German news reporter Susanna Ohlen (39) was taken off the screen this week after an observant eyewitness noticed something strange during a TV recording.
Before the live broadcast in the flood-hit town of Bad Münstereifel, Ohlen was seen smearing mud to make it appear that she was helping during the clean-up. It writes Independent in an article on Friday.
Naughty tricks
The entire session was filmed by the eyewitness, who observed it all. The video, which was shared on social media, shows Ohlen standing with her back to the camera and picking up mud that she smears on her clothes and face, before the TV broadcast went on the air.
– Looks like a ghost town
In the feature itself, Ohlen is dressed in boots, bucket hat, folded shirt sleeves and gloves, while she holds a shovel and encourages viewers to take part in the work.
The video that has gone viral, by Ohlen smearing himself with mud before sending:
The feature, which has now been deleted, was introduced with the following statement on “Guten Morgen Deutchland”: “RTL presents Susanna Ohlen, who extends a hand in the clean-up in Bad Münstereifel”, according to the newspaper Bild, broadcast by Independent.
– In violation of the standard
On Thursday afternoon, a spokesman from the main channel went out and announced that Ohlen has been taken off the screen.
– Our reporter’s approach is clearly contrary to journalistic principles and our standard. We therefore gave the reporter a suspension on Monday, as soon as we heard about the case, said RTL’s spokesman.
Ohlen has worked for RTL since 2008. On Friday, she went out and apologized for the incident on her Instagram profile, and says that she has made a “serious mistake”.
– As a journalist, I should never let this happen. I apologize, she writes in a post.
– Do not know who died
Declared state of emergency
Last week was Germany was hit by a terrible storm. The states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate have been hit hard after several days of extreme rainfall.
The soil is saturated with water, reservoirs flood, and rivers overflow their banks. In parts of Rhineland-Palatinate, a state of emergency has been declared as a result of the extreme weather, which German meteorologists have called “Bern”.
DESTRUCTIONS: The picture shows enormous damage after the flood that hit Germany. The photo is from Kreuzberg, west of the country, taken a week later. Photo: Christof Stache / AFP / NTB
view more
Unusually heavy rains have also led to flooding in neighboring Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium.
At least 137 people in Germany and 32 people in Belgium have lost their lives due to the flood. It is feared that the numbers will rise, as at least 176 people are still reported missing, according to CNN.
–
