Julian Reichelt has not been editor-in-chief of the "Bild" newspaper since October. In “Die Zeit” he commented for the first time on the allegations that should have led to his dismissal. Internal complaints had been raised in March. Reichelt was accused of abuse of power and sexual harassment. The "Bild" boss took advantage of his position towards employees. Springer hired Freshfields to investigate. Reichelt was released and returned as no evidence of sexual harassment was found. He was briefly assigned a co-editor-in-chief at his side, but the dual leadership only lasted until Springer took over the Politico media portal. On October 17th, the "New York Times" continued with Springer's working atmosphere,the allegations against Reichelt and the role of the Springer boss and Reichelt sponsor Mathias Döpfner. Reichelt was dropped the next day.
Axel Weidemann
Editor in the features section.
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In “Die Zeit”, Reichelt portrays himself as a rebel, martyr and victim.
He rejects the allegations that have become thinner in the course of the scandal.
Journalism is not the issue here either on the side of the questioner or at Reichelt: he was thrown out “on balance” because of his relationship, “for the fact that I love someone”.
Doesn't he want to apologize to the women?
“I don't know who and for what.” He believes that “an overwhelming majority in this country” finds “the form of reporting like that about me” “abhorrent”.
Could he afford this media scolding?
"With 'Bild' I ended exactly this form of journalism, in which people's privacy is invaded."
A journalist for the masses?
Instead, what was once Germany's most powerful editor-in-chief senses “extermination campaigns” and sees himself as a victim of the “Berlin bubble” and envious of his own troops. The "Spiegel", the "Tagesthemen" and the ideology that is spreading there are rushed against. During the reading, however, the impression grows that all the points that could be emphasized against Reichelt and his work are subordinate to a scandal that presumably also exists in other companies. In essence, the interview is not about what contemporary leadership style and equality in journalism could look like, but about the love and sex life of a controversial figure. It becomes clear how much the Springer Group cultivates a self-perception that, of all people, lets the former "Bild" boss say,Journalism needs “a strong anti-establishment component.” Reichelt doesn't want to do PR, “but journalism for the masses”. Because he loves to “give a strong voice to millions of people”. What is meant is his own, because that is his credo: "Not Julian Reichelt is 'picture', but: 'picture' was Julian Reichelt."