Enlarge image
Head of politics Julia Stein is currently on hiatus
Photo: Reiner Zensen / IMAGO
Alleged closeness to the CDU, political influence and the obstruction of journalistic work: the list of allegations directed against the executives in NDR Schleswig-Holstein is long.
The broadcasting center in Kiel has been in a fuss about this for weeks.
Political boss Julia Stein, editor-in-chief Norbert Lorentzen and state radio station director Volker Thormählen are currently leaving their offices – at least until the allegations are proven or invalidated.
A group of 96 employees now wants to anticipate this process.
In an e-mail to NDR Director General Joachim Knuth, they demand a perspective in order to be able to continue working "in the usual quality" and expressly welcome the "urgently necessary work-up" in-house.
Nevertheless: one can no longer imagine a trusting cooperation with these executives "regardless of the results of the various investigations".
The news is the SPIEGEL, first the "time" had reported on the letter.
"Frightened"
The initiative is justified with a toxic working atmosphere that some of the workforce felt.
Individual executives have "shaped and lived a leadership style over the years that frightened too many colleagues, too often lacked appreciation, a culture of mistakes and finally a substantive discussion".
The list of signatures is said to include numerous editors, but some prominent voices, including Thomas Baltuttis, are apparently missing.
The specific allegations of alleged political influence in favor of Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) are not discussed in the e-mail, they are currently the subject of several investigations.
Some of them, including a conflict over reporting on the German Red Cross, could turn out to be untenable after new research.
Director's response
According to SPIEGEL information, NDR director Joachim Knuth has already replied in writing to the e-mail from the Kiel employees - but without going into the specific demands.
According to Knuth, he can well understand that the processing of the events occupies and burdens the workforce.
But the educational work of the NDR colleagues will bring clarity to the assessment of the allegations in the room.
»Please trust that I am interested in a fresh start in your state radio station.
I'm sure that we'll get there together, even if such a new start can't be achieved overnight.«
