‘Exxpress’ Founder Eva Schütz Enters Race for ORF General Directorate with Salary Cap Pledge

A Reform Agenda for ORF

Central to her platform is the demand to cap salaries at the top of the public broadcaster. Schütz wrote that special contracts, special allowances, or ‘intransparente Zusatzleistungen’ should be dismantled, and salaries at the top should be ‘limited and made traceable’.

She also argues that public funds, including the ORF fee that currently largely finances the broadcaster, must ‘also be open to private media’ that fulfill a public-service mandate, and this should happen ‘according to clearly defined criteria’.

Schütz furthermore intends to put ORF’s funding on a ‘long-term secure, transparent basis’, though remained vague on the specifics. She advocates for a clear Austrian focus in ORF programming and wants to ‘end privileges in the house’.

A Controversial Media Background

The candidacy brings Schütz’s own media involvement into the spotlight. In 2021, she co-founded the sensationalist online platform ‘Exxpress’ with founding editor-in-chief Richard Schmitt.

The majority of ‘Exxpress’ is now held by the German company Vius, which also operates the right-wing populist online medium ‘Nius’, led by former ‘Bild’ editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt. Schütz has significantly reduced her stake in recent years, but continues to act as publisher and, alongside former ÖVP politician Laura Sachslehner, as editor-in-chief.

Schütz described herself as being no candidate of the federal government or coalition, but of the viewers and fee payers. ‘Sie sei keine Kandidatin der Bundesregierung oder Koalition, sondern der “Zuseherinnen und Zuseher und der Gebührenzahler”’, she said. She called ORF ‘eine der wichtigsten demokratischen Institutionen unseres Landes’, stressing that turbulent times required a public-service broadcaster that remains ‘independent, economically solid, technologically modern and, at the same time, close to the fee payers’.

Other Contenders and Election Outlook

The field of candidates also includes ORF TV magazine chief Lisa Totzauer, long-time private TV media manager Markus Breitenecker, and business consultant Ernst Primosch. According to observers, APA CEO Clemens Pig is considered the favorite but has not yet submitted an application.

A report noted that the chances of Schütz being appointed as ORF general director are rather low, citing the phrase: ‘Medieneigentümer ausgeschlossen Die Wahrscheinlichkeit von Schütz’ Bestellung zur ORF-Generaldirektorin ist eher gering.’