The criticism of the "one-sided reporting" of ARD, ZDF, ORF and Deutschlandradio by numerous employees of
the public broadcaster is getting louder and louder!
Their demand is supported by artists and scientists.
They demand "more diverse reporting".
The petition "Manifesto for a new public service broadcaster" already has over 28,000 signatories
calling for more diversity of opinion in the public media.
Among them ex-ARD talk show host Jürgen Fliege and cabaret artist Lisa Fitz.
"We, the employees of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio, as well as all other signatories, value strong, independent
public broadcasting in Germany as an essential pillar of our democracy, social communication and culture.
We are convinced of the principles laid down in the Interstate Media Treaty and the program
mandate. However, we believe that both are in danger.
People's trust in public broadcasting is decreasing more and more.
Doubts about the balance of the program are growing.
We have been aware of the increasing discrepancy between program mandate and implementation for many years.
We have written this manifesto so that our voice and expertise on the future of public service
broadcasting are heard in the social discourse."
Dozens of examples have now been published of how perfidiously broadcasters take action against
their own employees if they do not "toe the line".
Eva Herman, Ole Skambraks, Katrin Seibold, Martin Ruthenberg and many others have gone public.
In this program, Kla.TV takes the case of Sonja Sagmeister as an example for many others today.
In the run-up to an interview with Austrian Economics Minister Martin Kocher in October 2022, the minister's press
spokeswoman provided precise details of the content and Ms. Sagmeister was asked to comply. She was not prepared to do so.
She later bravely attested: "I have always tried to address current issues objectively, otherwise it
would be pure PR journalism. I'm not a microphone stand."
There was then a dispute with the spokesperson and her superior about press freedom and editors' rights.
Despite everything, Sagmeister conducted the interview as she thought was right and justifiable.
After the interview, however, there was a scandal!
Her texts and reports were no longer approved and in the end she was completely banned from working as a journalist and editor.
Sonja Sagmeister was transferred to the archive.
When she filed a complaint against this, she was dismissed by ORF shortly before the negotiations - after 29 years of service!
If even the employees doubt their employers (the media) and accuse them of narrow-mindedness
and PR journalism - how can we still trust them?
You should really ask yourself whether you can still pay attention to them at all!
The good thing is that more and more people are being made aware of dissenting voices every day.
The ÖRR media's loss is our gain.
Help spread our programs and uncover the truth with Kla.TV.