For days, more and more allegations against those responsible for editorial work at NDR in Kiel have come to light as a result of research by stern. The core question is whether these could have deliberately influenced the reporting by colleagues. There was also talk of a political filter.

On Thursday, the NDR scandal also reached the federal political level. The media policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Helge Lindh, called for "complete clarification" in the star. The Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther (CDU), also had to comment on the events. "If the allegations against the NDR are confirmed, it would be a massive violation of journalistic standards," said Lindh. The outrage and bewilderment of the moderators and employees of the NDR is "very justified", said the SPD politician. "The misconduct of individuals in managerial positions also soils their good work."

A political filter or even court reporting should not exist in an editorial office of a public broadcaster. Journalistic freedom is "not only in public service broadcasting, but above all there, a great asset" that must not be violated due to personal ties.

The case involves allegations in connection with the political reporting of the public broadcaster ARD. The online medium "Business Insider" and then the star had reported allegations that there could be a kind of filter by the superiors in the editorial department. For example, it was about an interview that an NDR journalist wanted to conduct, but his superiors refused.

Editor-in-chief Norbert Lorentzen and the NDR had rejected the allegation of political influence. Since Wednesday, Lorentzen and the head of the cross-media department for politics and investigation, Julia Stein, have been inactive until the allegations have been cleared up.