In the crisis at the ARD broadcasters, the federal states intervene. They want to find out exactly how the houses are adjusting.
Berlin – The federal states are demanding a report from the public broadcasters with a view to the still unresolved allegations against ARD houses. The coordinator of the broadcasting commission of the states, Heike Raab, told the German press agency after a joint state meeting: “The houses should make it clear how they adapt their administrative actions and their transparency regulations and create and maintain uniform high standards of compliance.” Media houses had already indicated that they wanted to sharpen up.
The SPD politician, who is also the state secretary for media in Rhineland-Palatinate, added: “We call on the directors to take responsibility and to draw the right conclusions from the events.”
nepotism and more
At Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), there are allegations of nepotism against the director Patricia Schlesinger, who was dismissed without notice, who rejected them. At Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) there are different allegations against editorial and broadcasting managers in the room.
Raab said that the Broadcasting Commission made a decision on the current situation of public service broadcasting. The countries want to confirm how seriously they assess the situation. “We agree that the current incidents are capable of damaging all public service broadcasting. The allegations must be cleared up quickly and completely by the institutions, the directors and committees.”
The federal states want to discuss the requirements with the directors of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio “promptly”. Raab said: “We are checking whether there is also a need for legislative action.”
Carefulness, responsibility and transparency required
The federal states also emphasized the role of the independent control bodies in the broadcasters and advocated that the bodies’ offices be better equipped. The strengthening of committees is also provided for in the planned amendment to the State Media Treaty. The whole thing is currently in the preliminary briefing of the state parliaments, in October the state heads could sign the state treaty. After that, the whole thing has to pass through the state parliaments.
Raab also said: “We require careful, responsible and transparent use of contribution funds. That is the basis for the acceptance of public service broadcasting.”
When asked whether the group also discussed the idea – as recently expressed by Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) – of freezing the broadcasting fee, Raab said: “Firstly, what Christian Lindner is demanding is not legally possible, and secondly, it stands not addressing the topic at the moment.” The contribution period runs until 2024.
The SPD politician also said: “Polemics don’t help. There is a major crisis of confidence in the public service system, which is likely to cast quality journalism as a whole in a bad light. That’s why it doesn’t help if you now make seemingly populist suggestions that don’t do anything to improve the situation.”
RBB has new chairman of the broadcasting council
Meanwhile, a new chairman of the broadcasting council was elected at the crisis-ridden ARD broadcaster RBB. Ralf Roggenbuck – full-time Potsdam public prosecutor – will hold the position on the control body until the end of the current term of office in February 2023. Chairwoman Friederike von Kirchbach resigned amid allegations against broadcaster Schlesinger, who had been fired without notice.
After his election, Roggenbuck spoke out in favor of a smaller management board. He thinks it is necessary to streamline management. “I think that’s a necessity.” At the same time, he made it clear that the council had an advisory role. Ultimately, the new interim director Katrin Vernau had to decide. The independent control body is then able to dismiss directors if necessary.
Vernau said at the Broadcasting Council meeting: “My impression is that we are quite capable of acting. Which doesn’t mean that everything has to stay the way it is.” Schlesinger’s management was also criticized when it came to dealing with the allegations. The editorial committee had called for the resignation of the entire top team in August. Vernau has recently been interim boss until a new director is actually elected. dpa
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