Former MDR program director Klaus Brink Bäumer continues to receive his generous annual salary of over 200,000 euros a year despite resigning from his position – media politicians are calling for more transparency in MDR contracts.
In April of this year, the Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) and program director Klaus Brink Bäumer announced that the former Spiegel journalist was leaving his post after almost three years. At the time, MDR director Ralf Ludwig paid Brink Bäumer “the utmost respect and thanks for prematurely resigning from his position as program director in Leipzig.” Brink Bäumer’s further connection to MDR was already discussed in April, as the journalist explained that he wanted to spend “less time with conferences in the future and structures and instead deal with research, content, travel, people.”
What has not been discussed in the general public, however, is the fact that Brink Bäumer continues to receive his salary of 219,000 euros per year from the MDR. Until the end of the term agreed in 2021 in January 2026. How can it be that a program director announces his “early resignation” and is still paid?
MDR Broadcasting Council member Stefan Gebhard is also surprised by this. The Broadcasting Council is actually the broadcaster’s highest program supervisor and, according to a report by Magdeburger Volksstimme, the members were only subsequently informed that their salaries would continue to be paid. The exact work assignment for Brink Bäumer is unclear and Gebhardt expects the program director and director to clearly state the scope according to the salary.
Ask about compensation for salary
The question of the consideration for the salary payments remained in the MDR program committee in October according to a picture report unanswered. And at the meeting of the following broadcasting council, director Ralf Ludwig was extremely tight-lipped when asked what the former program director has been doing for all his money since May 1, 2024. Intendant Ludwig simply explained that Brink Bäumer submits proof of work to the legal director Jens-Ole Schröder every month.
In fact, Brink Bäumer now appears more often in public media, be it as an expert on the US election, appearing on “Hart aber Fair” or moderating MDR Riverboat. The MDR told the daily newspaper that it was a “responsible joint decision in the MDR with a view to the current framework conditions and strategic decisions” to continue paying the previous salary level. After all, Brink Bäumer has a continuing contract.
The left-wing politician Gebhard expects concrete proposals from the board of directors on how the remuneration for future directors should be adjusted. After all, he should receive a verbal answer to his written questions to the broadcaster’s management from the legal director in the MDR program committee tomorrow, Monday.
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Source: www.digitalfernsehen.de
