Status: 08/12/2022 5:19 p.m
“We are all disappointed in the ARD and also angry,” says the new ARD boss Buhrow on the Schlesinger affair. Among other things, he wants to check whether the supervisory offices are “adequately equipped” throughout the ARD.
In view of the affair surrounding the resigned RBB director and ARD boss Patricia Schlesinger, ARD wants to strengthen the supervision of all broadcasters. In an interview with the dpa news agency, WDR director Tom Buhrow, who has taken over the ARD leadership, said: “We are checking whether the supervisory offices are adequately equipped throughout ARD.”
His own house – the largest institution within the ARD – has very well equipped offices, according to the WDR director. “He even has one for the board of directors and one for the broadcasting council. They work independently for the supervisors so that they can carry out their control function well.” Every cent invested in more effective supervisory bodies is well invested. “Supervision is often uncomfortable. It’s exhausting. But it makes it safer for all of us because critical questions are all asked beforehand.”
Buhrow also spoke out in favor of bringing in experts. “Media policy has stipulated in the state treaty – which is not yet in force – that the bodies can also consult external experts. We welcome that and want to support it.”
Allegations of nepotism against Schlesinger
Schlesinger has been exposed to numerous allegations of nepotism for weeks. The core question is whether she has mixed private and official concerns. In addition to Schlesinger herself, who resigned as ARD and RBB boss in the affair, the focus is also on RBB chief inspector Wolf-Dieter Wolf, who has also resigned. It is also about questionable orders for Schlesinger’s husband Gerhard Spörl at Messe Berlin, where chief controller Wolf was also the head of the supervisory board there until his resignation.
The question is whether Schlesinger and Wolf dealt too laxly with possible conflicts of interest. The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office is now investigating Schlesinger, Spörl and Wolf on initial suspicion of infidelity and acceptance of benefits.
DJV demands immediate dismissal
Among others, the German Association of Journalists (DJV) has now called on the RBB Broadcasting Council to dismiss Schlesinger without notice. The allegations are so serious that only the immediate termination of the employment relationship is an option, said DJV national chairman Frank Überall. The supervisory body of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB) wants to hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss the details of the termination of the contract.
Buhrow expressed his personal disappointment with Schlesinger. The entire ARD suffers from “the fact that the public has an image of uncontrolled action on the executive floor – if the allegations are correct,” said Buhrow.
All of us on ARD are now disappointed and angry. Because all broadcasters came under general suspicion, as did thousands of employees who do a good job every day – including the RBB employees who now uphold the journalistic honor of the RBB.
“This crisis also affects the ARD”
When asked how big the loss of reputation for ARD and the entire public service broadcaster was as a result of the Schlesinger affair, Buhrow said: “It’s not yet definitively foreseeable, but I’m not talking around it: this crisis also affects ARD – After all, the RBB is a member of the ARD.” The ARD boss added: “That’s why it’s my job now that we at ARD analyze and tackle the conclusions.”
He emphasized that the ARD program – to which also tagesschau.de heard – appreciated by the audience. “I don’t see any crisis of confidence as far as the program is concerned. There is always criticism of the balance or the program composition, but the program is generally very appreciated.” When it comes to financing, however, some people have concerns. The cliché that the directors can do whatever they want is “a distorted picture”.
NDR examines processes for a documentary drama
Buhrow – known to many from his time as moderator daily topics – has been director of West German Broadcasting (WDR) since 2013. He was also ARD chairman for the past two years. The office is passed on within the ARD broadcasters according to a certain rotation, RBB director Schlesinger took it over at the turn of the year, after their resignations Buhrow jumped in again – he will hold the position until the end of the year.
In the meantime, the affair at RBB also occupies the Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR). The background is the documentary drama “The Good Goering”, which was created in 2016. At that time Schlesinger was head of the NDR program area “Culture and Documentaries”, her husband worked through a production company as a screenwriter on the documentary drama. The NDR has now announced that the possible conflict of interest was known to all those responsible at the time and that several measures had therefore been taken to avoid it. Despite these measures, the events at the RBB were taken as an opportunity to check the internal processes for the documentary drama for compliance with the service regulations.