Last but not least: researching can jeopardize your story

An article in the latest issue of *Der Beobachter* takes aim at the TV show «Gesundheits-Sprechstunde.» Under the headline «Paid TV Appearance,» the show is accused of allowing experts to be featured in exchange for money. That sounds terrible and sends shivers down the spines of well-meaning consumer advocates. However, the author seems unaware that this is precisely what the new sponsorship guidelines from the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) allow.

The only condition is that the matter is clearly declared. If you don't know something, then you have to do some research. Even at the risk of making the crisp story less crisp. What is completely unacceptable, however, is that the detailed justification that Hans Jürg Deutsch, the person responsible for the "Gesundheits-Sprechstunde", sent to the author was not included in the article at all. A magazine like the Beobachter, which is committed to transparency and fairness, should know the basics of fair reporting and, above all, apply them.

To the statement

Observer's comment:
The article "Researching can jeopardize your story" claims that the Beobachter did not research properly and reported unfairly on the subject of sponsorship in the TV programme "Gesundheit-Sprechstunde". The allegation is false. The Beobachter did not make the accusation that the sponsorship guidelines had been violated. However, it is true that Gesundheit Sprechstunde held out the prospect to a PR agency that a prescription drug from a particular manufacturer would be featured in the program. According to therapeutic products legislation, this is not permitted. Hans Jürg Deutsch does not dispute these facts with the questionable offer (e-mail to a PR agency). The person responsible for the TV program was quoted several times in the aforementioned Beobachter article. He was able to comment on all the allegations. All quotes and statements used in the article are available in writing.

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