Budget cut weakens Germany’s international broadcaster DW

19 February 2026

Budget cut weakens Germany’s international broadcaster DW

Following the reduction in the federal subsidy for Deutsche Welle (DW) for 2026, the Broadcasting Council, the Administrative Board and the DW management team convened a special joint session to discuss a comprehensive package of measures to achieve the required savings of 21 million euros. Under the plan, the Greek service will be discontinued and the journalistic portfolio in other languages scaled back. The German-language journalistic offering will be merged with the German language courses. Numerous positions across the organization will be eliminated, and investment funds significantly reduced. In purely numerical terms, around 160 full-time positions are affected, although the final number may vary. There will be no layoffs.

Dr. Karl Jüsten, Broadcasting Council Chair: “DW must remain a strong voice for freedom, especially in restricted media markets such as Russia and Iran. To do that, it needs reliable, long-term funding. Due to the cuts, the broadcaster will have to expect significant losses in reach. This is particularly troubling, as Russia and China are investing heavily in their state-run propaganda outlets while the US withdrawal from international broadcasting is creating further gaps. By reducing funding to DW, both the German and European perspectives will be weakened internationally – and that at a time when Europe urgently needs new partners and allies. We especially regret the closing of the Greek service. For over 60 years, it strengthened German-Greek relations and made the German perspective visible in Greece. We did not take this decision lightly and it was not approved without dissenting voices. Unfortunately, the forced savings made this step unavoidable.”

Dr. Achim Dercks, Administrative Board Chair: “The current budget cuts at DW come just two years after they implemented a savings package of 20 million euros. This is in direct contradiction to the pledge made by the government in its coalition agreement to strengthen DW. Without restoring its funding in the 2027 Federal Budget, rising costs across nearly all areas threaten to lead to long-term damage to journalistic quality, technical infrastructure and reach. It is only with adequate funding that Deutsche Welle will be able to successfully make its contribution to free reporting and against disinformation.”

DW Director General Barbara Massing: “The savings made necessary by the cuts and the lack of compensation for collective wage increases are extremely painful. They weaken our competitiveness at a time when a strong German and European presence is becoming ever more important geopolitically. At the same time, we will continue to advance DW’s quality initiative and digital transformation, launched several years ago – albeit at a slower pace. DW is widely regarded as a trusted and independent source of information, both in censored markets and in countries where Germany is building strategic partnerships. Sustainable funding for the future is crucial if we are to fulfill our journalistic mandate in a highly competitive global information space. Now is the time for the government and parliament to set the necessary course together. I am sincerely grateful to the members of the Broadcasting Council and the Administrative Board for their support, which was clearly evident during the meeting.”

In the 2026 federal budget, the German government reduced its subsidy to DW by 10 million euros to 415 million euros. At the same time, the failure to offset moderate pay increases from the existing collective bargaining agreement will generate an additional 11 million euros in costs. As a result, DW is required to reduce spending by a total of 21 million euros. The savings will be implemented in a socially responsible manner and in accordance with DW’s strategic priorities. Multiple areas of the organization will be affected.

DW language services

DW’s Greek-language service will be discontinued. This service provided independent information to audiences in Greece, including during the military dictatorship. It served as an important channel of dialogue during the euro crisis, conveying German perspectives to the Greek public. Greece has long been a member of the European Union and is a stable democracy with a diverse media landscape, which is why DW must make cuts in this area.

DW’s German-language offering will be restructured: The journalistic offering DW German and DW Learn German will be merged, with the budget nearly halved. Independent journalism and integrated language-learning elements will be combined into a clearly defined overall product focused primarily on learners at higher language levels (from B1/B2). The new format is aimed at audiences outside the DACH region – Germany, Austria and Switzerland – including learners in pre-integration programs abroad who are seeking reliable information about living and working in Germany and Europe. The service is designed to combine journalistic relevance with practical guidance while strengthening language skills. People who speak German well enough to follow current affairs coverage in the language can access established German-language media brands and publishers online.

Changes to the journalistic portfolio

The budget for the language services ´Portuguese for Africa` and Dari/Pashto for Afghanistan will be reduced. The number of editions of the Spanish-language TV news will be reduced, while prime-time broadcasts will remain unchanged. Several programs will be discontinued: the Russian-language satire magazine Zapovednik (an external production), the arts and culture magazine Arts Unveiled, and the debate format Auf den Punkt in all language editions. Also ending are the science magazine Tomorrow Today in Portuguese (target country: Brazil), the environmental magazine Eco Africa in Portuguese, and the Europe-focused magazine Europeo in all seven language editions.

Infrastructure and Administration

More than one-third of the total savings will come from infrastructure and administrative areas, as well as from cost reductions achieved through the use of AI. Professional training programs and events are among the areas affected. Funding will also be cut for technical equipment, the further development of DW apps and building renovations. The expansion of new international correspondents’ offices will be slowed. Costs in production and distribution will also be further reduced.

[Source: DW press release]

Russia labels DW ‘undesirable organization’

15 December 2025

Russia labels DW ‘undesirable organization’

According to Russian media reports, the Russian public prosecutor’s office has classified the German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) as an “undesirable organization”. The Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, has welcomed the decision. This decision followed a request from the State Duma on August 20, 2024.

DW Director General Barbara Massing: “Russia may label us an undesirable organization, but that won’t deter us. This latest attempt to silence free media highlights the Russian regime’s blatant disregard for press freedom and exposes its fear of independent information. Despite censorship and blocking of our services by the Russian government, DW’s Russian-language service now reaches more people than ever before. We will continue to report independently – on the war of aggression against Ukraine and other topics about which little information is available in Russia. So that people can form their own opinions.”

In Russia, cooperating with “undesirable organizations” is a criminal offence, subject to heavy fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment. Even sharing content from such organizations—such as posting their journalistic work on social media—is considered a crime. For Russian citizens, the ban on cooperation also applies outside Russian territory. This means that Russian employees of DW are particularly affected.

Since March 2022, DW has been labeled a “foreign agent” in Russia, a designation used by Russia for individuals, media and organizations funded from abroad. Prior to this, DW faced a broadcasting ban, its Moscow studio was forced to relocate, and its website was blocked across all languages in Russia. Being labeled an “undesirable organization” is an escalation of the crackdown on DW. The decision is made by the Russian Prosecutor General or his representatives. The organization concerned is then entered into the relevant register. DW has not yet received any official notification from the Russian authorities.

In addition to DW, numerous media organizations, NGOs, and foundations are considered “undesirable organizations,” including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Bellingcat, CORRECTIV, Reporters Without Borders and TV Rain.

Censorship Circumvention for DW Users in Russia

To help users in Russia continue accessing independent information, DW is increasingly relying on digital platforms and offering tools to bypass censorship, such as the Tor browser, VPN access, and the DW app. In addition, the new DW Access app offers users another secure way to circumvent censorship and stay informed. Users can download it via the dedicated DW platform www.access-unlocked.org or share it directly via messenger services or Bluetooth.

DW Russian reaches around 10 million weekly users in 2025, mostly through video content. This makes DW Russian one of DW’s top 10 most-used services. DW also produces a daily 30-minute Russian-language video news program, DW Novosti, and the satirical show Zapovednik, produced in Riga, remains popular.

Since March 2024, DW’s Russian-language programming has also been included in the TV-Swoboda (“Freedom”) package by Reporters Without Borders. This package features around 20 independent Russian-language TV and radio channels, broadcast via Eutelsat-Hotbird satellites.

DW is Germany’s international broadcaster. As an independent media outlet, we provide unbiased news and information in 32 languages around the world so that people can form their own opinions. DW’s work focuses on topics such as freedom and human rights, democracy and the rule of law, world trade and social justice, health education and environmental protection, technology and innovation. DW’s TV, online and radio services reach 337 million users every week.

DW Akademie trains journalists worldwide, supports the development of free media, and promotes the German language with free learning opportunities.

[Source: DW press release]

Iran’s targeting of journalists across Europe raised at UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

17 March 2023

Iran’s targeting of journalists across Europe raised at UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

Iran’s extra-territorial targeting of journalists in the UK, Germany and across Europe has attracted criticism and concern at the 52^nd session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva.

At a side event to the session on Friday 17 March, jointly hosted by BBC World Service and Deutsche Welle (DW), serious concerns were raised regarding Iran’s significant increase in threats directed towards BBC News Persian and DW staff since Mahsa Amini’s death in Iran in September 2022 and the subsequent protests seen across the country. Escalating risks to journalists reporting on Iran, outside Iran, were discussed with State missions to the United Nations in Geneva.

Speaking by video at the event, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Professor Javaid Rehman, said that Iran’s actions against BBC Persian journalists violate the provisions of the international covenants, treaties and obligations, to which Iran is a state party and signatory: “I am extremely concerned that such attacks to silence journalists violate the fundamental rights of journalists and are an assault on the principles of transparency, democracy and accountability. It is also regrettable that, in these circumstances, there is a chilling effect that is produced on the work of other journalists in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and indeed elsewhere, who are reporting on the country, and may deter them from reporting on issues of public interest and of public importance.”

In his video address, BBC World Service News Controller, Tarik Kafala, said that the pressures on the BBC Persian staff have never been greater and that there are constant attempts to undermine the audiences’ trust in BBC Persian and challenge the motivation for its work: “We stand with all of our BBC Persian journalists and we stand by their journalism. We will not tolerate abuse, wherever it comes from. We will absolutely support our staff. We object to any action by the Iranian authorities aimed at targeting them, their families and our journalism in the strongest possible terms. We welcome the UN’s consistent support for BBC Persian staff and their families and will continue to make our case to the world community until this completely unacceptable harassment ends.”

Head of DW Persian Service, Yalda Zarbakhch, said at the event: “We are extremely concerned about the safety of our staff at DW Persian working in Germany and their families living in Iran. Since DW has been put on the sanctions list by the Iranian government, classifying journalists as terrorists for doing their legitimate work, we have seen a new level of threats. Family members are brought in sometimes daily by the authorities for interrogations. Pressure on our staff is constant. DW urges to recognise the paramount importance of independent reporting out of Iran and for the Iranian people, and that the safety of journalists and the freedom of the media is non-negotiable.”

Since 2017, BBC World Service has filed a number of UN complaints over the treatment of BBC News Persian staff and their families, represented by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC and Jennifer Robinson at Doughty Street Chambers, and supported by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC and Jennifer Robinson, counsel for BBC World Service, stated: “The targeting of BBC journalists by Iran is unlawful and designed to stifle and censor independent and objective reporting on events in Iran. The death threats, arbitrary detention of family members and economic sanctions imposed on BBC News Persian journalists violate international law and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Iran’s targeting and harassment of journalists inside and outside of Iran has now spread beyond that directed at BBC News Persian, underlining the need for urgent action from the UN and UN member states.”

Jeremy Dear, IFJ Deputy General Secretary, stressed in his video address the need for the special rapporteurs to understand the societal impact of the Iranian regime’s action in denying citizens, at home and abroad, the right to independent information. “But also governments in the UK, Germany and other countries need to take more seriously too the threats to journalists and their families.” He pledged “the IFJ’s continued support for all those journalists at risk until they can report freely from London, from Bonn, or from Tehran.”

NUJ General Secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, comments: “The escalation in the targeting of UK-based journalists by Iran and the weaponising of their families is of enormous concern to the NUJ. It is having a profound impact on all journalists affected, impeding their daily lives and causing deep anxiety and strain for them and their loved ones. Iran’s strategic threats are clearly intended to send a collective message to journalists and media outlets that work hard to report and shine a light on events in Iran. The NUJ calls on the UN and its member states to act robustly to bring this targeting and abuse to an end.”

BBC News Persian is a multimedia news and current-affairs service with a weekly audience of 18.9m (BBC Global Audience Measure 2022). As part of BBC World Service, it delivers accurate and impartial news, information and analysis from a global perspective to Persian-speakers around the world.

[Source: BBC press release]

The international media of the DG8 reaffirm the importance of their missions

19 December 2022

The international media of the DG8 reaffirm the importance of their missions

The DG8 leaders held their annual summit on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 December 2022 in Paris, under the chairmanship of France Médias Monde. Organized in a hybrid format, the summit allowed the majority of members to meet face-to-face after two years of pandemic-related restrictions.

During this meeting, the eight major international public media (BBC World Service, Deutsche Welle, USAGM, NHK World-Japan, ABC Australia, CBC/Radio-Canada, SRG SSR/SWI and France Médias Monde) have reaffirmed their cooperation around shared interests: the importance of guaranteeing all citizens access to professional, balanced and independent information, the fight against disinformation and all forms of manipulation, as well as the security of editorial teams on the ground and on digital platform, a corollary of the freedom to inform.

Highly responsive media offerings in the face of global upheavals

International media have played a key role in health awareness during the Covid-19 pandemic for the past two years. They also contribute greatly to raising audiences’ awareness of environmental issues and the consequences of climate change. On a daily basis, they are on the front line to cover all the major events of the world, including the most sensitive ones, even in the most remote areas. They have been particularly active since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in reporting on the conflict and have multiplied initiatives to make their radio and television channels and their digital offerings as widely accessible as possible, by adapting to the broadcasting technologies and reception modes available, and by strengthening or launching offerings in the languages spoken in the region. In the same way, members have successfully continued to develop editorial offers for Africa, Latin America, Middle-East or Asia in regional languages, have increased coverage of the Pacific and have plans to expand their footprint and reach into this strategic vulnerable region, always striving to provide audiences with reliable information that complies with the ethical rules of journalism. These initiatives go hand in hand with efforts to ensure the preservation or growth of a free and professional local media landscape.

Members united to ensure the safety of staff and the freedom to inform

In the face of states that deny their populations’ access to impartial information and attempt to influence discourse outside their own borders, the DG8 media will continue, with the support of the international community and organizations working for press freedom, to seek every means to make themselves accessible. In a context of unfavorable international tensions, the DG8 circumventing censorship working group is actively pursuing its work of exchanging and sharing solutions among members. Similarly, in a context of increasing risks for information professionals, DG8 members continue to cooperate on the physical and digital security of their teams on the ground, including hacking, tracing and other forms of digital harassment, which undermine the freedom to inform.

Unique public service missions that require unfailing support

Following the summit, DG8 leaders paid tribute to the courage and professionalism of their international media teams serving all audiences, whose work is the first line of defense against disinformation, on a global scale, in more than 60 languages. With more than 1.5 billion user contacts following them every week, the combined audience of the eight groups, which continued to increase significantly in 2022 on both broadcast and digital platforms, illustrates the confidence of audiences in the verified, pluralist and balanced information they deliver on all continents. In order to consolidate their unique, international and multilingual mission on information, the members of DG8 wished to stress the importance of guaranteeing the level and predictability of their financial resources, as well as preserving and reaffirming all the guarantees of their independence, which are a prerequisite for the confidence of their global audience.

[Source: USAGM press release]

Deutsche Welle: Broadcasting Council protests against actions taken by Iranian authorities

28 November 2022

Deutsche Welle: Broadcasting Council protests against actions taken by Iranian authorities

At its meeting on 25 November, the DW Broadcasting Council discussed coverage of the war of aggression against Ukraine, improvement of DW programming accessibility and threats against journalists from DW’s Persian service.

In late October, the DW Persian service, along with other media and public figures in Europe, were placed on a list by the Iranian regime of supposed supporters of terrorism. In so doing, the regime is providing itself a flimsy legitimation of the action it is taking against critical voices outside of Iran.

The threats and attempts to intimidate employees of the DW Persian service have been going on for years. DW employees and their relatives have repeatedly been interrogated when entering or leaving the country for family visits. This is why employees actively working in the editorial service haven’t been back to Iran for some time. The threats are unmistakable. If the critical coverage were to continue, there could be no guarantees for the well-being of the relatives of DW employees located in Iran.

Since the protests began, Iran has been increasing the pressure on journalists living abroad. Agents working for the regime have contacted people in Iran who follow a DW employee on Instagram. The people were told both on the phone and during interrogations to unfollow the account if they want to avoid reprisals against themselves and against their relatives. Our employee was referred to as an enemy of the state during some of the interrogations. Enemies of the state receive the death penalty in Iran.

The Broadcasting Council condemned the actions taken by Iranian authorities. “We protest against this treatment of journalists,” says Prelate Karl Jüsten, chairman of the Broadcasting Council. “We very strongly condemn these blatant threats and attempts at intimidation as a reaction to our coverage of the peaceful protests. We would like to thank the DW Persian service. Despite these threats, the journalists are doing amazing work and showing the world what is happening in Iran.”

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