The Springer reporting of the past few weeks will occupy the German Press Council more than initially thought: Complaints proceedings have not only been initiated against the Berliner Zeitung, but also against the weekly newspaper Time. Under the headline “But that’s still the only chance to avoid the final decline of the country”. Time published content from internal chats and emails by Springer boss Mathias Döpfner in April. The article sparked a major debate. At the end of last week, a complaint was received by the press council.
Now it has to be checked whether the article corresponds to the ethical principles to which the German press has committed itself. The focus of the proceedings that have now been initiated is the question of “whether Döpfner’s internal news is of predominantly public interest or whether the publication violates his privacy protection under Section 8 of the Press Code,” says Kirsten von Hutten, spokeswoman for the Press Council.
It is also about the “Berliner Zeitung”
A decision is to be made at the next meeting on June 15th. A decision in another case of the Springer debates is also pending on this day. It’s about the Berlin newspaper. According to their own statements, their publisher Holger Friedrich had from the former Picture-Editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt was offered confidential information. In mid-April the dismissed Pictureboss who is suspected of abuse of power and sexual relations with employees have sent internal messages from the Springer group to Friedrich. Publisher Friedrich first referred Reichelt to the editors of his newspaper, which refrained from publishing it. However, Friedrich then decided, as explained in an interview, to pass on Reichelt’s name to Springer-Verlag. The Press Council will now decide whether the Berlin newspaper thus violated one of the most important rules of journalism, the protection of informants according to Section 5 of the Press Code.
Julian Reichelt had to vacate his position as editor-in-chief of Germany’s largest tabloid in autumn 2021. Since then there has been a feud between him and his former boss Mathias Döpfner, which has spread in recent weeks and has attracted a great deal of media attention. In the meantime there has been a civil lawsuit and a criminal complaint against Reichelt. So Springer demands from his exPictureboss back the severance payment, according to reports it should be a million sum. At the beginning of June there will be a conciliation meeting at the Berlin Labor Court. If the parties do not agree, a chamber meeting will follow. Springer has also filed a criminal complaint for fraud, and the Berlin public prosecutor’s office has started investigations.