15 - Global Perspective: Gernot Lercher

Gernot Lercher leads the editorial team of "Universum" and is responsible for ORF's nature documentaries, including the ORF co-produced "Ghosts of the Desert" by Will and Lianne Steenkamp. The documentary tells the story of three young lionesses who must learn to survive in the unforgiving desert after losing their mother. "Universum" followed the lionesses for eight years, from their first tentative steps in the heart of the Namib Desert to their arrival at the Skeleton Coast. The documentary was honored with the "Jackson Wild Media Award", considered the "Oscars of nature films" and the highest accolade in nature film production.

However, while good documentaries can be exported, they cost money, emphasizes Gernot Lercher in an interview: "Producing our films is time- and resource-intensive and requires international partnerships that not only ensure quality but also give our content global relevance. At the same time, we strengthen the domestic film industry by involving local production companies and creative teams and fostering talent. To continue producing at this level in the future, we need stable and sustainable funding."

Public Value Check

ORF Public Value has asked scientists from Austrian educational institutions to assess the value and benefit of the award-winning work:

"A grippingly told story that combines nature observation with storytelling is particularly valuable for public value. Because that's exactly how knowledge is well conveyed."
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sophie Lecheler, University of Vienna

"Internationally awarded documentaries, for example in cooperation with WDR and ARTE, are central to the public service concept, allowing the audience to look beyond their own horizons. ORF makes a valuable contribution to raising awareness of the protection of different animal species and focuses on quality, as the documentary was selected from more than 500 nature films from 74 countries with over 1,100 submissions in various categories."
Mag. Gisela Reiter, FH Vienna

"The program Universum with its nature documentaries can be counted as part of the classic repertoire of a public service offering and makes an important contribution to deepening knowledge about connections in nature. Ideally, program formats like this should also be further deepened and thematically processed through appropriate follow-up programs, such as at the level of children's programming."
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Steinmaurer, University of Salzburg

"The ORF-Universum documentary "Ghosts of the Desert - The Lions of the Skeleton Coast" by Gernot Lercher (together with Lianne Steenkamp and Will Steenkamp) is an outstanding example of ORF's educational mission and its contribution to public value. It provides unique insights into the lives of the rare desert lions in the inhospitable Skeleton Coast of Namibia and shows how these animals have adapted to extreme conditions and the ecological challenges they must overcome.

The documentary conveys complex ecological relationships in an understandable way and raises awareness for the protection of endangered species and ecosystems. It strengthens awareness of environmental and species protection and shows how humans influence nature through habitat destruction, climate change, and poaching.

With its popular scientific presentation, the documentary makes scientific content accessible to a broad audience and makes an important contribution to environmental education. It is a prime example of the high journalistic and cinematic quality of the Universum series, which is internationally recognized and positions ORF as a competitive provider of educational and quality content. "Ghosts of the Desert" not only promotes nature awareness but also stimulates a societal discussion about species protection and confirms ORF as a significant educational medium for the public."
Dr. Denise Voci B.A., M.A., University of Klagenfurt

Further contributions to the discourse on public service quality and the documentation of public value are published by ORF in the publication series "PUBLIC VALUE TEXTE." Over 300 scientists and media experts have published relevant views on the quality debate there, for example, in the issue "Between the Fourth Estate And The Fifth Power".

All issues of "PUBLIC VALUE TEXTE" and various scientific studies on public value can be found here:
ORF Public Value - TEXTS (documents only available in german)
ORF Public Value - STUDIES (documents only available in german)

"Global Perspective" as a Public Value Category

This category describes ORF's performance in terms of international reporting, correspondents, or co-productions. The category is based on passages from ORF regulations:


UNESCO Convention

Article 6 - Rights of the Parties at the National Level
(1) Within the framework of their cultural policy and cultural policy measures in the sense of Article 4 number 6 and taking into account their own particular circumstances and needs, each Party may adopt measures aimed at protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions within its territory.


ORF Law

§ 4. (1) The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation is responsible for providing comprehensive information to the public on all important political, social, economic, cultural, and sports issues.

§ 4c. (1) The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation is to organize a television special-interest program that includes a comprehensive range of programs with informational or educational character as well as cultural programs. The special-interest program should equally address topics related to Austria as well as European and international topics.


ORF Program Guidelines

ORF must bring both the foreign and the familiar closer to its audience. It should encourage appreciation of the familiar and interest in the new and unknown.

ORF Quality Profile

Since ORF also reports from war and crisis zones, it has a special responsibility to clearly separate possible propaganda or inflammatory rhetoric from the conflicting parties from factual information. Another responsibility is to not only highlight problems in other countries, such as famines or disasters, corruption, or violence, but also to make aspects that directly or indirectly affect Austria understandable. Particular attention should also be paid to highlighting positive and solution-oriented ideas and concepts.

ORF Mission Statement

ORF is a window to the world and a voice of Austria and its culture beyond national borders. It contributes to understanding international and global contexts.

Figures & Data

Below you will find exemplary numbers that document the fulfillment of the public service mandate and the associated media quality. (Figures & Data only available in german.) Further information can be found in the ORF's annual report to the Federal Chancellor and regulatory authority, the transparency report, the business and sustainability report, as well as the reports on equality (ORF Public Value - DOCUMENTS), the action plan on accessibility, or the ORF's annual and consolidated financial statements.

Exemplary Figures

MUSIC EXPORT

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