Most ethics violations at “Krone” and “Austria”

The Austrian Press Council dealt with 435 cases in 2022. Although this means a decrease compared to 2021, when there were 647 cases, it is still above average, as the domestic press said on Thursday at the presentation of the annual report of the self-regulatory body. In 24 cases, an ethics violation was complained about, in 2021 there were 31. The high number of cases is “a sign of the good work of our senates,” said Alexander Warzilek, Managing Director of the Press Council. “We’ve really established ourselves in the more than ten years that we’ve been around.”

Articles from the “Kronen Zeitung” were the most frequently dealt with by the Press Council in the previous year, and six violations of media ethics were identified in 62 cases. “Austria” follows with 32 cases and four violations, then the “Wochenblick” with eleven cases and three violations. The “district papers” reported twelve cases and two violations, the free newspaper “Heute” was treated 58 times, with two violations also being noted.

Most breaches of ethics related to violations of personality, but the requirement to report suicides with restraint was also disregarded on several occasions.

The Press Council made an appeal to politicians: Since the foundation in 2010, there has been no increase in the annual funding of 150,000 euros, which is now urgently needed.