Not receiving an invitation is bitter. It is even more bitter to be told that you are not wanted after repeated inquiries. In a contribution of the ZDF “Heute Journals“ At the opening of Elon Musik’s new Tesla factory in Brandenburg, it said last Tuesday: “As far as criticism is concerned, the American entrepreneur seems thin-skinned anyway. ZDF was locked out today. Musk had come across critical contributions from the station during the construction phase. ” This will be followed in the article of the “Heute Journal“ an interview with the Economics Minister Robert Habeck, who was also present at the opening – but outside the Tesla company premises.
When asked by SZ, ZDF confirmed the presentation in the “Heute Journal” on Thursday“. The ZDF state studio asked Tesla’s press office several times for the accreditation of a camera team and a reporter, but received “no feedback”. The evening before the opening, the ZDF state studio was informed in writing “that ZDF was not accredited and would not be accredited,” as the broadcaster told SZ. Instead, the Tesla press officers would have referred to RBB recordings of the opening, which could finally be seen in the ZDF contribution. The ZDF team was only able to film Robert Habeck in the parking lot and the protests against the Tesla factory outside. In the further course of the correspondence with Tesla via text message, ZDF was “meant” that the broadcaster “due to earlier reporting by the investigative magazine frontal 21“I no longer enjoy “trust” from the electric car manufacturer. After all, the Tesla press office offered ZDF an interview – but only after the factory opening.
The German Association of Journalists speaks of the “landlord principle”
“What is the understanding of press freedom that the US company is showing?” criticizes Hendrik Zörner, press spokesman for the German Association of Journalists. Critical, journalistic reporting is the job of the media and must not lead to exclusion from the opening ceremony. At press events, the same law must apply to everyone. “Anyone who wants to report journalistically must also be given the opportunity to do so.” Regrettably, similar cases occur repeatedly, with some journalists being specifically denied access to press events. “In some companies, the landlord principle still prevails according to the motto: If you don’t like the color of my barn, you’re not allowed in.”
Several written and telephone inquiries from the SZ to Tesla about the case remained unanswered at the time of going to press.