Author: Michael Hanfeld, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Source: FAZ – Media Policy
Publication Date: 03.12.2025
Reading Time of Summary: 3 minutes
Executive Summary
At anti-AfD demonstrations in Giessen, several journalist teams were threatened, surrounded, and evacuated to safety by police – including award-winning "Bild" reporter Paul Ronzheimer. The DGB denies systematic responsibility and characterizes the incidents as "stewardship activities," while the German Journalists' Association condemns any attacks regardless of political affiliation. The incident reveals a core problem: press freedom is not a one-sided privilege, but must be equally respected by all democratic actors.
Critical Guiding Questions
How can press freedom be credibly defended when left-wing demonstrators attack journalists just as much as right-wing ones – and those responsible downplay it?
Who bears responsibility for steward violence: only the individual or also the assembly organizers who tolerate or minimize it?
What institutional standards are needed to exert pressure on all political camps and not protect press freedom selectively?
Scenario Analysis: Future Perspectives
Short-term (1 year)
- Escalation of self-protection measures by media companies
- Enhanced police presence at demonstrations
- ⚠️ Possible withdrawal tendencies by reporters from sensitive areas
Medium-term (5 years)
- Erosion of public trust in independent reporting
- Discussion of regulations for safe filming at demonstrations
- Differentiated understanding: press freedom is not a political weapon
Long-term (10–20 years)
- Either: strengthening of institutional protection standards for journalists
- Or: fragmentation of the media landscape through selective access
Main Summary
Core Topic & Context
At anti-AfD demonstrations on December 1, 2025 in Giessen, at least two journalist teams were attacked or harassed. This is particularly striking since it occurred just two days after Paul Ronzheimer and Susanne Koelbl were awarded the Press Freedom Prize. The incident raises an uncomfortable question: does the right to free reporting apply without restriction – or only when the reporting is politically convenient?
Key Facts & Figures
- Paul Ronzheimer ("Bild," Sat.1 camera crew) was threatened, surrounded, and had to be evacuated by police
- "Tichy's Insight" team (right-wing portal) reported similar incidents; videos show pursuits and blows against the cameraman
- DGB Hesse-Thuringia describes measures as "stewardship activities" without press freedom violations
- ⚠️ The DGB claims visible perpetrators did not belong to the security detail – a claim contradicted by video material
- German Journalists' Association (DJV) condemns "any attacks […] regardless of which political camp"
- Ronzheimer emphasizes: "This was not frontline reporting, but filming at a demonstration in Germany"
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
| Actor | Position |
|---|---|
| Journalists | Directly threatened; demand protection & press freedom |
| DGB Hesse-Thuringia | Denies systematic responsibility; characterizes violence as isolated acts |
| Demonstrators | Some tolerant, some hostile toward media coverage |
| Police | Evacuates journalists; security function, not preventive force |
| Public Debate | Polarized; risk of political instrumentalization |
Opportunities & Risks
Opportunities:
- ✅ Awareness of symmetrical press freedom: apply non-partisan standards to all
- ✅ Enhanced discussion of clear protection standards at demonstrations
- ✅ Opportunity to restore credibility through honest clarification
Risks:
- ⚠️ Political instrumentalization: AfD uses incident for propaganda purposes
- ⚠️ Trust erosion: If violence is not consistently prosecuted, belief in the rule of law declines
- ⚠️ Self-censorship: reporters avoid democratic demonstrations in future
- ⚠️ Shift in debate: focus on camps instead of fundamental rights
Actionability
For media companies:
- Clear safety protocols for filming at demonstrations
- Transparent reporting on attacks, regardless of political affiliation
For assembly organizers (DGB, parties):
- Explicit steward training on press freedom
- Consequences for stewards who commit violence against journalists
For state & judiciary:
- Consistent criminal prosecution
- Clear regulation of protection for reporters at public gatherings
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
| Statement | Status |
|---|---|
| Ronzheimer & Koelbl received Press Freedom Prize | ✅ Verified (03.12.2025, MVFP) |
| Attacks in Giessen on 01.12.2025 | ✅ Confirmed by multiple sources |
| Video evidence of violence | ✅ Documented; DGB disputes steward involvement |
| DGB denials | ⚠️ Contradiction with video material; credibility questionable |
| Police evacuation | ✅ Confirmed by Ronzheimer's statement |
Supplementary Research
- German Journalists' Association (DJV): djv.de/pressefreiheit – current case collections on attacks on reporters
- Reporters Without Borders: Press Freedom Index 2025 – Germany in international comparison
- Media Authority of the States: Best practices for steward training at approved gatherings
Sources
Primary Source:
Hanfeld, Michael (03.12.2025): "DGB and DJV respond – Who is responsible for attacks on reporters at anti-AfD demos?" Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung – Link to FAZ
Supplementary Sources:
- German Journalists' Association (DJV): Statement on attacks on journalists at demonstrations
- MVFP (Media Education Association): Press Freedom Prize 2025
- Video documentation "Tichy's Insight" – publicly accessible recordings of incidents in Giessen
Verification Status: ✅ Facts checked on 03.12.2025
🔍 Core Message for Decision-Makers
The incidents in Giessen demonstrate: press freedom is non-negotiable – regardless of political affiliation. Companies, associations, and state actors must communicate transparently and act consistently. Credibility is created through consistent principles, not taboo zones.