Telegraph, Politico owner says staff must align with pro-Israel principles or leave

Mathias Dopfner has defended his media group Axel Springer’s long-standing support for Israel’s right to exist, after journalists at Politico raised concerns over his public commentary on the Middle East.

Speaking in an internal meeting with staff, Dopfner said employees who disagree with the company’s core principles — known internally as “the essentials” — may be better suited to work elsewhere.

“Nobody should work for Axel Springer despite the essentials or in disagreement with one of the essentials,” he said, according to audio obtained by the Jewish Insider.

“If the essentials are not attractive, if the essentials are not a magnet, if the essentials are not a reason why to work for this company, I can only recommend working for other companies,” he added.

The remarks came during a 40-minute meeting with Politico employees following complaints from journalists over opinion articles Dopfner had written. Staff is said to have argued that his views risked undermining the outlet’s editorial neutrality.

The controversy centers on Axel Springer’s corporate principles, which include support for Israel’s right to exist as a core value. The Berlin-based publisher — which also owns Bild, the Telegraph and Business Insider — has long described these principles as central to its identity.

During the discussion, Dopfner rejected claims that his personal views could influence Politico’s newsroom, stressing a clear distinction between opinion writing and editorial decision-making.

He said he would continue writing opinion pieces and defended his remarks on Iran, arguing that describing its leadership as an aggressor was justified.

“The wording is more of a euphemism,” he said. “We should rather say they’re terrorists, or they are mass murderers.”