Matthias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer. Photo: Bernd von Yutchenka/Pool DPA. a bitter dispute between a flamboyant CEO and his former protégé that could jeopardize the company's expansion plans.
Axel Springer announced a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Julian Reichelt, former editor of the flagship publication Bild Zeitung, who was forced to leave the company in 2021 after an internal investigation revealed that he used his position to exploit younger female colleagues. .
Matthias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, a prominent character who owns one of the most valuable collections of erotic art in the world, has been accused by the German media of defending Mr. Reichelt. who categorically denies the reasons for his dismissal.
The Allies expressed their suspicions in the German press that the former editor of Bild had been sacrificed to protect the company's reputation in its new US market.
This smoldering controversy erupted in recent weeks after a rival newspaper published exposé e-mails, apparently written by Mr. Döpfner, that give the impression that he holds very controversial opinions.
Julian Reichelt is the former editor of the Bild Zeitung. Photo: Bernd von Jutchenka/DPA
Mr Döpfner wrote: “Ossis (a derogatory term for East Germans) are either communists or fascists. There is nothing between them. Disgusting.»
Mr. Döpfner defended himself in an internal communication with Axel Springer, saying: “I take responsibility for every word that I publish. Snippets of text and conversation taken out of context cannot be countered to my «true thinking».
Questions remain as to who was the source of the leak, but several commentators note that many of the emails were addressed to Mr. Reichelt.
This suspicion was given additional weight when the owner of another newspaper confirmed that Mr. Reichelt sent him unsolicited messages containing messages from Axel Springer.
This likely gave the company the evidence it needed to announce multiple legal action against million euros against her former editor-in-chief, accusing him of violating terms of dismissal.
Mr. Reichelt's lawyer did not respond to The Telegraph's request for comment.
High profits from the digital leap< p>Few media companies have made the transition from print to digital publications as successfully as Axel Springer.
Unlike many competitors, the company founded by its namesake after World War II boasts high profits amid a successful turn to online publishing. Media.
In recent years, the company has entered the English-speaking market with the purchase of American digital platforms Politico and Business Insider.
His new office, built on the former «death strip» of no man's land between east and west of Berlin, should embody this embrace of the digital future.
Employees proudly share how Mr. Döpfner learned long before this pandemic that the future of work would be more flexible.
The result is an open building full of «co-working spaces» where journalists are encouraged to «brainstorm».
Axel Springer headquarters is built on the former 'death strip' no man's land between east and west Berlin Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe
After a long day at work, the office's 5,000 employees can unwind at the rooftop bar with unrivaled views of Europe's party capital
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On the day of the visit to The Telegraph, everything seemed to go on as usual.
At the mezzanine level, the TV journalists were preparing their next show. In a wood-paneled smoking lounge brought over from Fleet Street, a gaggle of journalists watched a television broadcast of a conference on the lower level of the company's 19-story skyscraper.
'Sexist-dominated work culture'
However, according to critics, behind the attractive appearance of the company lies a work culture dominated by sexism. Bild still publishes images of topless women and has long been accused of being sexist by feminists.
Rep Axel Springer SE said: "Everyone who reads our publications will be able to tell that our editorial always uphold our all-encompassing value of freedom, especially freedom of opinion, which also means reflecting pluralism and diversity of opinion."
The company's bad PR is exacerbated by the publication of a book by another former protégé, Mr. Döpfner, which reads like a revelation about life within the firm.
Benjamin von Stukrad-Barre's book Wah Night? or Still awake?, tells the story of a power-crazed editor who forces his junior colleague to have sexual intercourse. He claims it is a work of fiction.
Rival German publications called it «the first German novel, Me Too».
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