After the temporary withdrawal of the deputy editor-in-chief of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” (“SZ”), Alexandra Föderl-Schmid, due to allegations of plagiarism, “Spiegel” today published new details on the background. Apparently the report on Föderl-Schmid was paid for by the right-wing populist medium Nius, whose most prominent figure is the former “Bild” editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt.
News portal confirms order
Nius commissioned the “plagiarism hunter” Stefan Weber, according to “Spiegel”. According to the paper’s information, Weber received a low four-figure sum for his work. The “Spiegel” has an email that is supposed to confirm a “close agreement” between the medium and Weber. Nius confirmed the order to “Spiegel”.
Weber said, however, that this did not change his report: “The fact that the client is known does not mean that my report is more true or false,” Weber told “Spiegel”.
Examination of diploma theses and dissertations only
The examination was commissioned last December and includes Föderl-Schmid’s diploma and dissertation work submitted in 1996. Weber was not involved in research into articles by the deputy “SZ” editor-in-chief, which came under criticism a few months ago because of unidentified sources.
Föderl-Schmid, who worked as “Standard” editor-in-chief before her position in Munich, has now asked the University of Salzburg to examine her dissertation. The “SZ” also called in an external commission. Föderl-Schmid is currently not available to comment.
Nius, with former “Bild” editor-in-chief Reichelt, who left the German tabloid in 2021 due to compliance allegations, on board, first reported details from the Salzburg communications scientist’s plagiarism report at the beginning of the week. However, the portal omitted any reference to the financing.