Prantner as ORF board of trustees: Styria in the media focus!

Prantner as ORF board of trustees: Styria in the media focus!

On May 26, 2025, the “Styrian Small Talk” event took place in the Graz wine bar “Klapotetz”, where around 80 opinion leaders from business, media and politics came together. At the center of the event was Thomas Prantner, managing director of C3-Communications-Connecting-Consulting, who was appointed as the new representative of the state of Styria to the ORF foundation board. State Governor Mario Kunasek praised Prantner's achievements and his upcoming tasks on the board of trustees.

Prantner, who was reappointed to the ORF Foundation Board by the state government on May 8, 2025, was grateful for the trust placed in him. This new appointment is part of a comprehensive change in the law; The ORF law amendment 2025 ends the current term of office of the Foundation Council and the Public Council early on June 16, 2025. The new term of office begins on June 17, 2025, and the new appointment is necessary because 35 members of the Foundation Board must be appointed by the federal government and the federal states according to a new key. During the “Styrian Small Talk” a large number of decision-makers gathered, including state parliament presidents, FPÖ club chairman, the ORF general director and numerous TV stars.

Prantner's goals on the ORF board of trustees

In his speech, Prantner named three central goals that he is striving for during his term on the ORF Foundation Board:

• Erhalt und Stärkung des ORF-Landesstudios Steiermark.
• Präsenz von Steiermark-Themen in bundesweiten ORF-Sendungen.
• Ausbau der Medienkooperationen zwischen ORF und privaten Medienhäusern.

The importance of these goals for the media landscape in Styria became clear in the discussions during the event. Prantner's extensive experience in the media industry, including his role as ORF head of marketing and online director, is seen as an advantage for his new tasks. Since 2022 he has also been advising companies on strategic corporate communications, marketing and digitalization.

Discussion about the Eurovision Song Contest

Another exciting topic that came up during the event was the discussion about Styria as a possible venue for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. These considerations are attracting great interest and could increase the cultural relevance of the region.

In their speeches, Governor Kunasek and Deputy Governor Manuela Khom highlighted Prantner's excellent contacts in the media landscape, as well as his in-depth knowledge of the industry. These aspects contribute to positive expectations regarding his upcoming work on the ORF Foundation Board.

The event not only offered a platform for exchanging opinions and ideas, but also culinary delights and networking opportunities. The numerous guests present contributed to a lively dialogue about current topics and future challenges in the Styrian media landscape.

In summary, it can be said that Prantner's appointment to the ORF Foundation Board represents a significant step for the Styrian media region. The exchange and networking among decision-makers show the great interest in the further development of the media landscape in this region.

For more details about the event and Prantner's past accomplishments, visit the articles on Leadersnet and steiermark.at.