Status: 09/01/2022 12:14 p.m
For a good week there have been publications in various media allegations against the political reporting of the NDR Schleswig-Holstein. At Norddeutscher Rundfunk there are now further personnel consequences as part of the investigation process.
On Thursday morning, the NDR announced that Landesfunkhaus director Volker Thormählen was going on unpaid vacation for a month. Thormählen himself had suggested this, “so that people who are not personally affected can be responsible for the clarification process”. Intendant Joachim Knuth complied with this request: “I thank him for this offer and have accepted it. In the past few days it has become very clear to me that the state broadcasting center in Kiel not only needs to be clarified, but also that things need to be changed.” “Targeted processes and structures” are to be established locally that guarantee bold, independent journalism, Knuth continued.
Thormählen said that with his step he wanted to help the clarification process begin “without giving the impression that I could influence it”. His deputy Bettina Freitag will take over his duties in the next four weeks. Two other executives from the Landesfunkhaus in Kiel were already there have been released from their duties until the facts have been clarified.
Employees in Kiel are burdened by the current situation
On Wednesday evening, it became clear how much the events are burdening the editorial work: the two moderators of the “Schleswig-Holstein Magazin” on NDR television, Gabi Lüeße and Henrik Hanses, stood at the beginning of the program together with other employees of the program in front of the broadcasting center in Kiel . They greeted the audience with the following words:
“Today is actually the 12,007th episode of our show, which we present every day with great journalistic ambition and with pride. And I think I’m speaking for all our colleagues: Today’s 12,007th is definitely one the heaviest.”
A few hours earlier, the “Stern” had published new allegations against managers of the NDR state radio station in Kiel. “It’s again about the fact that they are said to have manipulated reporting. That hits us as independent journalists to the core, even if there have only been allegations so far,” Lüeße said to the viewers of the show.
AUDIO: Allegations against NDR in Kiel: Those responsible are relieved of tasks (4 min)
Influence on reporting by editorial management?
Specifically, it is about research from autumn 2020: Reporters from the “Schleswig-Holstein Magazin” want to report that after the war there were assaults and abuse in convalescent homes by the sea. So-called deportation children were affected – also in a home in St. Peter-Ording. The NDR journalists want to speak to those affected and confront those who may be responsible with the allegations.
As the “Stern” reports, a senior editor of the NDR state radio station in Kiel is said to have intervened in the research of their own reporters: Julia Stein, head of the “Politics and Research” editorial team. Among other things, she is said to have insisted that the research not be published. Instead, reports “Stern”, the journalists should pass on the documents to the German Red Cross (DRK), an operator of the homes.
At that time, DRK chairwoman in Schleswig-Holstein was Anette Langner, a former SPD member of parliament and state secretary until 2017. According to “Stern”, Langner’s partner was the former SPD state politician Jutta Schümann. At the time of the NDR research, Schümann was the chairwoman of the state broadcasting council in Kiel, i.e. the body that is supposed to control the reporting of the state broadcasting house.
NDR: Internal processes are carefully processed
The NDR has taken a position on the allegations raised by the “Stern”. The head of the press office, Barbara Jung, issued a written statement:
“Talks have already been held about the events of October 2020 and further talks are pending with the responsible decision-makers within the Landesfunkhaus Schleswig-Holstein in order to be able to understand and evaluate everything in detail. Those involved in Kiel are very concerned about internal processes in the circle of those involved and with the necessary care. An evaluation can only be made after completion. Therefore I ask for your understanding that a statement on the content is currently not possible.”
Stein and Lorentzen released from their duties for the time being
The State Broadcasting Council of Schleswig-Holstein days ago initiated an examination of allegations that several media had previously made public. So have it given a kind of political “filter” for reporting in Kiel. In an open letter to the state radio station director Thormählen, 72 NDR employees demanded a complete clarification.
The head of the political editorial department, Stein, and the editor-in-chief of the state radio station in Kiel, Norbert Lorentzen, have asked that they be released from their previous duties until the allegations have been clarified. Broadcasting director Thormählen, who himself went on a month’s unpaid leave a day later, had previously complied with the wish of the two NDR journalists: “I thanked you for taking this step. For the sake of good order, I would like to remind you that the presumption of innocence applies.” , according to a written statement.
Support from NDR journalists in the mayoral election campaign?
The “Stern” also reports on another journalist: Stefan Böhnke. The deputy head of the political department in Kiel is said to have supported his husband in the election campaign. The NDR journalist had his picture taken with him several times at his husband’s election campaign stand. The FDP politician Sven Partheil-Böhnke is now mayor of Timmendorfer Strand. NDR press spokeswoman Jung also commented on this in writing and stated: “Stefan Böhnke was not involved in reporting on the mayoral election in Timmendorfer Strand.”
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