In a comment published on Friday evening on the “Bild” website, Horn wrote: “Yes, Mathias Döpfner texted sentences that are absolutely wrong as they stand, but that’s not what we do at Bild or in this publisher think. Actually, an apology is due, boss!”
The weekly newspaper “Die Zeit” reported on Thursday regarding messages that were said to have been sent within the Springer group. The newspaper referred to documents that are said to have come from previous years. It was regarding e-mails and chat messages from the closest management circle of the media group, many were from the Springer boss himself. The newspaper listed quotes. For example, it was regarding derogatory comments regarding East Germans or criticism of ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). And Döpfner is said to have wished for FDP-friendly reporting from “Bild” before the federal election.
Said disrespectfully regarding East Germans
Horn, who has been chairing the “Bild” editors-in-chief since last month, admitted in her comment: “The publication of private messages from our CEO unsettles the Bild team, our families, friends and our readers. Many are angry because he B. disrespectful regarding East Germans. I don’t like that either.”
The comment is headed: “I won’t let anyone tell me what “Bild” has to write”. Elsewhere, Horn writes regarding Döpfner, who also holds a larger part of the company’s shares: “Our first principle is to stand up for freedom.” That also means that “Bild” is free to report as the newspaper sees fit. “And Mathias Döpfner defends this freedom every day, even once morest resistance from politics, business and culture.”
After the publication of the “Zeit” article, Döpfner spoke up on the company’s intranet: “My articles, which have been published for more than four decades, show what I think. I take responsibility for every word that is published Snippets of conversation cannot be contrasted as my “true thinking.”
