German Press Council slams 47 media outlets for ethical breaches in 2025–26
The German Press Council has released its latest report on media violations. Between March 2025 and March 2026, it issued 47 formal reprimands to news outlets for breaching journalistic standards. The rulings cover a range of issues, from factual inaccuracies to privacy violations and ethical lapses in reporting.
In March alone, the council handed down 19 formal reprimands and disapproved of reporting in 32 other cases. The tabloid Bild received five of these reprimands, more than any other outlet. Three of its violations involved personal rights, including the unauthorised publication of video footage from the Pony Club on Sylt.
The *Jüdische Allgemeine* was also reprimanded for repeating the Israeli army's claim that a Palestinian journalist was a terrorist without critical examination. Meanwhile, *Business Insider* faced censure for presenting an AI-generated article as a genuine first-person account. The council further ruled against *Bild* and *B.Z.* for publishing articles that accused a Berlin civil servant of 'extreme hatred of Israel' without evidence or offering her a right to reply. The complaints committee classified this as a serious breach of due diligence, truthfulness, and the obligation to correct errors. Another case involved Munich's *Merkur*, where a column by its editor-in-chief was reprimanded for lacking factual basis and making unsubstantiated claims. Additionally, the council found that a report on a public event had unfairly identified guests who chose not to participate in singing, violating their privacy.
The rulings highlight ongoing challenges in media accountability. Outlets like Bild faced repeated censure, while others were penalised for failing to verify claims or respect privacy. The council's decisions serve as a reminder of the strict standards expected in German journalism.
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