ZDF Host's Companion
Marietta Slomka: A Pioneering Figure in German Broadcast Journalism
Marietta Slomka, a renowned German newsreader, is best known as the moderator of ZDF's "heute journal", a leading political news magazine. She took over the role in January 2001, succeeding Alexander Niemetz.
Slomka's distinctive interview style, characterized by critical and sharp questioning, has earned her the nickname "geslomkat". This approach has put many politicians on the spot, including prominent figures like Sigmar Gabriel.
Before her tenure at ZDF, Slomka studied economics and international politics at the University of Kent in Canterbury. She started her career as a freelancer, contributing to the Institute of the German Economy in Cologne and the "Kölner Rundschau" newspaper, focusing on local and economic reporting. She also completed a traineeship at Deutsche Welle in Bonn.
At ZDF, Slomka initially worked as a parliamentary correspondent in Bonn, then in Berlin covering economic and financial policy. Her hard work and dedication led her to her current high-profile role with "heute journal".
On a personal note, Slomka married Berlin architect Andreas Veauthier in 2019. Veauthier is involved in sustainable commercial and residential construction projects, serving as managing director in project development and control.
The "heute journal" is recognised for its political reports, in-depth analysis, and accessible explanations of the day's news. Slomka shares responsibilities with Christian Sievers and Dunja Hayali, making her one of the leading presenters of the programme.
Throughout her career, Slomka has brought critical journalistic rigor to television political interviews, pioneering a recognizable style that challenges politicians effectively. Her long-standing, prominent presence on one of Germany’s leading evening news programs for over two decades has made her an influential figure in German broadcast news.
Slomka was born on April 20, 1969, in Cologne. She does not have children and is a patron of the Bethel children's hospice, privately engaging for terminally ill children. She completed her Abitur in Cologne.
In 2009, she was awarded the "Grimme" prize together with colleague Claus Kleber. In 2012, she received the "Courage Award" for her social commitment and immediately donated the prize money to the hospice. That same year, she was also nominated for the "German Television Award" but did not win. In 2012, she was also awarded the media prize for language culture in the television category by the "Society for the German Language".
Slomka has expressed that appearance is not the decisive factor for a political journalist. She has also written and published several books, including "Chancellors love rubber boots", a young adult book that aims to explain politics in a simple way to children and young people.
In 2009, she spoke about not having children in an interview with "Stern", expressing her disapproval of the assumption that women who don't have children by the age of 39 don't like children or are career-oriented. Previously, she was married to her "RTL" colleague Christof Lang from 2004 to 2013, but they separated and had no children.
In 2015, she was crowned "the most beautiful newsreader in Germany", an award she is not happy about. However, her influence and impact on German broadcast journalism are undeniable.
[1] https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/heute-journal/moderatorinnen-und-moderatoren/marietta-slomka [2] https://www.heute.de/news/moderatorinnen-und-moderatoren/marietta-slomka-zdf-heute-journal-moderatorin-100.html [3] https://www.focus.de/kultur/gesellschaft/marietta-slomka-zdf-heute-journal-moderatorin-gesprach-mit-marietta-slomka-a-1253489.html [4] https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/tv/marietta-slomka-zdf-heute-journal-moderatorin-gesprach-mit-marietta-slomka-a-1135776.html
Books about politics, entertainment, and celebrities could include a biography of Marietta Slomka, a leading German broadcast journalist, or a young adult book explaining politics in a simple way, authored by Slomka herself. For instance, "Chancellors love rubber boots", a book by Marietta Slomka that aims to explain politics in a simple way to children and young people, is one of the books she has written.
