24/09/2024
Was ist da im ORF los? Wie kann man so mit einer tollen und erfahrenen Journalistin umgehen?
statement concerning "Press Freedom": Austria ranks 31st
The (historic) role of the Austrian public broadcaster ORF
Dr. Sonja Sagmeister: investigative journalist 09/24/2024
The Austrian public broadcaster ORF "Österreichischer Rundfunk" was created after World War 2 among the Allies as public media house in the interest of the citizens and in the insterest of a stable and open democracy. It was NOT founded for the interest of the respective government, the powerful, or for any party interest. Furthermore, a publicly funded media organization like the ORF, along with its management and supervisory board (Stiftungsrat) is particularly committed to transparency—especially regarding any political interventions that have occurred from outside.
Journalists in Austria should be able to work in a protected environment without pressure from within or outside, to critically question, investigate based on facts, and expose wrongdoings.
Throughout my 30-year career as a journalist and former EU correspondent in Brussels, I have dedicated myself to the journalistic duty of researching facts and topics relevant to viewers.
However, after I transparently rejected political interventions from both inside (the public broadcaster) and outside (Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy), I experienced many disadvantages. I was methodically sidelined as an editor within the public broadcaster. To be honest, in a manner "unusual for Austria": subjected to reprisals, I was transferred to the 'death archive' . I had to become an editor for obituaries of living people and ultimately the director general Mag. Roland Weißmann personally signed the dismissal letter. Theoretically, the editorial statute should have been sufficient for protection; in practice, it was the opposite. I had to bring the case to court.
Audiatur et altera pars: The public broadcaster ORF argues, everything happened according to rules and that it was me, who misconducted rules of my job.
Transparency, diversity of opinion, critical media, and courageous, independent journalists are the pillars of any democracy. Press freedom alongside with freedom of expression are highly valuable goods within the European Union. Journalists shall not take it for granted and have the right to stand up for press freedom.
According to press investigations: Jan Marsalek and Wirecard were in a relationship with "one" of the Austrian "TV- supervisors", who controls the so called "Stiftungsrat" within the ORF. The supervisor´s company was hired for "media control" (SMM) by Wirecard.
It is interesting: Austria ranks within PRESS FREEDOM 32nd (excerpt from RSF/ Reporters without borders) which may have to do also with a new way of "message control". As Austrian citizens and especially as journalists, we should be truly concerned about "loud silence".
Dr. Sonja Sagmeister (Austrian journalist for 30 years, former EU correspondent in Brussels)
