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Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther speaks into an NDR microphone: "The reporting is unbiased and independent," the broadcaster asserts
Photo: Petra Nowack / IMAGO / penofoto
The NDR state broadcasting council in Schleswig-Holstein wants to hold a special meeting to discuss allegations in connection with the public broadcaster's political reporting.
The chairwoman of the independent control body for program work, Laura Pooth, announced on Friday: "We will deal with the allegations made in the reporting at short notice on Monday." Those responsible for North German Broadcasting (NDR) in Schleswig-Holstein have all the necessary information and information promised.
It is now about objective, independent enlightenment.
The online medium "Business Insider" and then the "Stern" had reported allegations that there could be a kind of filter by the superiors in political reporting in the NDR state radio station in Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel.
Several cases were listed in which NDR employees had expressed their displeasure.
The "Stern" quotes NDR employees with words like "court reporting" or "anticipatory obedience".
Why wasn't the ex-Home Secretary interviewed?
For example, it was about an interview that an NDR journalist wanted to conduct, but his superiors refused.
"Business Insider" refers to an investigation report by the NDR editorial committee.
The interview topic brings another political dimension into play, the SPD has already written a questionnaire for the black-green state government in Kiel, and the FDP wants to talk about the case at committee level in the state parliament.
In the spring of 2020, Prime Minister Daniel Günther dismissed his Interior Minister and CDU colleague Hans-Joachim Grote, citing a loss of trust because he felt he had misinformed him about his communication with a police officer and a journalist.
Grote denied Günther's allegations.
The NDR journalist wanted to interview the former interior minister.
The editorial committee »does not adopt the suspicion of political motivation«
The editor-in-chief of the NDR for Schleswig-Holstein, Norbert Lorentzen, said on the “Business Insider” report on Thursday that the “accusation of political influence on our programs was decisively rejected”.
The ARD broadcaster NDR made a similar statement in a statement.
“The NDR rejects the accusation that there is a 'political filter' in the Schleswig-Holstein broadcasting station.
The reporting is unbiased and independent.« At the same time, talks continue in the state radio station.
The editorial committee of the NDR, to which employees can turn in disputes, also published a statement.
Accordingly, a report came to the conclusion, among other things, that the interview should have been conducted with the former state minister Grote.
At the same time, it said: »The editorial committee does not accept the suspicion that there could be a political motivation behind the cancellation of the interview.
However, the Committee sees the danger that such suspicions could arise if cases like this are not investigated thoroughly enough.«
feb/dpa
