Compared with 2009, sensitivity for internal pluralism has increased. While ORF is legally obligated to represent all significant voices in society, private media follow their own preferences. Newsroom journalists in our sample confirm that the choice of experts and voices is repeatedly discussed, and in one case, a pool of experts is systematically set up together with a national university. Similarly, ORF television scouts for experts in various fields and provides them with specific training for how to perform in front of a camera. In addition, each journalist uses their personal contacts for gathering information.
However, most respondents admit that looking for new faces and voices regularly falls prey to constraints of time and tight editorial deadlines. Experienced experts know how to fulfil the expectations of journalists and make their life easier with quick responses.
Overall, diverse opinions remain welcome in Austrian newsrooms and are promoted by the editors-in-chief. Journalists are generally free to publish their work, with no internal interference, as long as their work falls largely within the mission statement of the media organisation.
