The long-time head of ZDF’s main politics and current affairs department, Matthias Fornoff, has lost his job. A station spokesman confirmed to the Tagesspiegel: “Matthias Fornoff no longer works for ZDF“. More information was not available for the time being, the spokesman emphasized, “otherwise, the usual confidentiality in personnel matters applies.”
Fornoff is said to have already filed a lawsuit
It will depend very much on whether Fornoff has been properly terminated with exemption or without notice. The 61-year-old journalist is said to have already filed a dismissal protection lawsuit through his lawyer, demanding that he be reinstated. The case may then go to court and be heard publicly. However, both parties may have agreed on an out-of-court termination agreement.
Fornoff is head of the main editorial department for politics and current affairs Earned an annual salary of almost 188,000 euros. The final and therefore premature separation will certainly be expensive for the broadcaster – and yet seems to be worth every euro for ZDF.
Fornoff was removed from his prominent position at the end of May and transferred internally. This was preceded by Transfer apparently caused complaints about misconduct against three long-standing colleagues, who are said to have felt harassed. At the time it was said that he would take on a new role without leadership responsibility in the future. What that task was supposed to be was not known to this day.
An internal investigation showed that his behavior was not criminally relevant. Nevertheless, the public broadcaster had distanced itself and has now drawn final conclusions from the affair. His successor was also announced in May: Shakuntala Banerjee will take over as head of the main editorial team on November 1st.
Matthias Fornoff has worked for ZDF since the 1990s. He was considered one of the faces of the station. Since 2014 he has been head of the main politics department and moderated the program “Politbarometer”.