Study Highlights Political Influence in German Public Broadcasting Councils

A new report reveals that party affiliations exceed permissible limits in public broadcasting councils, raising concerns about transparency and independence.

• A study by the Otto-Brenner-Stiftung found that 41% of members in public broadcasting councils, such as ARD and ZDF, are affiliated with political parties, exceeding the constitutional guidelines for state influence.
• The ZDF council has the highest proportion of politically affiliated members, with 60%, while the Deutsche Welle council exceeds the legal limit of one-third state representatives at 41%.
• The study criticizes a lack of transparency in council operations, with inconsistent reporting on costs and compensation across different broadcasters.
• Despite some progress, such as public meetings and live streaming by most councils, the study notes limited engagement with the public and insufficient modernization of council structures.
• The findings suggest that stronger reforms are needed to reduce political influence and improve the professionalization and accountability of public broadcasting councils in Germany.

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