Accusations of antisemitism had already surfaced five years ago. Now there are new signs that antisemitic contributors may be working with Deutsche Welle’s Arabic-language editorial team.
Deutsche Welle is once again facing allegations that it employs journalists who have expressed antisemitic views. Back in 2021, there were already serious accusations against parts of the broadcaster’s Arabic-language editorial department.
This time, the case concerns a female contributor who had occasionally reported freelance from Iraq for Deutsche Welle, as well as a freelance contributor working from the Gaza Strip. The newspaper Bild was the first to draw attention to relevant social media posts by the individuals concerned. According to the report, the contributor from the Gaza Strip described Islamist terrorists as “freedom fighters.”
In a statement also published on Deutsche Welle’s website, the broadcaster stressed that the allegations do not concern reporting broadcast in its own programs. It said that its editorial supervision and approval processes, for example a “six-eyes principle on Middle East issues,” ensure the quality of its journalistic reporting.
The statement goes on to describe Deutsche Welle’s work with freelance contributors in the regions where it operates: “Since March 2023, external recruitment at DW has been based on a comprehensive concept of values-based recruiting (wbR). In the case of publishing activities, this also applies to contractors, as in the case of the two individuals mentioned. Among other things, wbR includes a review of social media, carried out by the relevant department, examining posts made up to six months earlier on public, professionally used accounts.”
After the antisemitism allegations five years ago, Deutsche Welle revised its code of conduct for both staff and freelance contributors. As has now become apparent, these revisions were evidently either not formulated strictly enough or compliance with the conduct requirements was not carefully monitored.
Following investigations into the antisemitism allegations five years ago, five people ultimately had to leave the Arabic-language editorial department. The two current cases are now under review.
Deutsche Welle is a federally funded public broadcaster based in Bonn and Berlin. Unlike ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandfunk, it is financed through tax revenue. Its programming is aimed at a global audience in more than 30 languages, from Arabic and Hindi to Ukrainian. As became known in February, the broadcaster must save 21 million euros this year.
