German Press Council Issues Record Number of Public Reprimands in 2024

The council issued 86 public reprimands for journalistic misconduct, citing serious breaches of accuracy and ethical standards.

The German Press Council's 86 public reprimands in 2024 marked a new record, surpassing the previous high of 73 in 2023.
Over a third of the reprimands addressed significant failures in journalistic diligence, including factual errors and unverified speculation.
Violations of personal rights, such as unauthorized publication of victim photos, accounted for 27 reprimands.
The council received 2,215 complaints in 2024, a notable increase from 1,850 complaints in 2023, reflecting heightened public sensitivity to media ethics.
The Press Council functions as a voluntary self-regulatory body for German media, aiming to uphold ethical journalism and address misconduct.