The Concordia prizes for extraordinary journalistic achievements were awarded today in Parliament to the “Dossier” editors, the other team and cartoonist Gerhard Haderer. “Dossier” editor-in-chief Florian Skrabal criticized the practice of awarding public advertisements, insisted the team on the other hand on diversity in journalism and equal opportunities in society and, with a wink, Haderer asked politicians never to change.
The editors of the research platform “Dossier” received the award in the category “Press freedom for persistent and courageous research on media policy issues”. Editor-in-chief Florian Skrabal spoke in his speech about the practice of awarding public advertisements.
“Dossier” editor-in-chief addresses government advertisements
On the one hand there are politicians who want to make a career – “no matter what the cost”. On the other hand, there are publishers, “the media do – I deliberately do not say journalism – to earn a lot of money,” Skrabal outlined. “It’s a system that opens the door to corruption.”
The “Dossier” editor-in-chief misses a “close ranks” on the part of the publishers. “Where is the outcry against government ads trying to shamelessly buy PR? Where is the protest against advertisements by public authorities when they are used in election campaigns?”
People with disabilities: Füreder sees the state as having a duty
The team of the inclusive online platform, on the other hand, received the human rights award for the documentary “The Donation Problem”, which critically examines “Licht ins Dunkel”. The award was accepted by editor-in-chief Lisa Kreutzer, founding team member Katharina Brunner and Fabian Füreder, who is part of the podcast team and worked on the documentary. In his speech, Füreder said that people with disabilities should not be dependent on donations such as those collected by “Licht ins Dunkel”. “The state should create equal opportunities for everyone,” says Füreder.
Gerhard Haderer received the award for his life’s work. The cartoonist kept his speech short, although he insisted he wasn’t as shy as he was made out to be. He addressed a wish to the country’s politicians: “Please don’t stop behaving the way you do. Don’t cultivate your language, don’t behave better.’ So they continue to be the best template for his work.
