More than 120 journalists at Business Insider and Politico wrote to Axel Springer leadership to protest honoring Peter Thiel with the publisher’s annual award, arguing the move contradicts commitments to press freedom. Staffers cited Thiel’s secret backing of Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker, which resulted in a $140 million judgment and Gawker’s bankruptcy. Axel Springer defended the choice, calling Thiel an influential, nonconformist figure. The Berlin ceremony will be livestreamed and features Mathias Döpfner, Bari Weiss and Max Levchin.
120+ Business Insider and Politico Journalists Protest Axel Springer Honoring Peter Thiel
Peter Thiel (Getty Images)
More than 120 journalists at Business Insider and Politico have formally protested Axel Springer’s decision to honor billionaire investor Peter Thiel with the publisher’s annual Axel Springer Award, saying the move conflicts with the company's stated commitment to press freedom.
Staffers delivered a letter to Axel Springer leadership ahead of a ceremony in Berlin where Thiel is scheduled to receive the award. TheWrap first reported the staff objections.
Why Staffers Object
Critics pointed to Thiel’s controversial history with news organizations, most notably his secret financing of former wrestler Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker. That litigation culminated in a $140 million judgment in 2016 and helped push Gawker into bankruptcy — a case frequently cited in debates about whether wealthy individuals can use litigation to punish or silence news outlets.
Axel Springer’s Response
Axel Springer named Thiel as this year’s laureate in July, praising the PayPal and Palantir co-founder as “one of the digital era’s most influential entrepreneurs and investors.” CEO Mathias Döpfner said Thiel “reminds us that progress requires courage and nonconformism.”
Axel Springer said the award recognizes figures who have made a lasting impact on business, society or technology and provides a forum to engage influential people “to challenge their ideas, and to bring their vision of the future into the public debate.”
Ceremony And Context
The Berlin ceremony will be livestreamed and will include a discussion between Thiel and Döpfner, a contribution from CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, and a conversation with PayPal co-founder Max Levchin.
Staff concerns come amid broader industry fights over press access: U.S. newsrooms, including Politico and CNN, have been involved in high-profile disputes and legal actions regarding White House credentialing and access for reporters.
Previous recipients of the Axel Springer Award include Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
The Insider Union did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment, and an Axel Springer spokesperson referred reporters back to the company’s statement and confirmed the event would be livestreamed.
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