Austria Distributes 20 Million Euros for Quality Journalism; 'Exxpress' Excluded

Austria's media authority, KommAustria, has announced the distribution of 20 million euros in funding for quality journalism, set to be disbursed in 2026. This allocation aims to support journalistic endeavors deemed to uphold high standards.

Notably absent from this round of funding is the right-wing populist publication "Exxpress." In the previous funding cycle, "Exxpress" received over 41,000 euros. However, based on the recently released data for 2026, the outlet has been excluded from receiving any financial support this time.

The distribution details reveal that approximately seven million euros of the total funding will be specifically allocated to support print newspapers. This suggests a continued emphasis on traditional media formats alongside other forms of quality journalism.

The decision to exclude "Exxpress" from the latest funding round has drawn attention, particularly given its previous receipt of public funds. The criteria and process for selecting recipients of the quality journalism funding are managed by KommAustria, which evaluates applications based on journalistic merit and adherence to quality standards.