Wiener Zeitung was the first medium in Austria to be certified according to JTI

According to a multi-month audit procedure and the comprehensive disclosure of all relevant editorial processes, including transparent complaint and correction processes as well as detailed editorial guidelines that go beyond the existing editorial statute and, among other things, the careful handling of information: Interior and source, the Wiener Zeitung was the first medium in Austria according to Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certified. This award confirms the Wiener Zeitung a maximum of transparency, editorial integrity and professional standards, central conditions for credible journalism in the digital age.

The JTI is an internationally certified standard initiated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which enables a structured evaluation of journalistic trustworthiness. It was published in December 2019 by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The JTI offers media houses the opportunity to systematically document their editorial practices, disclosed and have it checked by an independent position. The aim is to make quality journalism visible and verifiable through comprehensible criteria as a strong counterweight for increasing disinformation and the loss of trust in the media worldwide.

Benjamin Sabbah, Director of the Journalism Trust Initiative at Reporter Without Borders, recognizes the certification of the Wiener Zeitung in clear words:

„We are proud to welcome Wiener Zeitung as the first Austrian media outlet to be certified under the Journalism Trust Initiative. Their commitment to transparency and professional standards sets a strong precedent for the entire Austrian media landscape. At a time when newspapers around the world are reinventing themselves in the digital age, rethinking and optimizing how to prove trustworthiness is not just a value — it’s a vital foundation for the future.”

Katharina Schmidt, editor -in -chief of the Wiener Zeitung, also underlines the relevance of this step:

“For us, the JTI certification is more than a seal of approval, it is an expression of our self-image. We not only want to talk about trust, but also live it in concrete and verifiably. Especially as a public service medium, we see ourselves as a responsibility, transparency, relevance and journalistic care not only to call up, but to promote them.”

Martin Fleischhacker, editor and managing director added: “Certification according to the criteria of the Journalism Trust Initiative confirms our way. We combine our journalistic tradition with the highest standards and thus create orientation in a time when trust in the media is no longer a self -image.”

With the JTI certification, the WZ sets a clear sign: trustworthiness is not a vague promise, but a verifiable journalistic practice. A signal to readers: inside, to the industry and to democracy.