After the controversial Höcke interview: Podcaster Ben Berndt wants to sue media regulators if necessary

Media authority demands classification

The trigger was Berndt’s more than four-hour interview with the Thuringian AfD leader Björn Höcke. The state media authority objects to statements that Höcke made in the podcast about the banned SA slogan “Everything for Germany”. She suggests that this position be classified retrospectively and initially asked Berndt for a statement.

“This is not about the question of whether an opinion is permissible or not, but rather about compliance with journalistic standards when dealing with such statements,” said a spokesman for the authority when asked by the dpa.

Berndt announced that he would not change the episode. He rejects the fact that his podcast is subject to journalistic due diligence. “It cannot be the case that I or other podcasters and YouTubers with conversation formats are held accountable for what my guest tells me in front of the microphone.”

Dispute over journalistic standards

The state media authority sees it differently. What matters is not whether someone sees themselves as a journalist. “Whoever selects topics, conducts discussions, asks questions, prepares and presents content, designs an offer in a journalistic and editorial manner,” explained the spokesman.

In the dpa interview, Berndt made it clear that he consciously understands his podcast differently than traditional journalism. He doesn’t see himself as a journalist, but as a host. “I have no idea what journalistic standards are,” he said. He wants to have conversations “like when you meet for coffee” and get to know people as honestly as possible. “I would rather do the book than the newspaper.”