ARD Admits Error and Corrects Report on CDU Congress After Using Archival Footage of Merkel

German public broadcaster ARD was forced to issue an official correction and apology for an error in the program 'Bericht aus Berlin'. In its report on the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) congress, which last weekend elected Friedrich Merz as the party's new chairman, the editorial team used archival footage. It showed former Chancellor Angela Merkel applauding during the proceedings. This material was inserted into a sequence reporting the moment the voting results were announced, in which Merz received over 91% support. This suggested to viewers that Merkel was applauding that specific result and expressing her support for the new leader. However, as ARD itself admitted, the footage came from a different, earlier moment of the congress and was used in the wrong context. „Das ist keine Kleinigkeit. Wenn der gebührenfinanzierte Öffentlich-Rechtliche sich so was leistet, untergräbt das das Vertrauen.” (This is no small matter. When the publicly funded broadcaster allows itself something like this, it undermines trust.) — Stefan Niggemeier The error was pointed out by journalist and media blogger Stefan Niggemeier. His intervention led to a swift reaction from the broadcaster. ARD emphasized in its statement that the mistake was not intentional and resulted from a production error. Nevertheless, it constitutes a serious violation of the fundamental principles of reliable journalism, which requires a strict link between visual material and its corresponding factual context. The editorial team of 'Bericht aus Berlin' has already corrected the material in its online archives. German public media, primarily ARD and ZDF, are funded by a mandatory broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag). Their mission, guaranteed by law, includes providing objective and reliable information, which is of particular importance in the context of a highly polarized media landscape. The ARD incident is not isolated and fits into a series of corrections that major German newsrooms have recently had to make. A few days earlier, the competing public broadcaster ZDF corrected its report in 'Heute Journal' concerning the US agency ICE. Among other things, this material used AI-generated footage supposedly depicting an intervention by the authorities, as well as other archival material in the wrong context. Two such cases in a short period have revived the debate about production standards and material control in the largest and most influential editorial offices. Critics, as highlighted in an article in 'Die Welt', sometimes accuse public broadcasters of deliberately or carelessly misleading viewers who are legally obligated to fund these media. The issue of the wrongly contextualized photo of Merkel concerns not only a technical error but also politically delicate symbolism. Angela Merkel, who stepped down from the CDU leadership in 2018 and from the chancellorship in 2021, remains an influential but also controversial figure within her party. Suggesting her enthusiastic support for Merz, who represents a more conservative wing of the CDU, could influence perceptions of the party's internal dynamics. ARD, aware of this sensitivity, took corrective action, but the incident will leave a mark on its image as an institution committed to the highest standards.