Ex-“Presse” editor-in-chief Rainer Nowak moves to the “Kronen Zeitung”

As “Krone” editor-in-chief Klaus Herrmann confirmed to the “Standard”, the former “Presse” editor-in-chief will head the economics department from 2024. In addition, the economy, domestic and foreign policy will be combined “in a larger pool,” which Nowak will also lead.

Nowak is replacing economics department head Georg Wailand, who has worked at Austria’s largest daily newspaper since 1971 and has been at the head of the economics department since 1974. The 77-year-old is also relinquishing his role as deputy. Editor-in-chief, which he had held since the early 1990s, will remain connected to the “Krone”. The current head of domestic policy, Ida Metzger, will remain “team leader of domestic policy” under Nowak’s future department management, Herrmann told the “Standard”. Christian Hauenstein is head of foreign policy.

Chat protocols with Thomas Schmid

Nowak resigned as editor-in-chief, publisher and managing director of the “Presse” about a year ago after he stumbled upon chat logs that had become public. So Nowak discussed a possible position on the ORF executive floor with the then Secretary General in the Ministry of Finance, Thomas Schmid, and was apparently hoping for support from Schmid. Nowak Schmid also gave wording tips for communicating with his editorial team. Nowak stated that there was never a deal with Schmid and that no attempt at intervention was reflected in the reporting.

Nowak has worked for the “Presse” since 1996. In 2012, the Innsbruck native was promoted to editor-in-chief of the newspaper. In 2014 he was added the role of publisher and in 2017 that of managing director. Rainer Nowak was fully responsible for the content of the “Presse”.