Under three

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In journalistic jargon in Germany, the expression under three denotes that a statement made to a journalist may only be used as background information. What is said is confidential. The journalist may therefore neither quote the information nor disclose its originator. Such a statement is often referred to as "off the record".

Language codes

In communication between journalists and their interlocutors - for example from the areas of politics, justice, authorities and organizations with security tasks or business - the question often arises of how the information obtained can be used by the journalist. According to paragraph 16 of the statutes of the Federal Press Conference , an agreement is made that distinguishes between three codes:

  • Under one - the information may be reproduced verbatim if the author is directly named: "Chancellor Merkel said: 'In view of the current financial crisis, the Federal Government ...'"
  • Under two - the information and the context of the source may be reproduced, but not directly quoted: "As was learned from CDU circles, the Federal Government has in view of the current financial crisis ..."
  • Under three - the information may not be used publicly. The journalist received them solely for his own background. What has been said can, however, give rise to further research or indirectly flow into articles and comments by the journalist.

Most journalists adhere to this informal language regulation, since failure to comply could cut off valuable information for journalists in the future and would no longer be considered trustworthy in the entire industry. In addition, a journalist can be excluded from the association of the Federal Press Conference. There is no legal way to enforce this unwritten rule. It remains a gentlemen's agreement based on trust. The Press Code is concerned in paragraph 5 with this kind of agreements. There it says:

"The agreed confidentiality must be maintained in principle."

- Sponsoring Association of the German Press Council e. V. (Ed.) : Press Code

Breach of confidentiality

A sensational breach of the confidentiality of such background discussions led to the Rudel affair in the 1970s, as a result of which two generals of the Bundeswehr were dismissed. The two Air Force Generals Karl-Heinz Franke and Walter Krupinski asked for a “confidential press conference” after inviting right-wing extremist pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel to a traditional meeting at Bremgarten Air Base , contrary to express instructions . In this confidential press conference, they excused the invitation by comparing Rudel's Nazi past with the KPD past of Social Democrat Herbert Wehner . After the content of the conversation became known, the then Federal Defense Minister Georg Leber retired the two generals.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Alexandra Föderl-Schmid: Under one, two or three. In: taz. the daily newspaper - archive. May 3, 2004. From taz.de, accessed on February 7, 2019.
  2. ^ Articles of Association. In: Federal Press Conference - Association. 2018. From Bundespressekonferenz.de, accessed on February 7, 2019.
  3. ↑ Media: The sub-three rule. In: Spiegel Online - Politics. July 6, 2016. From Spiegel.de, accessed February 7, 2019.
  4. ↑ Press Code: Section 5 - Professional Secrecy. In: Press Council - The Press Code . On Presserat.de, accessed on February 7, 2019.
  5. ^ German Press Council: Journalistic Principles (Press Code): Guidelines for journalistic work according to the recommendations of the German Press Council - Complaints Regulation. Version of March 22, 2017. On Presserat.de ( PDF ; 598 KB), accessed on February 7, 2019.
  6. ↑ Georg Leber: Soldiers have a duty. In: Die Zeit Online . November 12, 1976. From Zeit.de, accessed February 7, 2019.
  7. ↑ In love with the uniform. In: Der Spiegel No. 46/1976 of November 8, 1976. From Spiegel.de, accessed on February 7, 2019.
  8. ↑ Hans Saueier: Bundeswehr: The generals of yesterday. In: Die Zeit Online. November 5, 1976. From ZEIT No. 46/1976. On Zeit.de, accessed on February 7, 2019.
  9. Jump up ↑ The Pack Affair. In: History of the Air Force - Chronicle. October 1, 1976. From Geschichte.Luftwaffe.de, accessed on February 7, 2019.