Major search operation

Major search operation for journalist near Braunau

(Bild: Pressefoto Scharinger © Daniel Scharinger)

8.2.2024: A search for a missing person has been underway in the district of Braunau (Upper Austria) since Thursday morning. As reported by the "Passauer Neue Presse", it is the deputy editor-in-chief of the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" and former "Standard" editor-in-chief Alexandra Föderl-Schmid (53). The search was called off for the time being during the night.

UPDATE from February 9: Alexandra Föderl-Schmid has been found alive.

According to the "Krone" newspaper, the company car of the well-known journalist and native of Mühlviertel was discovered in the parking lot of the Neue Grenze crossing in Simbach (Bavaria) opposite Braunau. It contained editorial documents from the "Süddeutsche Zeitung".

Footprints were also found near the car. A witness claims to have seen a woman walking near the car in nearby Kirchdorf am Inn at around 7am.

The search operation was largely carried out on the banks of the Inn.

(Bild: Pressefoto Scharinger © Daniel Scharinger)

More than 100 helpers in action
The missing woman is said to have last spoken to her brother on the phone. On Thursday morning, a large search operation was launched in and around Braunau with more than 100 helpers. Fire departments from Upper Austria and Bavaria were supported by police forces.

The search had to be called off at nightfall, as the "Krone" learned in the evening. However, there were reports that other items belonging to the missing person had been found.

UPDATE from February 9: Alexandra Föderl-Schmid has been found alive.

One of Austria's most prominent journalists
Alexandra Föderl-Schmid has had a stellar career in journalism. Born in Upper Austria, the 53-year-old worked for the "Standard" for 27 years, becoming the first woman to become editor-in-chief of an Austrian daily newspaper in 2007. She left Vienna in 2017 to work first as Israel correspondent for the "SZ" and since 2020 as deputy editor-in-chief of the German newspaper.

Missing: Alexandra Föderl-Schmid

(Bild: Prohaska Rene / VGN Medien Holding / picturedesk.com)

Plagiarism allegations and withdrawal
Föderl-Schmid was confronted with public accusations of plagiarism. The "SZ" only announced on Monday that the deputy editor-in-chief was therefore temporarily withdrawing from day-to-day business and that an external commission had been commissioned to investigate.

The newspaper also announced that Föderl-Schmid had asked the University of Salzburg to review the doctoral thesis she submitted in 1996. The background to this is an examination by "plagiarism hunter" Stefan Weber. The portal "Nius", whose most prominent journalist is former "Bild" editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt, was Weber's client.

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