He admitted that he "invented" statements and facts that he never saw
The German magazine Der Spiegel revealed today that one of his journalists, who has even been awarded for his work, has been distorting his reports for many years.
Klaas Relotius, 35, was awarded the Reporter of the Year award in early December for an article on young Syrians who instigated the 2011 civil war in their country.
On Sunday, Relotius submitted his resignation from the magazine, one of the leading media in Germany.
When confronted with the accusations of another journalist, with whom he had collaborated for a report on the border of Mexico with the USA, he finally admitted that he "invented" statements and facts that he had never seen.
In all, at least 14 of his articles were falsified, including one about a Yemeni man who spent 14 years in Guantanamo Bay for no reason and another about Colin Karpernik, the American athlete who knelt before the national anthem. a sign of protest against racial inequality. Relotius claimed to have been interviewed by his parents.
In its extensive article on this case, Spiegel's management states that it is "shocked" by this case. What's more, the magazine has an internal data verification service for what its reporters write.
"I am sick and I need help" was the excuse given by Relotius, as broadcast by the French Agency and relayed by the Athenian News Agency.
The journalist initially worked with Spiegel and other publications as a freelancer. He joined the editorial team of the magazine in Hamburg a year and a half ago.
According to Spiegel, about 60 of his reports have been published in the publication or on his website. The magazine will now conduct an internal investigation to understand how it managed to pass these distorted articles as valid.