As of: 10/27/2022 9:36 p.m
The internal processing of the allegations against the director of the NDR Landesfunkhaus Hamburg, Sabine Rossbach, has been completed. According to the report presented on Thursday, Rossbach’s management style has put a heavy strain on the editorial atmosphere in the broadcasting center. The auditors did not find any evidence of unauthorized intervention in the program.
For their investigation report, two NDR journalists from the state broadcasting houses in Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have had more than 70 conversations with employees from the state broadcasting house in Hamburg over the past few weeks. Accordingly, they described an authoritarian demeanor and an often harsh tone on the part of Rossbach, as well as the extensive lack of an open culture of discussion.
Journalistic work has been hampered by a lack of trust and mutual respect, according to the report. Employees described Rossbach’s tone as rough, and they also complained about a lack of appreciation.
Examiner: Impermissible interventions in the program cannot be proven
According to the examiners, illegal interventions in the program and the accusation that Rossbach favored her daughter’s PR agency, among other things, cannot be proven. Several media had reported that events marketed by the agency were specifically placed in the Hamburg Journal on NDR television.
Upon request, Rossbach promised to comment on the internal work-up after a thorough examination of the report.
Anti-Corruption Officer: Allegations against Rossbach were wrong
At the beginning of the week, Norddeutscher Rundfunk had already submitted a report by the NDR anti-corruption officer on the allegations against Rossbach. Accordingly, no corruption facts were found in this context. The allegations turned out to be false, according to a press release published by the NDR on Monday.
Rossbach ends employment two years earlier than planned
Rossbach had already announced that due to the loss of trust between her and parts of the editorial team, she would clear the way for a new start at the Landesfunkhaus Hamburg and make her post available on April 1, 2023. After being released, she will finally leave NDR on October 31, 2023. She is thus ending her employment two years earlier than originally planned. The corresponding agreement is subject to the approval of the NDR Board of Directors.
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