This is a visual explainer based on the Wikipedia article on Tagesschau (German TV programme). Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

Echoes of the Day

Navigating Germany's Premier News Broadcast: An in-depth exploration of Tagesschau, ARD's flagship television news service, its history, presenters, and critical reception.

What is Tagesschau? 👇 Examine Criticism 🧐

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!


When you are ready...
🎮 Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game🎮

Program Overview

Germany's National News Beacon

Tagesschau, literally translating to 'Review of the Day', stands as a pivotal German national and international television news service. It is meticulously produced by the editorial team of ARD-aktuell, acting on behalf of the German public-service television network, ARD. This program is a cornerstone of German media, delivering comprehensive news coverage to a broad audience.

Broadcast Schedule & Reach

The primary edition of Tagesschau is broadcast daily at 20:00 (8:00 PM) on Das Erste, ARD's flagship channel. Its reach extends significantly through simulcasts on numerous ARD-affiliated networks, including NDR Fernsehen, RBB Fernsehen, SWR Fernsehen, WDR Fernsehen, hr-fernsehen, 3sat, Phoenix, and ARD-alpha. Furthermore, it maintains a near-constant presence throughout the day on Tagesschau24, its dedicated news channel. For international audiences, recorded newscasts are accessible via YouTube, and a comprehensive digital platform, tagesschau.de, is managed by ARD.

Historical Context

Origins and Early Years

Tagesschau commenced its broadcasts on December 26, 1952, originating from West Germany and continuing its service through the reunification to the present day. Over its long tenure, it has established itself as a consistent and reliable source of news for the German populace.

The 1988 Strike Incident

A notable event in the program's history occurred on July 25, 1988, when Tagesschau faced the unprecedented threat of cancellation due to a warning strike orchestrated by the broadcasting union RFFU. This industrial action nearly resulted in the first and only blackout in the program's history. However, a substitute program, Rundschau from Bavaria, produced by Bayerisches Fernsehen (Bavarian Television) in Munich, stepped in to ensure continuity of news delivery, averting a complete disruption.

Distinguished Anchors

Chief Anchors Through the Decades

The role of Chief Anchor at Tagesschau is a position of significant journalistic authority and public trust. These individuals have guided the main 15-minute newscast, becoming familiar faces to millions.

  • 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

The current team of presenters continues the tradition of delivering timely and accurate news to the German public, often serving as the public face of ARD's news division.

  • Jens Riewa, since 1994
  • Susanne Daubner, since 1999
  • Thorsten Schröder, since 2000
  • Susanne Holst, since 2001
  • Michail Paweletz, since 2004
  • Jan Malte Andresen, since 2014
  • Julia-Niharika Sen, since 2018

Former Presenters

Over its extensive history, Tagesschau has been home to numerous esteemed presenters who have contributed to its legacy and reputation.

(in alphabetical order)

  • Ellen Arnhold, 1987–2015
  • Marc Bator, 2001–2013
  • Ina Bergmann, 1997–2001
  • Dagmar Berghoff, 1976–1999
  • Claus-Erich Boetzkes, 1995-2021
  • Jo Brauner, 1974–2004
  • Elfi Marten-Brockmann, 1981–1984
  • Lothar Dombrowski, 1967–1974
  • Laura Dünnwald, 2001–2010
  • Klaus Eckert, 1978–1983
  • Karl Fleischer, 1960–1994
  • Caroline Hamann, 2007–2009
  • Jan Thilo Haux
  • Eva Herman, 1989–2007
  • Jan Hofer, 1985–2020
  • Georg Hopf, 1975–1985
  • Horst Jaedicke
  • Silke Jürgensen, 2002–2005
  • Karolin Kandler, 2018–2022
  • Karl-Heinz Köpcke, 1959–1987
  • Franz Laake, 1988–1993
  • Judith Rakers, 2005–2024
  • Siegmar Ruhmland, 1960–1963
  • Diether von Sallwitz, 1959–1963
  • Manfred Schmidt, 1962–1964
  • Constantin Schreiber, 2017–2025
  • Robert Schröder, 1988
  • Susan Stahnke, 1992–1999
  • Wilhelm Stöck, 1965–1984
  • Martin Svoboda
  • Harry Teubner, 1978–1980
  • Martin Thon
  • Werner Veigel, 1966–1995
  • Astrid Vits, 2004–2018
  • Cay Dietrich Voss, 1952–1962
  • Wilhelm Wieben, 1972–1998
  • Daniela Witte, 1985–1988
  • Günter Wiatrek, 1974–1975
  • Tarek Youzbachi, 2004–2021
  • Linda Zervakis, 2010–2021

Awards & Recognition

Celebrating Excellence in Journalism

Tagesschau and its presenters have received numerous awards, recognizing their contributions to German television journalism and their commitment to delivering high-quality news.

  • 1987: Goldene Kamera for 'best TV anchorwoman' awarded to 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 Scrutiny & Criticism

Plurality of Perspectives Lacking

A long-term study conducted by the Otto Brenner Stiftung, authored by Hans-Jürgen Arlt and Wolfgang Storz in March 2010, critically examined "Business Journalism during the crisis - The mass media handling of the financial market policy." Analyzing news broadcasts from 1999 to fall 2009, particularly formats like Tagesschau and Tagesthemen, the study concluded that these programs failed during the financial crisis. The critique centered on the editorial team's perceived lack of diverse perspectives, focusing predominantly on the viewpoints of German government representatives, banks, and a select group of scientists. This "narrowing of perspective" was deemed a "serious journalistic misconduct" due to its significant "losses of reality."

Bias in Ukraine Crisis Coverage (2013–2014)

In September 2014, ARD-aktuell acknowledged a substantial volume of criticism regarding its news coverage of the Ukraine Crisis. Following a critical review from its editorial council (Programmbeirat), the organization stated that "Criticism of our news-coverage respecting Ukraine has caused an echo on a hitherto unprecedented scale." This public and internal scrutiny highlighted concerns about the impartiality and comprehensiveness of their reporting during this sensitive geopolitical event.

Bias in Covering Criminal Incidents Involving Refugees

Tagesschau has faced significant public criticism for its initial decisions not to report on certain criminal incidents involving refugees, citing reasons that were later challenged.

  • 2016 Murder of Maria Ladenburger: On December 3, 2016, Tagesschau did not report on the murder of Maria Ladenburger by an Afghan refugee in its main edition. The program claimed the incident was of only "regional significance" and that "the special protection for juveniles" applied. This decision was widely criticized, with Stern magazine labeling the explanation "absurd." Public pressure eventually led ARD's magazine Tagesthemen to cover the case two days later. Chancellor Angela Merkel, when asked about the case during the program, emphasized the need to "absolutely condemn this, exactly as in the case of any other murderer, and we should clearly name this." In response to growing public criticism, ARD announced its intention to engage a "quality manager."
  • 2017 Kandel Stabbing Attack: Similarly, in the 2017 murder of 15-year-old Mia V. by an Afghan refugee, Tagesschau initially refrained from reporting the incident, unlike other German TV news broadcasters. Following public pressure, the program eventually featured the incident in its main edition.

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio
Click here to open the "Tagesschau German Tv Programme" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about tagesschau_german_tv_programme while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.
Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

Explore More Topics

References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Tagesschau (German TV programme) Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional media analysis or journalistic advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for in-depth academic research, professional media studies, or expert journalistic analysis. Always refer to primary sources, academic journals, and consult with qualified professionals for specific research or media-related inquiries. Never disregard professional academic or journalistic insights because of something you have read on this website.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.