A striking statement by Ulrich Wickert on the press coverage of Andreas Lubitz
That 80 percent of the reporting concerning the 27-year-old Andreas Lubitz has been proven to be wrong is not a statement by the Lubitz family, but by Ulrich Wickert, one of the most renowned and most competent journalists in Germany. At a speech in Dillingen he warned that the publishing of rumors for the purpose of entertainment has nothing to do with the proper obligations of the press. He also said: “Given the fast pace and tough competition, many media often do not take the time to verify the truth of the information”.(1)
The following reports, which were continuously repeated by the press, are clear examples of false stories about Andreas Lubitz. It has been said countless times that he had locked the captain out of the cockpit. This is demonstrably wrong. Based on the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder protocol this was proven to be false. See the contribution under:
https://andreas-lubitz.com/en/2018/08/17/the-deliberate-lockout-of-the-captain-from-the-cockpit/
Furthermore, countless press reports have claimed that Andreas Lubitz suffered from depression in 2014/2015. In a press conference in March 2017 Günter Lubitz(2) explicitly pointed out what the Düsseldorf prosecutor Kumpa confirmed in his final statement of December 2016:
“None of the treating physicians in 2014/2015 — be they psychiatric specialists or other doctors – diagnosed depression with Andreas Lubitz at that time. In addition, no physician or therapist detected suicidal thoughts or were any reported by the patient. There was also no evidence of atypical aggressive behavior.”
Nevertheless, the press did not acknowledge this statement from the Lubitz press conference and continued to report falsely about the depressive copilot. We acknowledge how, given the fast pace of our times, many media often do not take the time to review and then update the truth of their content, which would introduce fresh insights that could lead to alternative viewpoints and, consequently, raise new questions.
A prime example of cumulative journalistic incompetence, coupled with a culture of dilettantism, is the case of BILD editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt and BILD editor John Puthenpurackal who published stories of an alleged affair between ex-girlfriend Maria W. and Andreas Lubitz. See also the contribution under:
https://andreas-lubitz.com/en/2017/09/04/maria-w-the-ex-girlfriend-who-never-existed/
The FOCUS then asked: “Quarrel over alleged Lubitz lover: Was the “BILD” eagerly duped by an imposter?”(3) This example illustrates even more strikingly how sensational information goes unverified and is readily disseminated in order to increase circulation. One can begin to comprehend Ulrich Wickert’s statement that 80 percent of the reports about Andreas Lubitz were proven to be wrong!
L.U.
(1)https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/dillingen/Angenehmer-Abend-mit-Ulrich-Wickert-id44337116.html
(2)https://andreas-lubitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017.03.24_Introductory-comments-Lubitz.pdf
(3)https://www.focus.de/panorama/welt/bericht-naehrt-neue-zweifel-an-glaubwuerdigkeit-streit-um-angebliche-lubitz-geliebte-sass-die-bild-einer-hochstaplerin-auf_id_7261914.html
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