[Rezension] Alexander Teske - Inside Tagesschau - Moralisierung statt Berichterstattung
Alexander Teske is a German journalist who worked in the planning department of Tagesschau in Hamburg-Lockstedt for six years until the end of 2023. Prior to that Teske worked for fifteen years at MDR in Leipzig and five years at ProSieben, Sat.1, and RTL. With his book "Inside Tagesschau" Teske provides previously unknown insights into public broadcasting.
Stance against the AfD
To describe the attitude of public broadcasters towards the AfD as biased or prejudiced is an understatement. Teske describes how journalists participate in demonstrations against Pegida or the AfD and are therefore unable to report on these events. This practice is neither prohibited nor prevented within public broadcasters.
Sind wir ein Staatsfunk, weil wir berichten, was die Regierung wünscht? Nein. Aber wenn Staatsfunk meint, dass wir das herrschende System stützen und die Regierung nicht absetzen wollen - ja, dann sind wir Staatsfunk.
Kai Gniffke
Chefredakteur
Are we a state broadcaster because we report what the government wants? No. But if state broadcasters believe that we support the ruling system and don't want to depose the government - yes then we are state broadcasters.
Kai Gniffke
Editor-in-Chief [1, p.107]
On the one hand Teske describes the growing public rejection of this opinionated journalism. He also mentions that this opinionated journalism is particularly popular among young journalists. An example that also stands out to Teske is the so-called Fact Finder along with former employee Patrick Gensing and current employee Carla Reveland. Teske also noticed the Fact Finder's rather left-wing domestic political propaganda. [1, p.122-124]
Gerade zu Beginn des AfD-Großwerdens, der Pegida-Phase, da hatten wir schon einen gewissen missionsrischen Eifer. Ich glaube, wenn man sich die Texte anguckt, sind die alle irgendwie unangreifbar. Aber zwischen den Zeilen kann es aus jeder Pore: Ihr sollt die bitte die finden.
Kai Gniffke
Chefredakteur
Especially at the beginning of the AfD's rise during the Pegida phase we already had a certain missionary zeal. I think if you look at the texts they're all somehow unassailable. But between the lines you can hear it from every pore: Please do not like them.
Kai Gniffke
Editor-in-Chief [1, p.142]
When asylum seekers murdered a German citizen in Chemnitz on August 25, 2018 it sparked various demonstrations and had far-reaching consequences. Teske describes how the Tagesschau only had journalists on site very late during the demonstration and initially refused to have them. However interest grew during the debate about whether there had been a manhunt in Chemnitz. After Saxony's Public Prosecutor General, Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) and the President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution Hans-Georg Maaßen (WU then CDU) denied a possible manhunt the Tagesschau focused on Maaßen (WU then CDU). Teske describes how the Tagesschau then deliberately interviewed politicians who criticized Maaßen (WU then CDU) and called for his resignation. And on November 5, 2018 Maaßen (WU then CDU) was placed on temporary retirement. Chemnitz [1, p.130-137]
When a wave of outrage erupted in January 2025 because the AfD was allegedly secretly planning deportations Tagesschau also uncritically adopted Correctiv's narrative about the meeting in Potsdam. Ulrich Vosgerau (CDU) a participant in the meeting subsequently sued and won. Vosgerau (CDU) also felt that the inaccurate reporting had been misrepresented and portrayed in a negative light. However Correctiv changed its text before Tagesschau and Tagesschau appealed to the ruling to court but lost. Potsdam [1, p.157-169]
Although Tagesschau doesn't have an editorial charter it states in its "About Us" section that its reporting is objective, comprehensive, neutral and impartial. A dilemma however is that one feels compelled to categorize statements made by the AfD but not by other parties. [1, p.157-169]
While the AfD has a clear focus it also has positions beyond that. It is noticeable however that not all of the AfD's content is addressed. Only individual topics are addressed. And beyond that the AfD is excluded. Public broadcasters should not be surprised if the AfD wants to abolish this very public broadcaster. And in the age of digital media the AfD can also present and explain itself publicly on its own. [1, p.170-180]
Corona
During the coronavirus pandemic the Tagesschau essentially served the government's assessment or the prevailing narrative. Dissent within the Tagesschau was rare. More often however journalists defended this narrative against criticism or new findings.
When Sarah Frühauf's November 2021 commentary against the unvaccinated was published it also sparked controversy within the Tagesschau news program. The vote for or against the commentator's selection ended in a tie. The editor-in-chief then made the decision triggering a wave of public outrage against the commentator. [1, p.40-42] [2]
When the protocols of the Corona Crisis Team (RKI Files) of the German Federal Government and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) were published by the website Multipolar on March 20, 2024 Tagesschau initially did not report on them. The fact-finder later claimed that the content was harmless and quoted the supposedly independent expert Hajo Zeeb. And Zeeb naturally supported this assessment. But Zeeb is himself a member of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) commission which means Tagesschau neglected its journalistic dutys. It was only four months later when the completely unredacted minutes were published by Aya Velazquez that political influence was acknowledged in a Tagesschau commentary by Iris Sayram. [Dossier] RKI-Files Corona-Crisis-Team [1, p.126-129]
Russia Ukraine War
In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war the Tagesschau also largely served the government's assessment or the prevailing narrative. Teske explains how the Tagesschau engages in opinion-making in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war. For example Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) was criticized for various questionable statements presumably on behalf of other opinions. Her reference to negotiations already taking place in 2022, but having been broken off under pressure from the West, is described as unsubstantiated although further confessions have since been made. [3] [4] [5] [6]
The supposed expert Klaus Gestwa also criticizes her quote that according to a survey a majority of Ukrainians want negotiations instead of weapons because the cited survey speaks of a diplomatic solution. The exact difference between negotiations and a diplomatic solution is unclear. Her statement that the German defense budget is 90 billion euros is called false even though various news outlets including the Tagesschau itself have reported this exact figure. Teske suspects that at least these articles are due to the supposed expert Klaus Gestwa being a strong-minded supporter of Ukraine. [1, p.124-126] [3] [4] [7] [8] [9] [10]
[Review] Alexander Teske - Inside Tagesschau - How Decisions are made
[Review] Alexander Teske - Inside Tagesschau - Blind Spots
Src:
[1] Alexander Teske - Inside Tagesschau- ISBN 978-3-784437316
[2] Die Meinung von Sarah Frühauf, MDR, zur Solidarität von Impf-Gegnern 2021-11-19
https://www.tagesschau.de/multimedia/sendung/tagesthemen/video-949037.html
[3] Aussagen zum Ukraine-Krieg - Was Wagenknecht unterschlägt 2023-02-25
https://www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/wagenknecht-217.html
[4] Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht - Auf Linie mit der russischen Propaganda 2024-07-31
https://www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/bsw-wagenknecht-ukraine-russland-100.html
[5] BoJo admits Ukraine broke peace deal 2025-02-24
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDmGs1BM8gM
[6] Neocon Queen Victoria Nuland ADMITS Not Wanting to End Ukraine War Diplomatically 2024-09-14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg2Rzturj4Q
[7] 23 Staaten erreichen Zielmarke - NATO-Verteidigungsausgaben deutlich gestiegen 2024-06-18
https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/nato-verteidigungsausgaben-106.html
[8] Deutsche Verteidigungsausgaben bei 90,6 Milliarden Euro 2024-06-18
https://www.zeit.de/news/2024-06/18/deutsche-verteidigungsausgaben-bei-90-6-milliarden-euro
[9] Nato sieht deutsche Verteidigungsausgaben bei 90,6 Milliarden Euro 2024-06-18
https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/verteidigung-nato-sieht-deutsche-verteidigungsausgaben-bei-906-milliarden-euro/100046037.html
[10] 90,6 Milliarden Euro – Deutschland knackt Zwei-Prozent-Marke der Nato 2024-06-19
https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article252080394/90-6-Milliarden-Euro-Rekord-Deutschland-knackt-Zwei-Prozent-Marke-der-Nato.html
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