Tagesschau (German TV programme)

History

On 25 July 1988, Tagesschau was on the brink of being cancelled due to a warning strike organized by the broadcasting union RFFU. This blackout would have been for the first (and only) time in its history, but the Rundschau from Bavaria, produced by Bayerisches Fernsehen (Bavarian Television) in Munich, helped out as a substitute program.

Presenters

Marc Bator 2007.jpg|Marc Bator Jan Hofer 1.jpg|Jan Hofer Deutscher Fernsehpreis 2012 - Judith Rakers.jpg|Judith Rakers Zimmer frei - der Abschied-2005a.jpg|Jens Riewa Susanne Stichler Wilhelm Wieben und Dagmar Berghoff.JPG|Susanne Stichler, Dagmar Berghoff and Wilhelm Wieben

Chief anchors

• Karl-Heinz Köpcke (1964–1987; newsreader from 1959)
• Werner Veigel (1987–1995; newsreader from 1966)
• Dagmar Berghoff (1995–1999; newsreader from 1976)
• Jo Brauner (2000–2004; newsreader from 1974)
• Jan Hofer (2004–2020; newsreader from 1985)
• Jens Riewa (2020–present; newsreader from 1994)

Current presenters

by number of years on the Tagesschau --

• Jens Riewa, since 1994†
• Susanne Daubner, since 1999†
• Thorsten Schröder, since 2000†
• , since 2001
• Michail Paweletz since 2004
• , since 2018†

Former presenters

in alphabetical order

• 1987–2015†
• Marc Bator, 2001–2013†
• , 1997–2001
• Dagmar Berghoff, 1976–1999†
• Claus-Erich Boetzkes, 1995-2021†
• Jo Brauner, 1974–2004†
• , 1981–1984
• , 1967–1974†
• , 2001–2010†
• , 1978–1983†
• , 1960–1994†
• , 2007–2009†
• Eva Herman, 1989–2007†
• Jan Hofer, 1985–2020†
• , 1975–1985
• , 2002–2005
• 2018–2022
• Karl-Heinz Köpcke 1959–1987†
• , 1988–1993
• Judith Rakers, 2005–2024†
• , 1960–1963
• , 1959–1963
• , 1962–1964
• Constantin Schreiber, 2017–2025†
• , 1988
• Susan Stahnke, 1992–1999†
• 1965–1984†
• , 1978–1980
• Werner Veigel, 1966–1995†
• , 2004–2018
• , 1952–1962
• Wilhelm Wieben, 1972–1998†
• , 1985–1988†
• , 1974–1975
• , 1959–1962
• , 2004–2021
• Linda Zervakis, 2010–2021†

† The person who is/was currently or previously anchoring in the main 15-minute newscast of Tagesschau.

Awards

• 1987: Goldene Kamera best TV anchorwoman for Dagmar Berghoff
• 1997: Goldenes Kabel Publikumspreis in Silber for the best news broadcast
• 2000: Deutscher Comedypreis special award for unvoluntary comedy
• 2003: Bayerischer Filmpreis special award for the best editorial teams during 50 years
• 2012: Grimme Online Award for the "Tagesschau" app
• 2014: Eyes and Ears Award for the new studio design, animations and graphic techniques.

Media studies and criticism

Plurality of perspectives lacking

The long-term study of the Otto Brenner Stiftung by Hans-Jürgen Arlt and Wolfgang Storz from March 2010 on "Business Journalism during the crisis - The mass media handling of the financial market policy" analyzed working methods of the news broadcasts from 1999 to fall 2009, especially in news formats like Tagesschau and Tagesthemen. The study ended with these formats failing during the crisis due to the editorial team's lack of different perspectives, focusing solely on representatives of the German government, banks, some scientists, and their points of view. "This narrowing of perspective leads to severe losses of reality which is to be considered as serious journalistic misconduct".

Bias in covering the Ukraine Crisis (2013–2014)

In September 2014, following a critical review from the editorial council (Programmbeirat), ARD-aktuell stated: "Criticism of our news-coverage respecting Ukraine has caused an echo on a hitherto unprecedented scale".

Bias in covering criminal incidents involving refugees

In the case of the 2016 murder of Maria Ladenburger by an Afghan refugee, Tagesschau did not report the case in its main edition on 3 December, claiming it was of only "regional significance" and that "the special protection for juveniles" would apply in this case. Public broadcaster ZDF had carried the story. Tagesschaus reasons for not reporting it were subjected to criticism, Stern magazine wrote that they had given an "absurd" explanation for their "ignorance". Two days later, ARD magazine Tagesthemen started to report about the case after public pressure. When chancellor Angela Merkel was asked about the case during the program, she stated: "If the fact should prove true that an Afghan refugee is responsible, then we should absolutely condemn this, exactly as in the case of any other murderer, and we should clearly name this." ARD announced their intent to engage a "quality manager" henceforth to deal with the growing public criticism of their decisions.

In the case of the 2017 murder of 15-year-old Mia V. by an Afghan refugee, unlike other German TV news broadcasters, Tagesschau did not report the case at first. Only after public pressure Tagesschau featured the incident in its main edition.

References

References

1. (28 July 2013). "Tagesschau vom 25. Juli 1988 (Produziert vom BR in München)".
2. "Zusammenfassung". Otto Brenner Stiftung.
3. "Zwischenbilanz: Der Ukraine-Konflikt in der Tagesschau".
4. (4 December 2016). "Darum ließ die "Tagesschau" die Freiburg-Meldung weg". [[Die Welt]].
5. (4 October 2016). "'Tagesschau' ignoriert Festnahme in Freiburg - das ist die absurde Begründung".
6. (5 December 2016). ""Tagesthemen" berichten über Mordverdacht gegen Flüchtling". Die Welt.
7. (6 October 2016). "Merkel fordert, "Mörder ganz deutlich zu benennen"". Die Welt.
8. (28 December 2017). "Deshalb berichtete die "Tagesschau" zunächst nicht über Kandel". Die Welt.