NEOS starts tender: More transparency for ORF bodies!

NEOS starts tender: More transparency for ORF bodies!

Wien, Österreich - NEOS today announced a public tender for the positions on the ORF foundation council and ORF public council. ots reports that this project is aimed at promoting transparency, independence and traceability within the bodies of the Austrian radio (ORF). This is an important step because Neos and their Think Tank, Neos Lab, are the only political actors in Austria that will be publicly advertised.

Neos media spokeswoman Henrike Brandstötter emphasized the responsibility of these bodies and the urgency of gaining the best minds to strengthen the independence of ORF. The measure is regarded as a crucial contribution to the detour policy of the ORF. The deadline for the applications ends on May 5, 2025, and the corresponding tender documents can be viewed on the Neos website.

goals of the tender

The NEOS initiative comes in a time when ORF, as the largest cooperative of the Austria Press Agency, is always in focus of the public discussion. The ORF, headquartered in Vienna, operates extensive programs in all nine federal states and in Bozen, South Tyrol, and is organized as a foundation on public law. This structure is intended to help fulfill the educational mandate of the ORF and to achieve as many people as possible in Austria.

ORF has struggled with falling number of spectators in recent years and a decline in advertising revenue. Despite these challenges, the recently made reforms, including the changeover to the new budget levy, have started to strengthen the transmitter's financial stability.

background information on the ORF

The history of the ORF goes back to the foundation of the Radio-Verkehrs AG in 1924. Over the decades, the broadcaster has dealt with various challenges compared to political influences and has constantly redefined its role in the Austrian media landscape. Wikipedia describes how the ORF was converted into an institution of public law in the 1970s and was reorganized in 2001 as a foundation.

The reforms proposed by NEOS can be seen in the context of a more comprehensive government program that aims to make ORF more transparent and independent. Current developments, such as the appointment of the new general director Roland Weißmann in 2023 and the challenges based on the judicial decisions of the Constitutional Court regarding political influence, illustrate the need for a clear and transparent committee system.

It remains to be seen which reactions this tender will cause within the political landscape and whether it can lead to a fundamental change in the ORF works.