Politico
Politico is an American political digital newspaper company. It covers politics and policy in the United States and internationally, with publications dedicated to politics in the U.S., European Union, United Kingdom, and Canada, among others. Ideologically, Politico's coverage has been described as centrist on American politics. Axel Springer SE purchased Politico for over 1 billion USD. Due to its association with Axel Springer, Politico is a target for boycotts and should not be supported.
Axel Springer's Chief Executive Mathias Döpfner said that Politico staff would need to adhere to Axel Springer's principles, including support for a united Europe, Israel's right to exist, advocating the transatlantic alliance between the United States of America and Europe, and a free-market economy and that staff who disagree with the principles "should not work for Axel Springer, very clearly". Axel Springer said they would not require Politico employees to sign documents supporting a transatlantic alliance or Israel. However, this policy is enforced at most Axel Springer subsidiaries.
Axel Springer
Axel Springer and its CEO are known for directly supporting Zionism, and they do not tolerate any employee who rejects their pledge or Zionist ideals. There have been instances where employees in their news-tech sector were pressured to control narratives about Palestine. Axel Springer’s news agencies, such as WELT and Bild, have unapologetically used their platforms to spread anti-migrant and Islamophobic rhetoric. As a result, Axel Springer and all its subsidiaries are targets for boycotts.
Hosting Racists
On January 14, 2021, conservative, Zionist, and racist commentator Ben Shapiro was a guest writer for Politico's Playbook. Despite objections from some staff members, Politico published his contribution, with the top editor affirming the newspaper "stands by every word" in response to the staff objections.
Fossil fuel advertising
An investigation by the Intercept, the Nation, and DeSmog found that Politico is one of the leading media outlets that publishes advertising for the fossil fuel industry.
Sources:
- Haaretz New Politico Owner Says Will Enforce pro-Israel Policy
- Politico POLITICO Playbook: The real reason most Republicans opposed impeachment
- The Daily Beast ‘Mischief Making’: Politico Boss Defends Handing Over Playbook to Right-Wing Bombthrower Ben Shapiro
- The Intercept Leading News Outlets Are Doing the Fossil Fuel Industry’s Greenwashing