Editorial: Der Sound der Einschüchterung
Ein Berater droht unserem Reporter, „jemanden vorbeizuschicken“. Leser schicken Hass-Mails mit vollem Namen. Der Ton in unserem Beruf wird rauer – einschränken lassen wir uns davon nicht.
In a recent conversation, business consultant Stephan Goetz made a threatening comment about silencing those who write about him. This shocking statement was made in February 2024 during a phone call with a longtime business acquaintance. Unbeknownst to both parties at the time, the police were also listening in on their discussion.
During their conversation, the topic also touched upon the reporting of German business newspaper Handelsblatt. It is believed that Goetz intended to have Lars-Marten Nagel, a colleague and reporter in my investigative unit, silenced. The State Prosecutor's office has charged Goetz with fraud against investors of the textile company Sympatex.
This incident is a concerning development, as it highlights the increasing coarseness in our profession. The tone in our industry is becoming harsher, not only in legal disputes where journalists are increasingly being sued, but also in the targeting of individual reporters. We have become accustomed to this heightened confrontation, even when it involves pressing questions about whether we should be allowed to write about certain topics, such as whether a CEO's tie features hunt motifs.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
