12 July 2021. Last Friday, the KLIMA° vor acht initiative met with representatives of ARD for the third time to discuss a regular climate programme to be broadcast in the quarter of an hour before eight on *Das Erste*.
The ARD has announced that the topics of climate and biodiversity will now be covered at least once a week during the quarter-hour before eight. Furthermore, following a proposal by the ARD, it has been agreed that there will be regular discussions with KLIMA° vor acht regarding the reporting during the quarter-hour before eight. Representing ARD were Programme Director Christine Strobl, her deputy Florian Hager, News Editor-in-Chief Oliver Köhr, as well as Christoph Schmidt (NDR), Managing Director for Early Evening Coordination, and Brigitta Mühlenbeck (WDR), Executive Producer of ‘Viertelstunde vor acht’.
By promising just one weekly programme on the subject in this time slot, ARD falls far short of the demands made by KLIMA° vor acht. Back in June, the broadcaster had announced its intention to cover topics relating to ‘climate and sustainability’ twice a week as part of the ‘Wissen vor acht’ series. Despite the positive atmosphere during the virtual meeting, KLIMA° vor acht press spokesperson Norman Schumann says: “A regular climate programme in prime time does not seem to be possible at ARD at present. We would have liked to see more foresight and courage from the public service broadcasters. On a positive note, following our suggestion, ARD now also intends to place greater emphasis on biodiversity in its reporting. Species extinction is another important issue that is closely linked to the climate crisis.”
Despite the rather disappointing results, the initiative will continue. “Parts of the television landscape must reinvent themselves in order to tackle this unprecedented crisis through the media. We will continue to remind the ARD and all other broadcasters of this and will be happy to support them with our expertise,” says Friederike Mayer, vice-chair of KLIMA° vor acht e.V.
In spring 2022, the initiative also plans to publish an anthology on the topic of ‘the climate crisis and journalism’.
Press enquiries and further information: Friederike Mayer, Tel: 0176 20071497; Norman Schumann, Tel: 0178 4086086