Gerhard Weis

Gerhard Weis (born October 1, 1938 in Vienna ; † July 26, 2019 ) was an Austrian journalist and radio manager. From 1998 to 2001 he was general director of the ORF .

Life

Weis came to ORF in 1967. He first worked as an editor and later as head of the domestic affairs department. From 1973 on, Weis headed the public relations department, from 1974 to 1978 he was director of the first television program of the ORF (today: ORF 1 ). From 1979 to 1992 he headed the “Public Relations, Coordination and Corporate Planning” department. During this time, the ORF Teletext (January 21, 1980) and the cooperation broadcaster 3satfounded. During his tenure, the minority editorial team was also introduced, as well as regionalization of radio and television, including the introduction of programs for the Austrian federal states.

From 1992 on, Weis was director of the Vienna State Studio , from October 1994 to radio director, and from 1997 also general secretary of ORF. In October 1998 he was finally appointed general manager. Weis was elected by members of the ORF Board of Trustees (today: ORF Board of Trustees ), who were assigned to the SPÖ , the Greens and the independent camp. He was able to prevail against the candidate of the ÖVP favored Peter Radel (born March 26, 1939 in Wiener Neustadt ). Weis held this function until the end of 2001. Although he had stood for election again, he was defeated by Monika Lindner, who was supported by the ÖVP .

During Weis' tenure as general director, programs such as Report International, Euro Austria , Die Barbara Karlich Show , Die Millionenshow and Taxi Orange were produced .

From 2003 on, Weis was volunteer as the journalistic director of the Austrian Catholic Media Academy , and he also worked as an independent media consultant.

Gerhard Weis had been a member of the Vienna MKV Association Frankonia Wien since 1954 and was an avowed color student all his life. In the ÖCV, he was a member of KaV Bajuvaria , a subsidiary of Frankonia, since 1957 .

Weis died on July 26, 2019 at the age of 80. He was buried at the Mauer cemetery.

Awards (excerpt)

• 1967: Karl Renner Prize
• 1974: Large silver mark of merit for services to the city of Vienna
• 1995: Great Silver Decoration for Services to the State of Vienna
• 1997: Great Golden Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
• 2000: Single player award
• 2002: Golden Commander's Cross of Honor for Services to the State of Lower Austria
• 2002: Carinthian State Order in Silver
• 2008: Commander's Cross of the Papal Order of Gregory

Web links

• Entry on Gerhard Weis in the Austria Forum  (in the AEIOU Austria Lexicon )
• oe24.at - Gerhard Weis turns 70
• oe-journal.at - High national award for Gerhard Weis
• Gerhard Weis in the Munzinger archive ( beginning of article freely accessible)
• Publications by / about Gerhard Weis , Austrian Library Association
• Archive recordings with and about Gerhard Weis in the online archive of the Austrian Media Library (radio broadcasts)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 35 years of ORF Teletext. (...) First teletext system bought from the BBC . In: ooe.orf.at , January 16, 2015, accessed on January 16, 2015.
2. ↑ Mayor Schaden awarded Peter Radel city seal in gold . In: stadt-salzburg.at , January 31, 2014, accessed on January 16, 2015.
3. ^ Journalistic director. ORF general director i. R. Gerhard Weis . In: kma.at , accessed on January 16, 2015.
4. ↑ MKV bows one last time to Gerhard Weis. July 28, 2019, accessed on August 13, 2019 (German). 
5. ↑ Ex-ORF general director Weis is dead ORF, July 27, 2019, accessed on the same day.
6. ↑ Gerhard Weis in the search for the deceased at friedhoefewien.at
7. ↑ List of all decorations awarded by the Federal President for services to the Republic of Austria from 1952 (PDF; 6.9 MB)
8. ↑ “Einplayerpreis” to ORF general director Gerhard Weis and state director Gerhard Draxler . APA notification dated November 16, 2000, accessed March 21, 2015.