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ChineseProtests Against the René Marcic Prize
from Zwischenwelt, no. 4, June 2007, Vienna, p 38.
Fritz Hausjell, professor for journalism in Vienna and the Austrian Society for Exile Research (öge) have protested against the naming of the Salzburg Prize for Journalism after René Marcic, the former editor of the Salzburger Nachrichten. Hausjell and öge have proposed that this prize be named after Friderike and Stefan Zweig in the future.
René Marcic acquired his journalistic skills during the Third Reich period. He was Press Secretary for Journalism and Cultural Affairs at the Ustascha General Consulate in Vienna. In 1946 Marcic worked as court reporter in Salzburg and repeatedly came to the aid of former National Socialists. He became editor-in-chief of the Salzburger Nachrichten from in 1959 and held that position until 1964.
The Salzburger Nachrichten reacted to Hausjell’s initiative with an editorial on March 17, 2007 titled Grotesquery by Dangerous Anti-Nazi Activists. Here are segments:
“Again and again overzealous scholars of journalism awkwardly attempt to expose Marcic as a Nazi and anti-Semite….
They ignore the fact that Marcic made essential contributions to the foundation and development of a democratic state, as well as to safeguarding the rights of the individual in Austria. They attach themselves to one article and want to destroy a man’s life work….The attacks are grotesque as well as being dangerous, for they place an important phase of our newspaper in question. Our founders made great efforts to build bridges in 1945….Today we of the Salzburger Nachrichten declare our solidarity with our founders.”
René Marcic in 1949: “Anyone who mocks God and prayer…should not be surprised if he experiences the debasement of his own body and is then thrown into the gas chambers.”
Here’s a quote from Herbert Kuhner: Das Menschenrecht (Human Rights) Vol. 46, No. 227, Vienna, December, 1991, p. 17:
“On March 12, 1989, the fifty-first anniversary of the Anschluss to the day, three former Third Reich journalists were awarded the René Marcic Prize for Political Journalism in Salzburg. The recipients were Alfons Dalma, Ilse Leitenberger, Victor Reimann. The late René Marcic also enjoyed a journalistic career in post-Anschluss and post-war Austria.”
- Translated and edited by Herbert Kuhner
Sphere: Related ContentPosted: July 30th, 2007 under Text, Dossier.
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