The Axel Springer press group announced Monday, October 18 that it had dismissed the editor-in-chief of the German tabloid
Bild
, Julian Reichelt, accused of "
faulty behavior
" in connection with an intimate relationship forged within the editorial staff of the most popular newspaper. read of the country.
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Bild
and
Die Welt
"
As part of recent press investigations, new evidence of the wrongdoing of Julian Reichelt has been brought to the attention of the company,
" the group wrote in a statement.
The 41-year-old journalist at the head of the title's editors-in-chief was the subject of an internal investigation in the spring on suspicion of having promoted women with whom he had relations, before dismissing them. .
An affair with an intern
He had been reinstated in his functions at the end of March, this time in tandem with a journalist.
He had "
admitted the mixture of professional and private relations, but denied (any harassment) under oath
", then indicated the group.
But the management of Axel Springer said Monday to have "
learned that Julian Reichelt still does not clearly separate private and professional affairs and that he said false things about it in front of the board of directors
".
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Germany's most widely read newspaper does not detail the precise facts alleged against its powerful editor, a controversial figure in the journalistic world. It is an investigation of the New York Times published on Sunday which seems to have precipitated the decision of the Springer group. According to the latter, Julian Reichelt notably promoted to a position of responsibility a young journalist with whom he had an affair.
"
If they find out that I have an affair with an intern, I will lose my job,
" Julian Reichelt told her in November 2016, according to comments she reported to the internal commission of inquiry cited by the New York Times.
Julian Reichelt will be replaced in his functions by Johannes Boie, until then editor-in-chief of the conservative weekly “
Welt am Sonntag
”.
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With around 2 million copies, Bild, created in 1952, has focused on news, sports and celebrity news to become Germany's leading daily.
Axel Springer announced in August the takeover of US news site Politico, the largest acquisition in its history, as part of its digital development strategy.