Marieke Reimann leaves SWR: The farewell of a strong voice!

Marieke Reimann leaves SWR: The farewell of a strong voice!

The media landscape in Germany is facing a change at the end of the year that is already causing a lot of conversation. Marieke Reimann, the second editor-in-chief of Südwestrundfunk (SWR), has announced that she will be leaving the station at her own request. With her departure, the 37-year-old is ending an exciting phase that she took up as editor-in-chief in November 2021.

In her own words, Reimann describes her thanks to the SWR management, especially Kai Gniffke and Clemens Bratzler, for the trust they have shown. Her resignation is seen as a strong signal for diversity in public broadcasting, as she brought a fresh perspective as someone with a very different professional background than many of her predecessors. “I was very happy to take up this idea of ​​development and change and live it intensively together with our colleagues,” she explains.

The importance of their commitment

During her time at SWR, Reimann initiated numerous projects and introduced innovations that were intended to make the station more relevant in a digital media world. Their digital expertise and their outside perspective have led to the implementation of many new impulses. Clemens Bratzler, the information program director, expresses his appreciation for Reimann's work: "With her digital expertise and her outside perspective, she has given many new impulses to SWR and ARD." Her ability to make courageous decisions has encouraged many colleagues to pursue innovative paths.

Reimann will continue to bear responsibility until her last day in office; She heads areas within the multimedia editorial team and is responsible for over 400 employees. These include, among other things, the audio news and the information wave SWR Aktuell Radio as well as the socio-political department “Religion and World”. In recent months she has also taken over the interim management of the SWR's multimedia editorial team.

Reimann's resignation comes at a time when SWR is handing over the chairmanship of ARD to Hessischer Rundfunk. This presents a number of new challenges and changes for the station and its editorial team. Many are wondering what new paths SWR will take without Reimann's creative and innovative voice, especially in a rapidly changing media landscape where adaptability is crucial.

Everyone in the industry agrees: Marieke Reimann has left her mark and there is great anticipation for her next steps. “This is the right time for me to take a new path,” she says, and many journalists are looking forward to what comes next. The decision to step down reflects the importance of addressing new challenges while maintaining a deep commitment to the values ​​of public broadcasting.

A report on the background and further details about Reimann's decision is available can be found here.