By Michael Sauerbier
Nepotism, self-enrichment, megalomania: Berlin’s scandalous broadcaster RBB is no longer taken seriously! According to BZ information, 80 percent of applications were fun for the director post (300,000 euros annual salary). On June 16, the new station boss will be elected.
Special session of the RBB Broadcasting Council on Monday evening. After 80 minutes, Council chief Oliver Bürgel threw the public out. The Internet live stream was switched off, and the technicians had to go too. And even interim director Katrin Vernau (49) was sent up to her office on the 14th floor. Because agenda item 6 was top secret.
Behind closed doors, the supervisors discussed the most expensive job RBB has to offer: the new director will collect 1.5 million euros over the next five years. From our compulsory fees. We are looking for “an empathetic personality” with “experience in crisis management”. Because the spendthrift station has been in the headlines since last summer.
Ex-director Patricia Schlesinger (61) ruined the broadcaster’s reputation Photo: picture alliance/dpa
The application deadline for the boss position ended on April 30th. On Monday evening, the search committee should report who has applied for the top-paying hell job. Around 50 applications were received, said Council chief Bürgel. But then the embarrassing confession: Only ten of them were meant seriously!
Dismay among the 30 broadcasting councils. The scandal station has made a laughing stock of itself! After further examination, the commission intends to propose “three to seven” of the ten serious letters to the Broadcasting Council. On June 16, the station supervisors (parties, associations, unions, religious communities) are to elect the new director.
Interim director Katrin Vernau (49) has a good chance of getting a permanent job Photo: Christophe Gateau/dpa
Crazy: A candidate who hasn’t even applied has a good chance: Interim director Vernau had already declared at the beginning of the year: “I’m available if you want me.” Any member of the Broadcasting Council can propose her. If Vernau is elected, she wants to forgo the monthly housing allowance of 1,500 euros in the future. She still has her main residence in Cologne.
The 3400 RBB employees are divided: the 2000 permanent employees can live well with Vernau according to BZ information. Because they don’t want to cut their top salaries. Even secretaries earn 70,000 euros a year at RBB. The 1,400 freelancers (an average of 48,000 euros), on the other hand, complain about Vernau’s program cuts. Many no longer want the savings commissioner.
But the clever Swabian has the Berlin Broadcasting Council firmly under control. Vernau hardly has to fear critical questions like those in the Brandenburg RBB investigative committee. At best, quiet program criticism.
The DGB radio councilor asked why the broadcaster spent hours reporting on the “Revolutionary May 1st Demo” in a sensational manner – even though nothing happened there. Program director Martina Zöllner (200,000 euros annual salary) meekly: “I’ll talk to the editors…“