Press Council reprimands publication of quotes from Kellermayr’s farewell letters

Austria’s Press Council has reprimanded the Oberösterreichische Nachrichten website for publishing verbatim excerpts from the farewell letters of doctor Lisa-Maria Kellermayr.

The council’s Senate 3 ruled that the publication on nachrichten.at breached Point 12 of the Austrian press code. That provision requires particular restraint when reporting on suicide.

The reprimand concerned coverage of proceedings connected with the death of Kellermayr, whose farewell letters were quoted directly on the website. The council treated the publication of those passages as an ethical violation.