Of
Catherine Kahlweit
The Austrian federal government has presented a hotly debated media promotion package. In fact, it should have received a lot of attention. Because against the background of lavish government advertisements for friendly reporting media, the questionable advertising of public bodies in party-affiliated newspapers, the preferential treatment of tabloid media in media promotion and ultimately also the investigations against ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and the ÖVP because of an “advertisement affair” in the money should have flowed for positive reporting, a fundamental reform is overdue. Industry representatives, media scientists, the opposition and lawyers therefore demanded: control of state advertising, more media transparency and more solid media funding.