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RBB journalist Sarah Oswald with program manager Jan Schulte-Kellinghaus in the RBB evening show
How transparent is the RBB?
And: Can a station report transparently about itself?
When the moderator Sarah Oswald started the evening show on RBB on Monday evening, she made the limits clear in the first few minutes: "It's not an easy day today.
A damn difficult one, quite possibly the worst in the history of the broadcaster so far«.
Patricia Schlesinger had previously resigned from her position as RBB director.
This was preceded by allegations of nepotism, dubious consultancy contracts and expenses.
In her show, Oswald promises enlightenment: “We want that for you, for our viewers above all else.” Oswald makes it clear in the first two minutes how the enlightenment is going on in the station itself: “We in the evening show” , according to Oswald, were therefore not the first to report Schlesinger's resignation, "because we had to find out about it ourselves from other media." »New York Times« knows: interviews with the public prosecutor's office, the RBB staff council, program director Jan Schulte-Kellinghaus.
The show is more than just an afterthought of self-reflection.
It shows how transparency and self-critical reporting can work.
Oswalds is harsh on her own boss: "As employees, we don't treat you squeamishly," she begins her interview with Schulte-Kellinghaus.
Two minutes later, she brings his resignation into play: "Shouldn't there be more personnel consequences, including in management?" Oswald says.
»Back then, for example, you started together with Patricia Schlesinger.«
"Why not just put everything on the table now?"
From the outset, she openly addresses her own dual role as a journalist and RBB employee: In her interview, she expressly confronts Schulte-Kellinghaus not only in his function as RBB program director, but also as "part of the management board".
The employees – “we” – have a few questions from the program director: Did he not notice anything about all this?
Why wasn't the RBB bonus system put to the test?
Schulte-Kellinghaus answers evasively.
He refers to the clarification work of the compliance officer.
The editor-in-chief also used an “investigative fact-collecting team” to “work up the case journalistically”.
Oswald keeps interrupting the program director.
“Why isn't everything just put on the table now?” she confronts Schulte-Kellinghaus.
»It's not easy for us to get reports.
Because the transparency you promise us simply doesn't exist.« The head of programming stumbles.
Finally admits: Yes, bonuses were also paid out at RBB "for savings targets".
This also includes staff cuts.
The word "transparency" is heard again and again from the RBB these days.
Even before she resigned, Schlesinger promised transparency in the investigation.
"Whatever the result is at the end: We will treat it transparently," says a letter to the staff council.
After her resignation, the managing director of the RBB, Hagen Brandstätter, again announced transparency in dealing with the case.
A few days ago, RBB set up an external law firm to clarify the allegations.
Many media professionals have so far taken a critical view of the announcements: »Patricia Schlesinger's resignation is not enough.
The will to clarification and transparency must not flag," said Steffen Grimberg, chairman of the German Association of Journalists in Berlin.
"Promising transparency, but not consistently maintaining it, for example not speaking to politicians, but then giving newspaper interviews - there were some things that weren't really smart," says DJV national chairman Frank Überall.
The media journalist Stefan Niggemeier also states in the ARD Tagesthemen interview: »Transparency is the first thing«.
The RBB is now faced with the task of “clarifying the allegations and then asking yourself how much you have to reposition yourself”.
According to media reports, the public prosecutor's office is now investigating Schlesinger, her husband and former SPIEGEL journalist Gerhard Spörl, as well as the RBB administrative board chief and trade fair chief inspector Wolf-Dieter Wolf.
The investigation is about the suspicion of infidelity and acceptance of benefits.