Berlin Andreas Barner, the President of the Stifterverband, criticized the Handelsblatt in relation to Springer boss Mathias Döpfner: He had to immediately ensure that the “Bild” newspaper stopped attacking scientists and thereby endangering them. If, for example, virologists were referred to as “lockdown makers”, “they naturally run the risk of being attacked,” said Barner, adding: “and all of this after the torchlight procession in front of the house of the Saxon Minister of Health”. Various researchers already need police protection.
A few days ago the Alliance of Sciences – the amalgamation of the major German research organizations – criticized the latest article in “Bild”. Individual research organizations have lodged complaints with the press council.
Precisely because Döpfner is also president of the publishers’ association, he has to take on “civil responsibility”, demands Barner in an interview. It could not be “that compliance with journalistic standards in such a large newspaper must be sued through the press council,” said the head of the Association of Business for Science.
In 2020, the press council reprimanded a report by “Bild” about an allegedly “grossly false” corona study by virologist Christian Drosten on the infectiousness of children. The wording “grossly wrong” was not covered by the expert opinions in the text, judged the press council.
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The long-time boss of Boehringer Ingelheim was also appalled by attacks on the Biontech founders Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci. He, too, is concerned about the increasing propensity to use violence in German society: “1933 warns us that there is always a risk of the situation tipping over. Resist the beginnings!”
Read the full interview here:
Mr. Barner, the fourth corona wave hits us hard. How could that happen? Hasn’t science warned enough?
Science was loud – but nobody was listening. The media and politics would rather believe that we are over the mountain. It still amazes me that ‘exponential growth’ is not understood where almost nothing happens at the beginning – but it is too late when the banked curve is reached. What irritated me was that the traffic light parties did not act earlier. Somebody like Karl Lauterbach said clearly: We have to act, it can’t go on like this. He should have been heard by his people sooner. The same goes for green politicians, they were not really heard either.
Many people feel insecure that researchers contradict each other or correct themselves over time, longing for clarity …
The breadth of the discussion is indispensable as long as it is serious. Science is well advised not to take an extreme position, but to formulate differentiated consensus positions, as the Leopoldina does with impressive clarity.
Is it helpful when the media create a contrast between researchers like Hendrik Streeck and Christian Drosten?
The problem is completely different: the goal of balance in reporting has led to the media giving minority positions absolutely disproportionately more space than serious researchers alongside Hendrik Streeck or Christian Drosten. The intention was good and fair, the result bad: a lot of space was given to positions that did not stand up to scientific quality control.
A few days ago the Alliance of Sciences – the union of the most important German research organizations – published an article in the “Bild“-Zeitung criticizes leading virologists as “lockdown makers”. Right?
That’s right. This type of “picture” reporting is not acceptable. I am amazed that Mr. Döpfner describes his SMS, in which he describes Germany as the “GDR governmental state”, as the past, praises improvement and demands higher standards for the “Bild” newspaper – and then you don’t hear anything more. I find it very disappointing that the “Bild” newspaper is now attacking scientists again in such a way and thus also endangering them. Because in this heated mood, of course, they run the risk of being attacked. And all after the torchlight procession in front of the house of the Saxon Minister of Health.
Some publishers have criticized Mr. Döpfner – but he remains their chief lobbyist. Do you find that understandable?
As the head of a company as large as Springer, he is of course important to the association. But precisely because he is also the publisher’s president, I expect him to ensure that the standards are adhered to. It cannot be that such a large newspaper has to be sued through the press council. There is such a thing as civil responsibility.
Many researchers and research managers have been living with threats for a long time, in 2020 the press council reprimanded “Bild” for the campaign against Christian Drosten. Is the outcry from the Alliance too late?
In retrospect, you have to say: it would certainly have been better in the past. Christian Drosten also made a great impression on me, precisely because it is not too bad for himself to correct himself publicly. But both this learning and the dispute are essential to research – and must not be used for headlines in pandemic times.
Should politics get involved?
Yes, it should protect science, just like churches, trade unions, companies and society as a whole. Most of the relevant groups were too little aware of how vulnerable science is when it is in public.
The traffic light appoints a crisis team under General Breuer – does that help?
Only if he gets the necessary autonomy and authority. When politicians listen and take advice. That he is based in the Chancellery is certainly an advantage. For General Breuer, the fact that he has so far organized the Bundeswehr’s aid in the pandemic well and without a sound speaks for itself.
According to the science barometer, the proportion of Germans who do not trust research at all is relatively stable at around six percent. However, the group of the suspicious undecided has increased from 20 to over 30 percent since 2020. Are we threatened with permanent damage far beyond the pandemic?
I see more of a great opportunity: We have to institutionally integrate scientific advice – on health, climate, digitization, etc. The Stifterverband has already pointed this out. England and Sweden have committees that regularly exchange information with the government, i.e. hold talks instead of just delivering reports. Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann has already installed such councils in Baden-Württemberg.
The Biontech founders at the presentation of the German Future Prize 2021 for technology and innovation.
(Photo: imago images / Political-Moments)
The aggression not only hits researchers: The Biontech founders Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci received hundreds of emails with racist slurs and death threats when the news about the vaccine became public …
I am very shocked. I’ve known both of them for many years, I like them a lot and have enormous respect. I too worry that our society is becoming more and more violent. 1933 warns us: There is always a risk of the situation tipping over. Resist the beginnings!
Most recently, an article appeared in “Bild”: “From anti-vaccination to vaccination advocate – How not to lose face if you change your mind”. Do you think that gives hope?
Wait. A single article does not yet represent a new line, but the direction is right.
More: In view of the dramatic situation, Chancellor Scholz is no longer ruling out a Christmas lockdown