How Wolfgang Fellner created a huge media empire in Austria

He is one of the best-known media figures in Austria and one of the most powerful journalists in the country: With his merciless reporting, Wolfgang Fellner influenced politics and society throughout Austria.

But there are also dark shadows hanging over his career.

Former employees accuse Fellner of sexual harassment.

And he is said to have been involved in illegal advertising business around ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

Who is this man that some admire and others despise?

The story of Wolfgang Fellner tells a lot about power and abysses in tabloid journalism.

How did he manage to build a huge media empire over the years?

What is behind Fellner's media empire?

We will look into this question in the next episodes of »Inside Austria«.

We reconstruct the steep career of Wolfgang Fellner and meet companions and former colleagues.

We talk to women who went to court against Fellner.

And we want to find out why he's being targeted by corruption investigations.

In the first episode of our multi-part series, we go back to the beginning.

We see how Wolfgang Fellner lays the foundation for his success with a school newspaper.

How he conquered Austria's media market as an adult.

And how even then he knew how to use his growing influence for his own purposes.

In the weekly podcast “Inside Austria”, SPIEGEL and STANDARD look together at the big and small scandals in Austria.

Together with journalists from both editorial offices, we reconstruct cases and events that move the country.

We look into political abysses, follow the investigations into the cause of Sebastian Kurz and his ÖVP.

And inform about an important Austrian topic of the week.