After wider Criticism of an article in the “Bild” newspaper on the corona pandemic, editor-in-chief John Boie commented on it again. “This article was absolutely unfortunate. I wouldn’t print it again like this,” said the 39-year-old on Friday in Berlin at a discussion with representatives of scientific organizations and researchers. The jointly initiated conversation was about the role of tabloid journalism in times of the pandemic.
The reason for the hour-long discussion on a podium in the Springer Group was the “Bild” article “The Lockdown Makers” from early December, which was about several scientists who were also pictured. The Press Council, which acts as a self-regulator for the press, has received many complaints about this. In a statement, an alliance of scientific organizations criticized the fact that individual researchers were “put on display and held personally responsible for urgently needed but unpopular measures to combat the pandemic”.
Boie said in the talk show that the article was also criticized internally before and after it was published. Shortly after publication, the editor-in-chief emphasized in a statement that could be read on “Bild”: Whoever governs this country, changes it and determines people’s lives, must withstand criticism. Especially from journalists. “Conversely, criticism must be exercised appropriately. This also expressly applies to “image”.
The President of the Helmholtz Association, Otmar Wiestler, spoke of crossing the line in relation to the article.