Stephan Detjen: From Bayreuth to Berlin - A life for journalism

Stephan Detjen: From Bayreuth to Berlin - A life for journalism

Stephan Detjen, a name that is very popular in the German media landscape, has had an impressive career. Born on February 23, 1965 in Bayreuth, he studied law and history in Munich, Aix-en-Provence and Speyer. He began his journalistic career in 1992 at Bayerischer Rundfunk in the news and politics department. From 1997 to 1999 he was a legal policy correspondent for Deutschlandradio and ARD radio in Karlsruhe, where he reported directly on events at the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court of Justice. These experiences shaped his perspective and his understanding of the political and legal currents in Germany WDR reports.

After his time in Karlsruhe, Detjen worked in the capital studio of Deutschlandradio and in 2005 took over the management of the “Current Culture” department at the Funkhaus Berlin. In this role, he set new standards and further developed the radio features section at Deutschlandradio Kultur. Between 2008 and 2012 he was editor-in-chief of Deutschlandfunk in Cologne and was responsible for the station's pioneering editorial direction. Since April 2012 he has been the chief correspondent for Deutschlandradio in Berlin and heads the capital studio and the studio in Brussels Wiki reports.

Commitment and controversy

Detjen is not only an excellent journalist, but also someone who is socially committed. In 2015, he campaigned for the legal entry of a Syrian war refugee. Nevertheless, he was not spared from controversy. In June 2019, he criticized the BDS resolution of the German Bundestag and thereby attracted attention, which led to an argument with the anti-Semitism commissioner Felix Klein. Such positions demonstrate a combative spirit, which is of great importance in today's media landscape.

Detjen is currently also on the board of the Federal Press Conference and on the board of trustees for the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. His future plan is to work as a correspondent in Paris from the end of 2025, which should further sharpen his international perspective.

Current developments in journalism

There are numerous changes in the world of journalism that also affect Detjen. A recently published study conducted by a team from the Hans Bredow Institute found that the profession faces challenges that need to be overcome. 1,221 journalists in Germany were surveyed between September 2022 and February 2023. The report highlights that more than 50% of those surveyed work in newspaper or magazine publishers, while 17% each work in television and radio. The proportion of women among journalists rose from 40% in 2015 to 44% according to the study.

The switch to digital media and the associated working conditions are permanently changing the image of journalism in Germany. A high level of full-time employment and permanent employment shows that the industry still plays an important role despite all the challenges.

Stephan Detjen remains a key figure who actively shapes the development of journalism in Germany with his experience and commitment. It will be exciting to see what new impulses he will provide from Paris.