Skip to content
1981
Volume 20, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 1740-8296
  • E-ISSN: 2040-0918

Abstract

Investigative journalism is experiencing a new golden age facilitated by digital technologies for reporting and international, cross-border collaboration. Despite and often because of the vital role investigative journalism plays in democracy by holding powerful elites accountable, several challenges necessitate a deeper understanding of the obstacles investigative journalists encounter. This study applies the adapted hierarchy of influence model by Kunert et al. (2024) to investigative journalism in Austria. Investigative journalists’ capabilities as watchdogs of public interest are ascertained against the background of the so-called Ibiza affair as Austria’s Watergate scandal. The findings indicate that while the importance of investigative journalism over the past decades has grown in Austria, several obstacles on all five levels of the model still pose severe challenges to investigative journalism. Among the most significant problems are pressure from politics and the closeness between journalists and political actors in the microcosmos of Vienna.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/macp_00095_1
2025-07-31
2026-02-17
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Anon. (2022), ‘ORF-Chefredakteur Schrom an Strache über “ZiB”: “Die, die glauben, die SPÖ retten zu müssen, werden weniger”’, Der Standard, 5 November, https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000140546590/orf-chefredakteur-schrom-an-fpoe-chef-strache-ueber-orf-2. Accessed 20 October 2024.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Media-Analysen (2025), ‘MA 2024: Presse’, 3 April, https://www.media-analyse.at/table/4262. Accessed 14 May 2025.
  3. Balluff, Paul, Eberl, Jakob-Moritz, Oberhänsli, Sarina Joy, Bernhard-Harrer, Jana, Boomgaarden, Hajo G., Fahr, Andreas and Huber, Martin (2024), ‘The Austrian political advertisement scandal: Patterns of “journalism for sale”’, The International Journal of Press/Politics, online first, https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612241285672.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Bennett, W. Lance and Serrin, William (2005), ‘The watchdog role’, in G. Overholser and K. H. Jamieson (eds), The Press, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 16988.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Berglez, Peter and Gearing, Amanda (2018), ‘The Panama and Paradise papers: The rise of a global fourth estate’, International Journal of Communication, 12, pp. 457392.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Berkowitz, Dan (2007), ‘Professional views, community news: Investigative reporting in small US dailies’, Journalism, 8:5, pp. 55158, https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884907081051.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Bjerknes, Fredrik (2022), ‘Inventive factfinders: Investigative journalism as professional self-representation, marker of identity and boundary work’, Journalism Practice, 16:6, pp. 103756, https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2020.1845780.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Borins, Sandford and Herst, Beth (2020), ‘Beyond “Woodstein”: Narratives of investigative journalism’, Journalism Practice, 14:7, pp. 76990, https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2019.1664927.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Braunisch, Stefanie, Roither, Michael and Zeiller, Michael (2018), ‘Visual forms of presentation of investigative online journalism in Austrian media’, in M. Seidl, T. Moser, K. Blumenstein, M. Zeppelzauer and M. Iber (eds), Proceedings of the 11th Forum Media Technology and 4th All Around Audio Symposium, St. Pölten: CEUR, pp. 6067.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Brennen, Bonnie (2003), ‘Sweat not melodrama: Reading the structure of feeling in All the President’s Men’, Journalism, 4:1, pp. 11331, https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884903004001444.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Bromley, Michael (2019), ‘Transnational investigative journalism and scandal’, in H. Tumber and S. Waisbord (eds), The Routledge Companion to Media and Scandal, New York: Routledge, pp. 22535.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Büchel, Florin, Humprecht, Edda, Castro-Herrero, Laia, Engesser, Sven and Brüggemann, Michael (2016), ‘Building empirical typologies with QCA: Toward a classification of media systems’, The International Journal of Press/Politics, 21:2, pp. 20932, https://doi.org/10.1177/1940161215626567.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Cancela, Pauline (2021), ‘Between structures and identities: Newsroom policies, division of labor and journalists’ commitment to investigative reporting’, Journalism Practice, 15:9, pp. 136182, https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1971549.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Cancela, Pauline and Dubied, Annik (2022), ‘Stay strong, get perspective, or give up: Role negotiation in small-scale investigative journalism’, Journalism Studies, 23:9, pp. 105676, https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670x.2022.2067585.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Cancela, Pauline, Gerber, David and Dubied, Annik (2021), ‘“To me, it’s normal journalism”: Professional perceptions of investigative journalism and evaluations of personal commitment’, Journalism Practice, 15:6, pp. 87893, https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1876525.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Carson, Andrea (2020), Investigative Journalism, Democracy and the Digital Age, New York: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Carson, Andrea and Farhall, Kate (2018), ‘Understanding collaborative investigative journalism in a “post-truth” age’, Journalism Studies, 19:13, pp. 1899911, https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670x.2018.1494515.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Coronel, Sheila S. (2010), ‘Corruption and the watchdog role of the news media’, in P. Norris (ed.), Public Sentinel: News Media & Governance Reform, Washington, DC: The World Bank, pp. 11136.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. De Burgh, Hugo (2021), ‘Introduction’, in H. De Burgh and P. Lashmar (eds), Investigative Journalism, 3rd ed., New York: Routledge, pp. 114.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Eder, Wilhelm (2022), ‘Chats: ORF- und “Presse”-Chef ziehen sich zurück’, Kronen Zeitung, 7 November, https://www.krone.at/2850714. Accessed 28 May 2024.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Eder, Maximilian (2023), Politische Journalistinnen und Journalisten auf Twitter: Eine Framing-Analyse der Ibiza-Affäre im deutsch-österreichischen Vergleich, Baden-Baden: Nomos.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Ettema, James S. and Glasser, Theodore L. (1985), ‘On the epistemology of investigative journalism’, Communication, 8, pp. 183206.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Ettema, James S. and Glasser, Theodore L. (2007), ‘An international symposium on investigative journalism: Introduction’, Journalism, 8:5, pp. 49194, https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884907081043.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Fidler, Harald and Kohrs, Robin (2024), ‘Österreichs größte Medienunternehmen 2024: Kürzungen und Verluste’, Der Standard, 25 July, https://www.derstandard.de/story/3000000228974/oesterreichs-groesste-medienunternehmen-2024-kuerzungen-und-verluste. Accessed 9 October 2024.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Forchtner, Bernhard, Krzyżanowski, Michał and Wodak, Ruth (2013), ‘Mediatization, right-wing populism and political campaigning: The case of the Austrian Freedom party’, in M. Ekström and A. Tolson (eds), Media Talk and Political Elections in Europe and America, London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 20528.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Freedom House (2024), Austria Country Report, Washington, DC: Freedom House.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Grünangerl, Manuela, Trappel, Josef and Tomaz, Tales (2021), ‘Austria: Confirmed democratic performance while slowly digitalizing’, in J. Trappel and T. Tomaz (eds), The Media for Democracy Monitor 2021: How Leading News Media Survive Digital Transformation, vol. 1, Gothenburg: Nordicom, pp. 95152.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Haas, Hannes (2008), ‘“Ich kontrolliere die Mächtigen Österreichs, kann man so sagen, ja.”: Der investigative Jahrhundert-Journalist Alfred Worm (19452007)’, Medien & Zeit, 23:1, pp. 3847.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Hallin, Daniel C. and Mancini, P. (2004), Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Hanitzsch, Thomas (2011), ‘Populist disseminators, detached watchdogs, critical change agents and opportunist facilitators: Professional milieus, the journalistic field and autonomy in 18 countries’, International Communication Gazette, 73:6, pp. 47794, https://doi.org/10.1177/1748048511412279.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Hanitzsch, Thomas and Lauerer, Corinna (2019), ‘Berufliches Rollenverständnis’, in T. Hanitzsch, J. Seethaler and V. Wyss (eds), Journalismus in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, Wiesbaden: Springer VS, pp. 13561.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Hanitzsch, Thomas and Vos, Tim P. (2017), ‘Journalistic roles and the struggle over institutional identity: The discursive constitution of journalism’, Communication Theory, 27:2, pp. 11535, https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12112.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Hanitzsch, Thomas and Vos, Tim P. (2018), ‘Journalism beyond democracy: A new look into journalistic roles in political and everyday life’, Journalism, 19:2, pp. 14664, https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884916673386.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Hanitzsch, Thomas, Vos, Tim P., Standaert, Olivier, Hanusch, Folker, Hovden, Jan Fredrik, Hermans, Liesbeth and Ramaprasad, Jyotika (2019), ‘Role orientations: Journalists’ views on their place in society’, in T. Hanitzsch, F. Hanusch, J. Ramaprasad and A. De Beer (eds), Worlds of Journalism: Journalistic Cultures around the Globe, New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 16198.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Kaltenbrunner, Andy (2021), Scheinbar transparent: Inserate und Presseförderung der österreichischen Bundesregierung, Vienna: Delta X.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Kaltenbrunner, Andy (2023), Scheinbar transparent IV: Die Inserate der Bundesregierung in Österreichs Tageszeitungen und deren Onlinemedien 2022/2023. Eine Analyse und ein Ausblick, Vienna: Medienhaus Wien.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Kaltenbrunner, Andy, Lugschitz, Renée, Karmasin, Matthias, Luef, Sonja and Kraus, Daniela (2020), Der österreichische Journalismus-Report: Eine empirische Erhebung und eine repräsentative Befragung, Vienna: Facultas.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Kaltenbrunner, Andy, Lugschitz, Renée and Karmasin, Matthias (2024), ‘Country report Austria: Difficult departure from the comfort zone’, in K. Meier, J. A. García-Avilés, A. Kaltenbrunner, C. Porlezza, V. Wyss, R. Lugschitz and K. Klinghardt (eds), Innovations in Journalism: Comparative Research in Five European Countries, London: Routledge, pp. 3748.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Karadimitriou, Achilleas, von Krogh, Torbjörn, Ruggiero, Christian, Biancalana, Cecilia, Bomba, Mauro and Lo, Wai Han (2022), ‘Investigative journalism and the watchdog role of news media: Between acute challenges and exceptional counterbalances’, in J. Trappel and T. Tomaz (eds), Success and Failure in News Media Performance: Comparative Analysis in the Media for Democracy Monitor 2021, Gothenburg: Nordicom, pp. 10125.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Karmasin, Matthias (2010), ‘Vierte Gewalt oder Hofberichterstatter? Rollenbilder im Politikjournalismus’, in A. Kaltenbrunner, M. Karmasin and D. Kraus (eds), Der Journalisten-Report III: Politikjournalismus in Österreich, Vienna: Facultas, pp. 1128.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Karner, Christian (2021), ‘“Ibizagate”: Capturing a political field in flux’, Austrian History Yearbook, 52, pp. 25369, https://doi.org/10.1017/s0067237820000557.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Kirchhoff, Susanne (2022), ‘Journalism education’s response to the challenges of digital transformation: A dispositive analysis of journalism training and education programs’, Journalism Studies, 23:1, pp. 10830, https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2021.2004555.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Klenk, Florian (2024), ‘Geheime FPÖ-Chats zum ORF: “Wir müssen sie abschießen!”’, Falter, 30 March, https://www.falter.at/zeitung/20240330/geheime-fpoe-chats-zum-orf-wir-muessen-sie-abschiessen. Accessed 25 May 2024.
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Konow-Lund, Maria (2019), ‘Negotiating roles and routines in collaborative investigative journalism’, Media and Communication, 7:4, pp. 10311, https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v7i4.2401.
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Kunert, Jessica, Brüggemann, Michael, Frech, Jannis, Lilienthal, Volker and Loosen, Wiebke (2024), ‘“You suck it up and you deal with it”: Blind spots in investigative reporting and how to overcome them’, Journalism, 25:2, pp. 25574, https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849221146929.
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Lanosga, Gerry, Willnat, Lars, Weaver, David H. and Houston, Brant (2017), ‘A breed apart? A comparative study of investigative journalists and US journalists’, Journalism Studies, 18:3, pp. 26587, https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2015.1051570.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Leigh, David (2019), Investigative Journalism: A Survival Guide, Cham: Springer International Publishing.
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Lück, Julia and Schultz, Tanjev (2019), ‘Investigative data journalism in a globalized world’, Journalism Research, 2:2, pp. 93114, https://doi.org/10.1453/2569-152X-22019-9858-en.
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Lugschitz, Renée, Klinghardt, Korbinian, Schützeneder, Jonas, Graßl, Michael and Körner, Maike (2024), ‘Collaborative-investigative journalism: From the “lonely wolf” to the “power of the pack”’, in K. Meier, J. A. García-Avilés, A. Kaltenbrunner, C. Porlezza, V. Wyss, R. Lugschitz and K. Klinghardt (eds), Innovations in Journalism: Comparative Research in Five European Countries, London: Routledge, pp. 10917.
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Magin, Melanie and Stark, Birgit (2015), ‘Explaining national differences of tabloidization between Germany and Austria: Structure, conduct and performance’, Journalism Studies, 16:4, pp. 57795, https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2014.921398.
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Meier, Klaus, Schützeneder, Jonas, García Avilés, José Alberto, Valero-Pastor, José María, Kaltenbrunner, Andy, Lugschitz, Renée, Porlezza, Colin, Ferri, Giulia, Wyss, Vinzenz and Saner, Mirco (2022), ‘Examining the most relevant journalism innovations: A comparative analysis of five European countries from 2010 to 2020’, Journalism and Media, 3:4, pp. 698714, https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3040046.
    [Google Scholar]
  52. Mellado, Claudia, Hellmueller, Lea and Donsbach, Wolfgang (2017), ‘Journalistic role performance: A new research agenda in a digital and global media environment’, in C. Mellado, L. Hellmueller and W. Donsbach (eds), Journalistic Role Performance: Concepts, Contexts, and Methods, London: Routledge, pp. 118.
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Mellado, Claudia, Márquez-Ramírez, Mireya, Van Leuven, Sarah, Jackson, Daniel, Mothes, Cornelia, Arcila-Calderón, Carlos, Berthaut, Jérome, Blanchett, Nicole, Boudana, Sandrine, Chen, Katherine Y. N, Davydov, Sergey, De Maio, Mariana, Fahmy, Nagwa, Ferrero, Martina, Garcés, Miguel, Hagen, Lutz, Hallin, Daniel C., Humanes, María Luisa, Himma-Kadakas, Marju, Keel, Guido, Kozman, Claudia, Krstić, Aleksandra, Lecheler, Sophie, Lee, Misook, I-Husan Lin, Christi, Mazzoni, Marco, McGuinness, Kieran, McIntyre, Karen, Mick, Jacques, Navarro, Cristina, Olivera, Dasniel, Pizarro, Marcela, Silke, Henry, Skjerdal, Terje, Stępińska, Agnieszka, Szabó, Gabriella and Viveros Aguilar, Diana (2024), ‘Comparing journalistic role performance across thematic beats: A 37-country study’, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 101:1, pp. 97126, https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990231173890.
    [Google Scholar]
  54. Müller, Nina C. and Wiik, Jenny (2023), ‘From gatekeeper to gate-opener: Open-source spaces in investigative journalism’, Journalism Practice, 17:2, pp. 189208, https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1919543.
    [Google Scholar]
  55. Neumann, Linus and Pritlove, Tim (2023), ‘Wodka Red Bull’, Logbuch: Netzpolitik, 24 August, https://logbuch-netzpolitik.de/lnp466-wodka-red-bull. Accessed 22 April 2024.
    [Google Scholar]
  56. Nord, Lars W. (2007), ‘Investigative journalism in Sweden: A not so noticeable noble art’, Journalism, 8:5, pp. 51721, https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884907081045.
    [Google Scholar]
  57. Norris, Pippa (2014), ‘Watchdog journalism’, in M. Bovens, R. E. Goodin and T. Schillemans (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Public Accountability, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 52541.
    [Google Scholar]
  58. Obermaier, Frederik and Obermayer, Bastian (2019), Die Ibiza-Affäre: Innenansichten eines Skandals. Wie wir die geheimen Pläne von Rechtspopulisten enttarnten und darüber die österreichische Regierung stürzte, 3rd ed., Cologne: Kiepenheuer & Witsch.
    [Google Scholar]
  59. [Google Scholar]
  60. Plasser, Fritz and Lengauer, Günther (2010), ‘Politik vor Redaktionsschluss: Kommunikationsorientierungen von Macht- und Medieneliten in Österreich’, in F. Plasser (ed.), Politik in der Medienarena: Praxis politischer Kommunikation in Österreich, Vienna: Facultas, pp. 53100.
    [Google Scholar]
  61. Plasser, Fritz and Pallaver, G. (2017), ‘Österreichische Medien und politische Kommunikation in komparativer Sicht’, in L. Helms and D. M. Wineroither (eds), Die österreichische Demokratie im Vergleich, vol. 2, vollständig überarbeitete und aktualisierte Auflage, Baden-Baden: Nomos, pp. 31536.
    [Google Scholar]
  62. Reese, Stephen D. and Shoemaker, Pamela J. (2016), ‘A media sociology for the networked public sphere: The hierarchy of influences model’, Mass Communication and Society, 19:4, pp. 389410, https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2016.1174268.
    [Google Scholar]
  63. Reporters without Borders (2024), Austria Country Report, Paris: Reporters without Borders.
    [Google Scholar]
  64. Ryser, Daniel (2021), ‘Sebastian Kurz fummelt im Sicherungskasten der Demokratie’, Republik, 21 October, https://www.republik.ch/2021/10/21/sebastian-kurz-fummelt-im-sicherungskasten-der-demokratie. Accessed 19 April 2024.
    [Google Scholar]
  65. Schätz, Konstantin and Kirchhoff, Susanne (2020), ‘New paths in journalism, a crossroads for education’, Journalism Research, 3:1, pp. 92103, https://doi.org/10.1453/2569-152X-22020-10781-en.
    [Google Scholar]
  66. Seethaler, Josef (2021), ‘Österreich’, in M. Prinzing and R. Blum (eds), Handbuch Politischer Journalismus, Cologne: Herbert von Halem, pp. 72331.
    [Google Scholar]
  67. Seethaler, Josef and Beaufort, Maren (2022), Monitoring Media Pluralism in the Digital Era: Application of the Media Pluralism Monitor in the European Union, Albania, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia & Turkey in the Year 2021. Country Report: Austria, San Domenico di Fiesole: Center for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF).
    [Google Scholar]
  68. Seethaler, Josef and Melischek, Gabriele (2006), ‘Die Pressekonzentration in Österreich im europäischen Vergleich’, Österreichische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, 35:4, pp. 33760, https://doi.org/10.15203/ozp.896.vol35iss4.
    [Google Scholar]
  69. Seywald, Lauren Lucia (2020), Investigativer Journalismus in Österreich: Geschichte, Gegenwart und Zukunft einer Berichterstattungsform, Marburg: Büchner.
    [Google Scholar]
  70. Shoemaker, Pamela J. and Reese, Stephen D. (2014), Mediating the Message in the 21st Century: A Media Sociology Perspective, New York: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  71. Stetka, Vaclav and Örnebring, Henrik (2013), ‘Investigative journalism in central and Eastern Europe: Autonomy, business models, and democratic roles’, The International Journal of Press/Politics, 18:4, pp. 41335, https://doi.org/10.1177/1940161213495921.
    [Google Scholar]
  72. Thompson, J. B. (2000), Political Scandal: Power and Visibility in the Media Age, Cambridge: Polity Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  73. Tóth, Barbara (2024), ‘Wie eine Gesetzesreform die Pressefreiheit in Österreich bedroht’, Falter, 26 March, https://www.falter.at/zeitung/20240326/wie-eine-gesetzesreform-die-pressefreiheit-in-oesterreich-bedroht. Accessed 30 April 2024.
    [Google Scholar]
  74. Trappel, Josef (2019), ‘Medienkonzentration – trotz Internet kein Ende in Sicht’, in M. Karmasin and C. Oggolder (eds), Österreichische Mediengeschichte, vol. 2, Wiesbaden: Springer VS, pp. 199226.
    [Google Scholar]
  75. Udris, Linards and Lucht, J. (2009), ‘Öffentliche Kommunikation im Umbruch? Wandel der Medienstrukturen und Medieninhalte in ländervergleichender und diachroner Perspektive’, in B. Stark and M. Magin (eds), Die österreichische Medienlandschaft im Umbruch, Vienna: Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, pp. 1740.
    [Google Scholar]
  76. Waisbord, Silvio (2000), Watchdog Journalism in South America: News, Accountability, and Democracy, New York: Columbia University Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  77. Weaver, David H. and Willnat, Lars (2012), ‘Journalists in the 21st century: Conclusions’, in D. H. Weaver and L. Willnat (eds), The Global Journalist in the 21st Century, New York: Routledge, pp. 52951.
    [Google Scholar]
  78. Weissenberger, Eva (2021), ‘Medienhauptstadt Wien’, in M. Prinzing and R. Blum (eds), Handbuch Politischer Journalismus, Köln: Herbert von Halem, pp. 30510.
    [Google Scholar]
  79. Wuergler, Lena, Cancela, Pauline, Gerber, David and Dubied, Annik (2023), ‘Identifying investigative pieces: A multi-step method for spotting a blurred journalistic genre’, Journalism Studies, 24:14, pp. 175474, https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670x.2023.2209814.
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1386/macp_00095_1
Loading
/content/journals/10.1386/macp_00095_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test