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Germany's Tech Giants Declare Critical Infrastructure Status, Austria's Media Silent

Germany's tech giants embrace critical infrastructure status, but Austria's media stays quiet about its own struggles for survival.

In this image in the center there is one news paper, and some text is written in that newspaper.
In this image in the center there is one news paper, and some text is written in that newspaper.

Germany's Tech Giants Declare Critical Infrastructure Status, Austria's Media Silent

In Germany, tech companies like Sopra Steria openly declare themselves as partners of critical infrastructures, focusing on digital sovereignty and regulatory compliance. Meanwhile, in Austria, while no media companies claim critical infrastructure status, firms like VIVAVIS AG work with these sectors. However, the Austrian National Council has excluded media from its critical infrastructure protections. The media industry faces a crisis of trust and survival, with outlets remaining silent about their affairs.

Media outlets are not officially classified as critical infrastructure, despite their crucial role in society. A recent report shows they rank last in public trust, with a net score of -12. The journalism profession is struggling for survival, with no guaranteed future. Some media houses have started to publicly announce layoffs, indicating a shift in strategy.

In response to these challenges, the Press Club Concordia and the journalists' union are hosting a press conference titled 'Save Journalism!'. However, the media industry's collective lobbying efforts, particularly among journalism-based organizations, remain weak. Meanwhile, companies outside the industry, like Red Bull, have softened their previously opaque communication strategies.

While tech companies in Germany openly align with critical infrastructures, Austria's media landscape remains quiet on the matter. The media industry's trust crisis and existential struggle call for urgent action, with a press conference titled 'Save Journalism!' set to address these issues. Despite these challenges, the media industry's collective voice remains subdued, with no guaranteed resolution in sight.

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