Portisch, Hugo#

b. Bratislava (Slovakia), Feb. 19, 1927, journalist; brother of Emil Portisch jr. Initially worked as a journalist in Austria, then trained in the USA, from 1953 in the diplomatic service, 1955 deputy editor-in-chief and 1958-1967 editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Kurier". 1964 P., together with politically independent newspapers initiated the broadcasting referendum Rundfunkvolksbegehren . 1968 chief commentator at Austrian radio broadcasting, 1971-1972 special representative of the "Kurier", 1973-1978 London correspondent of the "Kurier" and of the Austrian broadcasting corporation (ORF), then returned to Austria. As ORF commentator on world politics produced a series of TV documentaries that were also successful as books, including the series "Oesterreich I", "Oesterreich II" and "Hoert die Signale"; author of numerous books on various countries.