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Chairwoman of the supervisory board of the Funke media group Julia Becker
Photo: Hendrik Schmidt / dpa
The publisher of the Funke media group, Julia Becker, has drastically criticized the hiring plans for numerous Gruner + Jahr magazines.
In a guest article in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", the chairwoman of the supervisory board also proposed a round table of publishers.
“Together with journalists, managers, association representatives and scientists, we could use it to look for ways to save independent journalism.” Funke will get this initiative off the ground.
Almost two weeks ago, the media group RTL Germany, which took over the magazine division of the Hamburg publishing house Gruner + Jahr in 2022, announced the end of more than 20 magazines after a portfolio review.
In addition, several magazines are to be sold, and around 700 of the 1,900 jobs would be lost.
RTL wants to concentrate on core brands such as »Stern« or »Geo« and invest in digital there.
RTL hopes for synergies between the two houses.
Gruner + Jahr and RTL are part of the Bertelsmann portfolio in Gütersloh.
»The developments at Gruner + Jahr hit the heart of our industry.
We can't be indifferent to the breakup of a traditional and important publishing house and the disappearance of many large and small magazine brands," writes Becker.
She also addressed her criticism directly to Bertelsmann and RTL boss Thomas Rabe: »Of course, we publishers also have to look at the numbers – journalism can only be independent if it is profitable.
What drives us, however, is above all the content and the response of our readers.« Creative publishers have long since recognized »that this is an enormous opportunity: Thanks to the Internet, they can reach more readers than ever before.« And Becker went on to write: "Bertelsmann under chief controller Rabe has obviously given up this fight."
Saving Journalism
There is no other explanation for the fact that the management also intends to discontinue titles that make profits.
The publisher went on to write: “This much has been clear since the Bertelsmann case at the latest: our industry has no future with one-dimensional numerical thinking.
What is needed is a new way of thinking in publishing that is visionary, energetic and enthusiastic about the challenges of digitization and takes up the fight to save journalism.« It needs »managers who are not only passionate about numbers, but above all about journalism.«
In an interview with SPIEGEL, Rabe said, "Of course I'm sorry that we're cutting 500 jobs and handing over 200 with the magazine titles to other owners.
It is perfectly clear to me that this decision was a turning point.
I've also felt it physically over the past few days, it gets under my skin - but it's still necessary."
With regard to Julia Becker's guest contribution, an RTL spokesman said at the request of the German Press Agency: "We generally do not comment on other publishers and their strategies."
more on the subject
Reactions to cuts at Gruner + Jahr: »Devastating bloodletting for Hamburg«
Letter to Gruner + Jahr owner: Editors are fighting against Alexander Kühn being broken up
Becker was not the only one to criticize the cuts at Gruner + Jahr.
The Ver.di union spoke of the RTL plans as a "breakup" and a "misguided strategy".
The German Association of Journalists (DJV) criticized a "devastating bloodletting for the renowned media location Hamburg".
The Hamburg publishing house Gruner + Jahr was one of the most powerful media houses in Europe for decades.
"This decision is based on nothing but unscrupulous profit maximization," DJV federal board member Frank Überall is quoted as saying.
The Essen-based Funke media group owns numerous regional newspapers such as the Hamburger Abendblatt and the Berliner Morgenpost, as well as many magazine brands such as Hörzu, Gong, Bild der Frau, Donna and Kronendach.
ipp/dpa
