No problem? The WDR jumps to its “hard but fair” moderator Louis Klamroth (33) to the side. He was recently under massive criticism because he is said to have concealed his relationship with climate activist Luisa Neubauer (26).
WDR boss Tom Buhrow (64) said on Tuesday at a crisis meeting of the Broadcasting Council in Cologne, according to the German Press Agency: He is not interested in who the protagonists of the WDR program “share table and bed” with.
Critics had accused Klamroth that he should have informed WDR earlier. Some also questioned his impartiality as a moderator.
Buhrow said he was only interested in whether someone could distinguish between their private beliefs and the obligation to report independently.
WDR director Tom Buhrow
When he looks at the program that Klamroth moderated on Monday evening on the subject of climate change, he found that he had fully lived up to this professional claim.
In fact, in his talk show, Klamroth also questioned the invited climate activist Aimée van Baalen (23) from the “Last Generation” in part critically. For example, whether she wants to abolish parliamentary democracy.
TV director full of praise for Klamroth
WDR television director Jörg Schönenborn (58) said at the crisis meeting that there was an intensive selection process in the spring and early summer of last year when looking for a successor to presenter Frank Plasberg (65).
Schönenborn praised: “In the process of consideration, we decided on the most successful presenter of his generation.”
Klamroth’s Talk predecessor Frank Plasberg
In mid-August, WDR announced the decision in favor of Klamroth. At the end of August, the journalist then approached the broadcaster and informed him about his relationship with Luisa Neubauer. The contract talks with him were only completed at the end of the year, the television director now claimed.
The WDR already had granted almost two weeks ago on BILD request: “Mr. Klamroth’s private life was not an issue in the talks between WDR and him before the collaboration was announced.”
