Fritz Pleitgen

Fritz Ferdinand Pleitgen (21 March 1938 – 15 September 2022) was a German television journalist and author. He was correspondent in Moscow, East Berlin and Washington. Pleitgen was a supporter of Willy Brandt's Ostpolitik. In 1988, Pleitgen became editor-in-chief of television of Germany's then-largest public broadcaster, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), and was director of WDR from 1995 to 2007. He is regarded as one of the most influential German journalists and media makers. In 2010, he was the manager of Ruhr.2010, a project of European Capital of Culture.

Life and career Pleitgen was born in Duisburg-Meiderich on 21 March 1938, He grew up in Bünde in East Westphalia he started as a reporter for Tagesschau. From 1970, Pleitgen reported as ARD's foreign correspondent from Moscow, where he accompanied Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev on trips abroad. Under constant KGB surveillance, he was the first Western journalist to have an interview with the General Secretary of the Communist Party. He also established contacts with dissidents like Andrei Sakharov, Lev Kopelev, Yuri Orlov, and Andrei Amalrik. From 1977, Pleitgen served as correspondent in East Berlin, Erich Honecker invited Pleitgen to hunt rabbits in 1981, in contrast Pleitgen was also in contact with the dissidents Stefan Heym, and Robert Havemann. From 1982, he reported as ARD studio chief from Washington and New York and excelled in critical reporting on Ronald Reagan. He moderated for ARD television , , and Presseclub. Known for his work during the Cold War, he became the television face of reunification. succeeding his former boss Nowottny; His motto was "" (through quality to ratings). He played a key role in the launch of the event and documentary channel Phoenix. One of his tasks was the establishment of regional studios. During his tenure, the surreptitious advertising scandal occurred. From 2006 to 2008, he was head of the European Broadcasting Union. and officially retired in 2010.

Political views Pleitgen appreciated the value of a free press, because of his own experiences with censorship in totalitarian states. He stated in May 2021, that a concept for a policy with Russia is missing, Russians are Europeans.

Activities Member of the SPD Patron of , a children's hospice in Bielefeld 2007 Member of the Board of Trustees of Reporter ohne Grenzen (Reporters Without Borders) 2010–2021 President of the German Cancer Aid 2013–2020 Member of the Board of Trustees of the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation

Personal life In 1969, Pleitgen married Gerda Lichtenberg; In 2020, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and died on 15 September 2022 in Cologne at the age of 84. Works

Awards 1995: Saure Gurke, mocking award by feminist media professionals 1999: Närrisches Steckenpferd by Krefeld-based carnival association 1999: for professional training 2003: by Düsseldorf's Jewish community 2004: Culture award by Free Masons 2005: 2007: Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia 2009: by the Association of German Surveying Engineers 2019: Brost Ruhr Prize