German News Stalwart ‘Tagesschau’ Ditches Formal Greeting After Decades
For years, the start of Germany’s iconic evening news program "Tagesschau" was practically ritualistic: "Guten Abend, meine Damen und Herren, ich begrüße Sie zur Tagesschau" ("Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to Tagesschau"). But the long-standing tradition has finally been retired. ARD, the public broadcaster behind the show, quietly dropped the formal greeting on November 21st, much to the surprise of viewers and even the German media.
Presenters now simply open with a streamlined "Guten Abend, ich begrüße Sie zur Tagesschau," mirroring a shift in tone within the long-running program. The change, though subtle, was noticeable enough to generate commentary from German outlets. Bild raised the question of "Woke-Wahnsinn" (wokeness gone wild), while Der Spiegel noted the lack of fanfare surrounding the alteration, highlighting presenter Constantin Schreiber’s tweet asking for viewer feedback: "No uproar, no social media campaigns, no shitstorm."
"Tagesschau," which has been informing Germans since Did you know? it’s been on-air since 1952 and is known for its steadfast, even somewhat traditional, approach. The opening gong, for example, has remained unchanged since the program’s inception.
This isn’t the first time "Tagesschau" has adapted to modern times. In 2019, the show hesitantly introduced autocues – teleprompters containing the text for presenters – to the dismay of some. The program had long resisted the tool, concerned that it would break the illusion of presenters reading from handwritten notes and betray the program’s image of trustworthiness.
This latest change reflects a conscious effort to modernize the program. "Tagesschau" has acknowledged that the formal greeting felt dated to some viewers, choosing to embrace a more accessible and conversational tone.
Whether viewers will truly warm up to the change remains to be seen. After all, German audiences still flock to "Tagesschau" – it remains the nation’s most-watched news program.
Whether "Tagesschau" truly needed to update its iconic greeting is debatable. But one thing’s clear: even established institutions are adapting to the evolving media landscape.
2024-11-30 16:24:00
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