Overview
- Politico employees sent a letter to incoming global editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger warning that CEO Mathias Döpfner’s use of Politico op-eds risks the appearance of slant in coverage.
- The letter cited two Döpfner essays on Europe’s stance toward Israel and Iran and on aid to Palestinians, and it asked for op-ed disclaimers, a rigorous standards review, and the removal of office displays that promote Axel Springer’s values.
- Executives from Axel Springer and Politico met with journalists to address the letter, reiterated a commitment to editorial independence, and discussed clarifying that Döpfner’s pieces reflect his personal views.
- A separate report said Döpfner told staff to accept Axel Springer’s "Essentials" or seek other jobs and that he plans to write more op-eds, while defending his positions on Iran and on Zionism as core company values.
- Since the 2021 purchase of Politico, Axel Springer’s corporate constitution has fueled recurring concerns, even as the company declined to require staff pledges to its values and Döpfner argued that stating a publisher’s principles is transparent.