Covert Research? FPÖ Vienna Rages Against "Standard"

According to the FPÖ Vienna, the journalist allegedly pretended to be an FPÖ sympathizer and expressed interest in collaborating and potentially running for office in the future. During an FPÖ district council training session, she held conversations with several people. In a phone call, she reportedly admitted to Brucker that she writes for a print medium and confirmed upon inquiry that it was the "Standard."

"Standard" Denies Investigation Order for FPÖ Training

"This is an incredible media scandal that must lead to immediate consequences," said Brucker. He sees no journalism, but rather "politically motivated infiltration," carried out by a medium that has long since "degenerated into an FPÖ hate organ." The "Standard" denies having commissioned the investigation. There is no fee and no employment relationship with the journalist. The relationship between the "Standard" and the FPÖ has been strained for some time, as evidenced by several court disputes.

At the beginning of the year, Vienna's FPÖ chairman Dominik Nepp also sharply criticized the medium after critical reporting, calling it a "shitty paper," and suggested cutting press subsidies. Brucker also sees the Press Council as having a duty, stating that it must not remain silent on such methods. In response to an APA inquiry, Press Council Managing Director Alexander Warzilek said that the Press Council would address the case if a complaint is filed. The self-regulatory body of the industry deals not only with specific (problematic) articles but also with the behavior of journalists.

Press Council: Covert Investigations Permissible in Public Interest

The Code of Ethics for the Austrian press states that covert investigations are justified if information of particular public interest is obtained. Public interest, according to the Code of Ethics, is especially present when it involves clarifying serious crimes, protecting public safety or health, or preventing public deception. The Press Council has dealt with covert investigations multiple times. A line was crossed, for example, when a reporter entered the closed area of a psychiatric clinic without identifying herself as such to interview a person there, Warzilek recalled. It was also excessive when a journalist posted crude threats against refugees on social media just to demonstrate that they were not deleted. "That was too much, out of proportion," said Warzilek.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.