Senate 2 of the self-regulation body states in a broadcast that the attitudes and events that came to light in the chats are “clearly to be condemned” from a media-ethical point of view.
Editors-in-chief should be role models for their editorial team and rigorously ward off external influence (item 4.1 of the code of honor for the Austrian press). In addition, they only meet their responsibility towards the public and the editorial team if their own private interests have no influence on editorial content (point 11 of the code of ethics). Although regular contact with political actors is also one of the tasks of editors-in-chief, it is absolutely necessary to maintain a professional distance.
In the opinion of the Senate 2, the chat messages that have now become known are “diametrically opposed” to these requirements. Political change requests were apparently received compliantly. In addition, tips were given on how political actors can best fend off inquiries from their own editorial team. “The chat messages paint a moral picture that rightly outrages the public and thus harms the media industry as a whole,” the press council stated.
The women’s network media also spoke up about the cause. “In times of crisis and war, quality journalism is needed more urgently than ever as the fourth controlling power in the state – not a boys’ club made up of politicians and individual media representatives who sacrifice the integrity of this wonderful profession for their own careers,” the network said in a broadcast. There is a “large number of colleagues in the industry who work critically, objectively and transparently”. “As the board of directors of the women’s network media, we demand that they be given management responsibility in their media houses in the future.”
Source: Nachrichten
