Journalist Pinar Atalay defends attending Bundespresseball with president
The Bundespresseball magazine asked journalist Pinar Atalay about the perceived closeness between politics and media at the event. Atalay, formerly of ARD and now with RTL, dismissed the concern as coming from people who have never attended. She noted she sat at the German president's table and saw no harm in toasting or chatting privately with the president in a democracy. The article references the historical example of journalist Jürgen Leinemann, who was friends with Gerhard Schröder yet remained his sharpest critic, contrasting with today's access journalism where such balance is harder to maintain.
Key facts
- Pinar Atalay is a former ARD and current RTL journalist.
- Atalay sat at the table of the German president at the Bundespresseball.
- The Bundespresseball magazine asked about the closeness between politics and media.
- Atalay said criticism comes from people who have never been to the ball.
- She stated that celebrating and talking privately with the president is not problematic in a democracy.
- The article contrasts Jürgen Leinemann's friendship with Gerhard Schröder and his critical reporting.
- Access journalism makes the balance between proximity and distance harder today.
- The article is published in der Freitag.
Entities
Institutions
- Bundespresseball
- ARD
- RTL
- der Freitag
Locations
- Germany