DIE ZEIT vs RETAIL-NEWS.de

Zeit Editor Calls for Lawsuits Against AI Firms

At the opening of the 40th Medientage München, Jochen Wegner, editor-in-chief of Die Zeit, called for lawsuits against AI companies that use journalistic content without permission for model training. He emphasized that legal action is necessary but not a business model, and urged media companies to also embrace AI's potential. Wegner mentioned that Die Zeit works with specialized firms to detect and block unauthorized access and is in talks within the Holtzbrinck group, including with American book and science publishers. Katja Wildermuth, BR director, stressed the importance of authorization, accuracy, attribution, and findability of journalistic content, and highlighted the ARD's regional strength. Alexandra Borchardt, media expert, expressed skepticism about licensing deals benefiting mainly large publishers, and noted that European media cannot fully become independent from US tech giants. Wegner cited Die Zeit's successful TikTok team, attracting over three million users, and a new subscriber-only video series as a top subscription driver.

• Jochen Wegner, editor-in-chief of Die Zeit, called for lawsuits against AI companies for using journalistic content without permission.
• Die Zeit collaborates with specialized firms to detect and block unauthorized access to its content.
• Die Zeit and Google are running a pilot project where Google pays for limited use of selected journalistic texts under clear contractual terms.

Zeit Editor-in-Chief Disputes Court Over Seized Recordings

Giovanni di Lorenzo, editor-in-chief of the German weekly newspaper "Die Zeit", contradicted the Hamburg Regional Court's claim that a journalist voluntarily handed over audio recordings related to the Block trial. In a written interview with DPA, di Lorenzo stated that the publication was heavily pressured, and the only way to avoid a search of the editorial offices was to hand over the recordings. He described the court's statement as 'grotesque' and said he cannot recall a comparable intrusion during his tenure since 2004. The recordings, totaling 80 hours, could now become public. The court had issued an order for the journalist's Berlin apartment after the publisher's staff indicated she had the tapes. The incident highlights tensions between press freedom and judicial requests in Germany.

• Giovanni di Lorenzo, editor-in-chief of Die Zeit, contradicted the Hamburg Regional Court's claim that a journalist voluntarily handed over audio recordings.
• The Die Zeit publishing house was threatened with a search of its editorial offices unless the recordings were handed over.
• The audio recordings total 80 hours and could now become public.

Theodor Wolff Prize and Guardian Award Presented

The 2026 Theodor Wolff Prize and the Guardian Prize (Wächterpreis) were awarded in Germany, honoring journalists for outstanding stories on proximity, origin, and language. Karolina Benedyk, Marvin Ku, and Jakob Schrenk each received the €6,000 Theodor Wolff Prize from the BDZV for their articles in Weser-Kurier and Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin. Bastian Berbner won the €6,000 Guardian Prize for his investigative piece in Die Zeit, while Erik Westermann and the Braunschweiger Zeitung editorial team received a €10,000 stipend for investigative work. Media scholar Bernhard Pörksen warned of threefold pressure on journalism: political attacks, AI-driven content competition, and economic pressure from tech companies pulling ad revenues.

• Theodor Wolff Prize awarded to Karolina Benedyk, Marvin Ku, and Jakob Schrenk.
• Each Theodor Wolff Prize carries €6,000 prize money.
• Wächterpreis awarded to Bastian Berbner with €6,000 prize money.

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