The board of the climate research network Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) is taking the opportunity to comment on the proposed amendment to the Federal Act on the Promotion of Quality Journalism in Print and Online Media; Press Funding Act, Media Cooperation and Funding Transparency Act, and others. The legislative initiative to promote high-quality journalism, as also set out in the government programme, is supported by the CCCA board. However, the draft requires an important addition under § 4 (1) 1 "General Funding Requirements" with the addition of "Science".

As stated in the government programme under Point 6 "Science & Research", science communication in Austria is to be strengthened. Austria has a particular need to catch up in this area, as recent surveys indicate that the public is more sceptical towards science than in other European countries. This is precisely where media and science journalists play a central role, as already articulated in the government programme: media "make a significant contribution to information and public awareness". CCCA therefore aligns itself with the statement of the Club of Science Journalists on the proposed legislation and requests a corresponding addition to § 4 Para 1 No 1: "Its content must primarily serve to inform and shape opinion on the areas of politics, economics, society, culture, science and sport (universal medium) and must in any case not be a medium dedicated solely to informing customers or members, or used as a publication instrument of an interest group;"

Author: Claudia Michl on behalf of the CCCA Board

Press releases and statements by the CCCA Board, individual board members, or experts do not necessarily reflect the positions of the CCCA member organisations.

Statement submitted via: https://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXVII/ME/ME_00233/index.shtml#tab-Stellungnahmen

Link to the statement, which can also be supported there: https://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXVII/SNME/SNME_221893/ 

Download: Statement on the Draft Media Law