF.” Schmid: “Absolutely.” In addition, Nowak Schmid gave wording tips for communicating with his editorial team.
Nowak stated that there had never been a deal with Schmid. He also turned to the readers of the “Presse” and apologized for the “tonality and inappropriate proximity” of the chat history. He emphasized that no attempt at intervention was reported and that the allegations concerned him and not the editors.
With regard to the anonymous complaint, which revolves around benevolent reporting and interventions for his partner, Nowak’s lawyer said that the WKStA had refrained from initiating proceedings and recommended that the public prosecutor’s office drop the complaint. A spokeswoman for the WKStA only confirmed that a project report on the ad had been submitted. So far there has been no formal settlement.
In the meantime, Nowak met with the editorial committee of the “Presse” about the cause. An editorial meeting is scheduled for today.
Source: Nachrichten
