Vienna, 19 May 2026
Lisa Totzauer, current ORF magazine chief, is campaigning to lead Austria's public broadcaster with a focus on organizational reform and democratic media values.
Totzauer, who previously ran for the position in 2021, believes her 30 years of experience at ORF positions her uniquely to address what she calls the broadcaster's 'fundamental crisis'. She has prepared an 80-page reform concept for consideration.
The candidate argues that many of ORF's problems can only be solved from within the organization. 'I understand the strengths and weaknesses and know immediately what needs to be done,' Totzauer stated in her announcement.
Her platform emphasizes making ORF 'indispensable rather than viral,' directly challenging the attention-driven models of tech platforms. She views public broadcasting as crucial democratic infrastructure that must be preserved.