GermanyOwnership & classification
Founded: 2014
Ownership
CORRECTIV is Germany's first non-profit investigative newsroom, launched in 2014 and operated by CORRECTIV – Recherchen für die Gesellschaft gemeinnützige GmbH, based in Essen and Berlin. It belongs to no media conglomerate and is not listed on any exchange; as a charitable GmbH its shareholder functions and key decisions rest with a board of trustees/supervisory body that exists to safeguard editorial independence. Its founding was enabled by the Brost Foundation, which fulfilled the testamentary legacy of publisher's widow Anneliese Brost.
Funding
Funded as a non-profit through foundation grants (the Brost Foundation gave about 3.8 million euros from 2014 to 2018, alongside backers such as Open Society Foundations), corporate and institutional support, plus membership fees and reader donations rather than commercial ownership.
Affiliation & stance
CORRECTIV pursues investigative and fact-checking journalism with a center-left orientation, but it is structured as an independent charitable organization governed by a trustee board, with no party, government or owner exercising editorial control. Its self-governing non-profit structure makes it INDEPENDENT, matching the site's center-left lean.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Progressive
- Measured from coverage
- Lean Progressivebased on 111
72/100
Factual
65/100
Objective
113
Articles
113
reports
Factual: How accurately its articles report the facts, judged against primary sources and the cross-outlet consensus. Only articles that cite their sources are counted.
Objective: How neutral the writing is — whether reporting keeps the writer’s own preferences and opinions out of the article.
Recent coverage
The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt: the extreme right and its henchmen
In Sachsen-Anhalt wird am Dienstag ein neuer Landtag gewählt, der möglicherweise eine Regierung mit Vertretern der AfD und BSW bilden könnte. Die AfD erreichte 43,8 Prozent der Zweitstimmen und benötigt drei zusätzliche Sitze für eine absolute Mehrheit. Die Artikel analysiert die Mitglieder der AfD- und BSW-Fraktion, beschreibt sie als rechtsradikal und mit Verbindungen zu Neonazis, Putinsupportern und Vetternwirtschaft. Ulrich Siegmund, ein prominenter AfD-Politiker, wird als potenzieller Ministerpräsident diskutiert, und seine Verbindungen zur Vetternwirtschaft sowie seine Rolle bei einem 'Remigrationstreffen' werden hervorgehoben. Oliver Kirchner, Fraktionsvorsitzender der AfD, wird kritisiert wegen rassistischer Äußerungen und Verschwörungstheorien. Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, ein Islamwissenschaftler, wird als führendes Mitglied der rechten Flügel der AfD beschrieben.
Young people's magazine Salon5: "You can't miss something like this"
The article discusses the impact of Salon5's youth journalism initiative, highlighting how participants gain confidence, learn to critically evaluate sources, and carry these skills into their lives while sharing them with others. The evaluation suggests that hands-on journalism experience fosters critical thinking and media literacy among young people. The program appears to go beyond traditional youth journalism by emphasizing practical skills and community engagement.
Brandenburg A CDU Minister of the Interior discovers the German flag
In Brandenburg, der CDU-Innenminister Jan Redmann hat beschlossen, vor seinem Ministerium und vier weiteren Behörden ständig die Deutschlandflagge zu hissen. Diese Entscheidung löste unterschiedliche Reaktionen aus: Die Jusos kritisierten das Vorhaben scharf, während die AfD seine Motive in Frage stellte. Ein anderer Ministerkollege wäre ebenfalls bereit, die Flagge zu hissen, jedoch wird dies durch den Mangel an passenden Flaggenmasten behindert. Der Artikel berichtet über dieses politische Thema im Zusammenhang mit der Verherrlichung des Nationalen.
Under a left-wing government, will there be no more money for Berlin?
The article discusses the debate sparked by Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder following the election victory in Berlin, focusing on the financial equalization between states. It examines the sustainability of demands related to this issue and explores why a potential Left Party-led government in Berlin has caused significant outrage. The piece analyzes the implications of such a scenario for regional funding distribution and highlights concerns over potential shifts in financial responsibility.
Court of Appeal rules CORRECTIV right: third victory against Ulrich Vosgerau
The German Federal Court of Justice (Kammergericht) has ruled in favor of Correctiv, marking their third victory against Ulrich Vosgerau. The court confirmed that the publication's reporting on Vosgerau's statement within the investigation 'Geheimplan gegen Deutschland' was permissible under freedom of speech laws. This ruling strengthens journalistic freedom by supporting Correctiv's efforts to report on alleged conspiracy theories involving Vosgerau, a former intelligence officer accused of spreading false information. The case highlights ongoing tensions between media outlets and individuals who claim to have been defamed or misrepresented.
Young people have decided: the shortlist for the Salon5 Youth Book Prize 2026 has been decided
Twelve books have made it to the shortlist for the Salon5 Youth Book Prize 2026. These books were selected by teenagers aged 13 to 19 who read, discussed, and evaluated the submitted titles. The final shortlist has been announced, indicating which stories convinced the jury.
Environmental association withdraws from EU chemicals alliance and warns against industry influence
Der größte Dachverband europäischer Umweltorganisationen hat nach acht Monaten seine Mitgliedschaft in der EU-Kommissions-Initiative 'Critical Chemicals-Alliance' aufgegeben. Die Deutsche Umwelthilfe kritisiert die Allianz und warnt davor, dass die Industrie einen zunehmenden Einfluss auf den Umweltschutz und die öffentliche Gesundheit gewinnen könnte. Die Entscheidung wird als Zeichen für mangelnden politischen Willen zur strengen Regulierung von Chemikalien interpretiert. Die Kritik richtet sich insbesondere gegen die angeblich schwache Reaktion der EU auf gefährliche Substanzen.
Right-wing extremist Sellner founds "Remigration Institute" Greens and leftists call for ban
The Green Party and the Left in Germany are calling for a ban on the 'Remigration Institute' founded by far-right extremist Martin Sellner. Sellner, known for his ties to the AfD party, is positioning himself as an ideologue for a potential AfD-led state government. In a concept paper, he advocates for 'remigration' targeting non-assimilated citizens, similar to his previous proposals in Potsdam in 2023.
$140 million in boxes: Ukrainian politician corruption scandal is fake
An article published by CORRECTIV reports that a fabricated website linked to a Ukrainian media outlet falsely accuses Arsen Zhumadilov, former head of the Defense Procurement Agency, of a corruption scandal. The article draws parallels between this incident and Russia's 'Doppelgänger' disinformation campaign, suggesting that the false allegations may be part of a broader effort to spread misinformation.
According to a statement on the German flag: Neither the Greens nor the CDU demanded Klopp's resignation
The article reports that a viral TikTok video claimed politicians from Germany's Green Party and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) demanded Jürgen Klopp's resignation after he commented on the German national flag. However, the article clarifies that these demands were fabricated and not based on any real statements by the mentioned political parties.
Manuela Schwesig: "Woman against the blue"
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, ahead of the state election on September 20, Social Democratic Party (SPD) Minister President Manuela Schwesig attended an event hosted by the regional business association. The event took place against the backdrop of rising support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which currently leads opinion polls with 37–38 percent, followed by the SPD with 33 percent. Schwesig emphasized the importance of international labor migration for the region’s economy, noting that many businesses rely on workers with migrant backgrounds. She shared stories from her campaign, including conversations with a baker concerned about losing skilled migrant employees due to the hostile environment created by AfD supporters. Schwesig criticized the AfD’s rhetoric, arguing that their policies would harm both the economy and social cohesion.
Russian war channel Rybar operated from Berlin
The Russian Telegram channel 'Rybar,' which has approximately 1.5 million users, is known for spreading war propaganda and its founder has been sanctioned by the European Union. Investigative reports by CORRECTIV and iStories reveal that two employees of the channel reside in southern Berlin and travel across Europe for their work.
Lobbying: State lawmakers criticize lack of transparency in the Ministry of Economy
A group of legal experts has criticized the German Federal Ministry of Economics for lacking transparency regarding meetings between Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and representatives of the gas lobby. The experts argue that such meetings should be made public under existing laws. However, the federal government has refused to comply with this request, maintaining its position despite the calls for greater openness.