A recent article in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) has sparked a lively debate on the misuse of fact-checking in Germany. The author, Lucien Scherrer, argues that the ARD’s fact-checking department has been instrumental in discrediting media outlets that report on inconvenient truths.
Scherrer cites a specific example of a fact-checking report that incorrectly accused Seymour Hersh, an American journalist, of making a claim about the Nord Stream pipeline attack. The report, which was later found to be flawed, was used to discredit Hersh’s article and the media outlet that published it.
The NZZ article criticizes the ARD’s fact-checking department for its biased and ideologically driven approach to fact-checking. Scherrer argues that the department often ignores or distorts facts to support a particular narrative and that this approach undermines the credibility of the media.
The article also highlights the increasing politicization of fact-checking, citing the example of Mark Zuckerberg, who has announced that Facebook and Instagram will no longer rely on external fact-checkers due to their political bias.
Scherrer concludes that the misuse of fact-checking is a serious issue that needs to be addressed and that the public should be aware of the biases and agendas of fact-checking organizations. He also notes that the NZZ has a responsibility to provide a balanced and neutral perspective on this issue.
The article has sparked a heated debate in Germany, with some critics accusing the NZZ of being biased and others praising the newspaper for its courage in tackling a sensitive topic.