Report sees "deficiencies in the leadership culture" at the NDR

An external report on the working atmosphere at Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) identified deficiencies in the management and communication culture. "There are outliers in the leadership style," said the report manager and theologian Stephan Reimers on Tuesday of the German Press Agency in Hamburg. "We would like to sell this style from a public broadcaster."

The investigation was presented to the NDR workforce on the same day. The broadcaster also made the report publicly available on its website. According to the results, which are based on discussions with employees, there is no general climate of fear. According to the broadcaster, participation was between 20 and 25 percent.

The public broadcaster ARD had commissioned the report itself. The impetus had been allegations against executives at NDR in Hamburg and Kiel last year, which had already been processed. The report should now develop a holistic overview of the corporate culture in the entire broadcasting area.

According to NDR information, a "culture group" will deal with the results of the report. NDR director Joachim Knuth said: "It is now a start into a future with more trust, more togetherness and more optimism about transformation." It is important to overcome blocking patterns and to involve everyone. "We need a thriving togetherness."

The editorial committee, which represents the program staff at NDR, said in a statement, among other things, that the results of the climate report were worrying. "In essence, the analysis says: the leadership in the NDR must be improved in many areas. So far, there have been deficits in the management style, communication and qualifications of executives. We agree with this analysis.”

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