Great wave: The German wave is experiencing a moving pre -Christmas period.Media such as the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, Vice Germany or the “Welt” publish reports on anti-Semitism in the Arabic editorial team of the German foreign broadcaster and TV cooperations with questionable partners in the Arab world.In an interview with Markus Trantow, director Peter Limbourg contradicts: “Neither the employees of the DW as a whole nor our program are anti -Semitic.”Israel hatred has no place at the DW.In conversation, however, he also explains that criticism of the Israeli government, its institutions or settlement construction in the Arab world is discussed very differently than in Germany.He comments on the allegations against the partner station Al Jadeed and says how the broadcaster is now working on the allegations.
Peter Limbourg, the German Welle has an anti-Semitism problem? First of all: Neither the DW employees as a whole nor our program are anti-Semitic.But at the moment we are dealing with a rather distorted representation in parts of the reporting.There are large differences in quality.But of course we have a problem beyond this that we do not take lightly on the shoulder.Because of the known private statements of some employees in the digital space, we immediately commissioned an independent external examination.We are taking great care of the allegations because anti -Semitism and Israel hatred in the DW have no place.But of course we now also have a problem through the multitude of allegations against our distribution partners, which means that we work in the media representation as if we have an anti-Semitism problem.
For a week and a half, the reports have been overturning, most recently in the “world”, which accuses the DW employees in Germany and abroad to spread Israel-hatred.What's it?The last article mixes many things together that took place in the Arabic editorial team two years ago.These incidents have been examined and treated by an independent side, they have presented the broadcasting council, who also advised about this.The assessment of our distribution partners also happens without thorough research: individual quotes are taken and an overall picture is made of it.The broadcaster Al Jadeed is referred to as the “Hisbollah station” and everyone who works there is disparaged.According to the information available to us, the Lebanese broadcaster has been boycotted by the Hisbollah for two years.A reporter from Al Jadeed has just received a prize from the US State Department.And they are rather not suspicious to distinguish anti -Semites.I don't even want to say that all channels in the region are always free of anti -Semitism or Israel hatred in their program, but then please differentiate.
Where do you pull the border?It is very clear: if pure anti -Semitism is propagated, then we are not allowed to work with these transmitters.But the question also arises: Where is Israel criticism legitimate, for example at the respective government, government organizations or settlement construction?Opinions in the Arab world differ greatly in these points from the discourses in Germany and Europe.You will always have a weighing process.In addition, it is precisely our job to go where people disagree than we do, and to convince with our German-European perspectives and to achieve the largest possible audience.The Commission with Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger and Ahmad Mansour now helps us to sharpen our limits even more.
What specifically examines the Commission?You have the task of examining the cases reported in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.It's about looking at what has actually been said.Because some of those affected contradict the statements of the newspaper and how the actual statements can be assessed.And they also look at our distribution partners in the Arab world, including Roya TV and will check our dealings with it.What you cannot do is, all 4.To examine 000 partner media worldwide.There are certainly a few hundred of them in the Arab world.This is a second examination that we carry out ourselves.We look at whether there have been any failures and where we have to improve our ongoing evaluation of our distribution partners.
When do you expect results?On Friday of the coming week there will be a special session of the sales committee of the Round Funger.There we want to present the first results and also have a first discussion about possible consequences.
You are talking to Roya TV, with whom the cooperation is currently resting, and at Al Jadeed of “Distribution Partners”.What do these partnerships look like?Who has that?The standard model is that these transmitters take over programs and programs that we produce in Berlin and Bonn, one to one.Then there are some co -productions, very few of them in the Arab world.This also includes “Jaafart talk” with Jaafar Abdul Karim, who picks up topics that are highly controvers in the region, such as e.g..The rights of women or homosexuality.Very important: Deutsche Welle always has the editorial sovereignty - but also with co -productions in our own productions.Technical services come from the partners, they help with research or deliver record films.And they radiate the programs in their program unchanged.The third model are switching talks.For example on the question: "Angela Merkel goes - what does that mean?"A colleague from the DW editorial team then explains this in the main messages of a partner station.This is, so to speak, value placement at its best.We reach a lot of people with this, we can't get closer to the people in our target areas.
Vice editor-in-chief Felix Dachsel has just reported on frightening sources on Twitter that are said to have had events from the German wave.There is a climate of fear in your house? This is an absurd claim that is unfortunately repeatedly put up by individual journalists.DW employees have the opportunity to express their opinions at any time, to address their concerns and questions to the management, executives and complaints from the DW and to discuss them until clarification.The management is committed to an open, fear -free corporate culture and actively asks our managers to support this.
How do you deal with it when employees feel intimidated? In this and next week, employees in digital townhall meetings have the opportunity to address their questions to the management.From my experience so far, these are very open discussions in which nobody is taking a sheet in mind.I think that we managed to convey the most of the security employees in the DW that criticism is welcome because it makes us an even better company.
