After the controversy over AI‑generated fake videos in a report on U.S. deportation policy, a ZDF staff meeting at the start of the week became a focal point for discussion. The meeting was intended to brief employees about the event surrounding a “Heute‑Journal” segment from February 15 and to address staff questions, a ZDF spokesperson confirmed to the news agency dts on Tuesday.
The session, called “Open CR”, is an internal ZDF dialogue format hosted by the editor‑in‑chief. To safeguard confidentiality, the broadcaster said it would not repeat any individual employee’s comments.
The spokesperson neither denied nor corroborated a detailed account released by former “Tagesschau” employee Alexander Teske. According to Teske’s report, 1,150 staff participated in the online assembly on Monday, and it was announced that employment‑law proceedings would be initiated against all involved parties.
Moderator Dunja Hayali, who had introduced the segment with the disputed footage, was not named and did not speak. Editor‑in‑chief Bettina Schausten reportedly said in “Open CR” that certain platforms would “infamous and malicious” about the fake, complained that information had been leaked, and blamed an understaffed “Heute” newsroom. She acknowledged “regrettable mistakes on every level” and stressed that “this must not happen again”. Schausten placed responsibility for the incident on the now‑dismissed New York studio manager, but added that the broadcaster would “not let her down”.
A senior ZDF editor also took the floor, remarking that she would greet colleagues with “Ah, they come from AI TV”. Another editor was quoted as saying, “We had a Relotius moment”.