Four Austrian states want free newspapers included in delivery subsidy plan

Four Austrian federal states are pushing for the inclusion of free newspapers in a new media subsidy program aimed at supporting distribution. Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Carinthia have voiced their opposition to the exclusion of free titles from the proposed funding.

The draft proposal from the Ministry of Media is currently undergoing a public review process, which concludes on August 31. The plan, as it stands, intends to provide subsidies for the delivery of subscribed copies of paid daily and weekly newspapers. However, this focus has drawn criticism from various stakeholders.

In addition to the four federal states, the Federal Competition Authority, the association representing free newspapers, and individual publishers of free publications have submitted statements against the exclusion. They argue that free newspapers play a vital role in information dissemination and should not be left out of support measures designed to ensure the viability of print media distribution.

The ongoing public consultation is a critical phase for shaping the final policy. The strong stance taken by these states and industry groups indicates a significant debate surrounding the scope and fairness of the proposed media funding, particularly concerning the accessibility of news through different distribution models.