Dhe NDR state broadcasting council in Schleswig-Holstein has announced a comprehensive review of allegations of political influence on the broadcaster’s reporting at the Kiel location. “We take the allegations made very seriously,” said Laura Pooth, Chairwoman of the State Broadcasting Council, on Monday evening after a meeting of the control committee for program work. There should be “of course no political filters”, quoted the NDR Pooth in a report on its own behalf.
The allegations are directed against executives of the NDR Schleswig-Holstein. According to research by the “Business Insider” portal, they are said to have influenced reporting on the conflict between the resigned Interior Minister Hans-Joachim Grote and Prime Minister Daniel Günther (both CDU) in the interests of the state government in 2020.
The State Broadcasting Council will examine these allegations and “consult external expertise where necessary,” it said. All consultations and consultation results are kept confidential. After the end of the test, the results would be published.
Immediately before the meeting, the “Stern” reported online about a letter from 72 employees of the state broadcasting center in Kiel to the top of their own broadcasting center. It calls for a “complete and transparent processing of all allegations”. It is expected “that all employees of the NDR Schleswig-Holstein will be informed promptly and comprehensively about the further processes and will be involved in the processing”.