The German Press Council issued a total of 22 complaints this week. Not only Holger Friedrich, the publisher of the Berlin newspaper, is affected. Another case, which is now being reprimanded, also received a great deal of media attention. In April, the media in the USA and Japan even reported on a German rainbow leaflet. The actual, one of the numerous colorful titles of the Funke Mediengruppe, advertised in the April 15 issue with former racing driver Michael Schumacher on the cover and was no less than a “world sensation!” promised. Since his serious skiing accident ten years ago, Schumacher has lived a very secluded life and little is known about his state of health. “Michael Schumacher: The first interview!” Was the headline in yellow letters. Subline: “++ It sounds deceptively real ++ What’s behind it ++ the actual went on a search for clues”. A Funke spokesman later found clearer words for this supposed sensation: “(…) two journalists fed an AI tool with questions.”
In the magazine, readers found a running text that in the first paragraph again promised an “incredible” interview, “with answers from him!”, to “the most burning questions that the whole world has been asking for so long”. Namely: how he is doing, whether he follows the careers of his children and whether he wants to appear publicly again in the future. However, readers only found out in the last third of the text that the answers came from an AI and not from Michael Schumacher.
There was massive criticism of the publication – including from the German Association of Journalists. The Funke media group itself apologized to Schumacher’s family in a press release – and fired the newspaper’s editor-in-chief.
The Press Council has now come to the conclusion that the alleged interview violated Michael Schumacher’s dignity. Above all, he recognizes a violation of the truthfulness requirement according to number 1 of the press code. The reason for the complaint is: “This serious misleading of the readership is likely to damage the credibility of the press.”
In recent years, Schumacher’s family has repeatedly taken action against publications that violate the personality rights of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion. Also against The actual she wanted to take legal action.