TV Germany mourns the loss of Fritz Pleitgen. The well-known correspondent and longtime director of WDR died of cancer on Thursday in Cologne.
Cologne – The German TV landscape mourns the loss of a prominent face: The journalist, correspondent and director Fritz Pleitgen is dead. This was announced by the WDR. Fritz Pleitgen died Thursday (September 15, 2022) in Cologne. He was 84 years old. Pleitgen, who last lived in Bergisch Gladbach (Rheinisch-Bergischer district), had informed the German Cancer Aid in 2020 that he had pancreatic cancer.
After the death of Fritz Pleitgen: WDR changes its program at the weekend
Due to the death of its former director, WDR has adjusted its program for the weekend from September 16th to 18th, 2022. There are special programs on the life of Fritz Pleitgen on both television and radio.
Fritz Pleitgen: Known as a correspondent in Moscow, Washington, East Berlin
Many know Fritz Pleitgen as a TV reporter for ARD. Among other things, he was a correspondent for the public service institution in Moscow, later in East Berlin, the capital of the GDR at the time, before becoming head of the USA studio in Washington and New York in 1982.
From 1995 to the end of March 2007, Fritz Pleitgen was director of the fee-financed WDR. The grief at the state broadcaster in North Rhine-Westphalia is correspondingly great: “‘The death of Fritz Pleitgen is very sad news for all of us at WDR. In our hearts, the flags are at half-mast.” And Tina Hassel, head of the ARD capital studio in Berlin, tweeted: “Another big one is going!”
Fritz Pleitgen’s family: His son is CNN reporter Frederik Pleitgen
Pleitgen leaves behind his wife, three sons and a daughter. TV viewers should also know his son Frederik Pleitgen, who is also a TV journalist: After stations at ZDF and RTL, Frederik Pleitgen switched to the news channel CNN and was also on the road in some crisis regions. As “Senior International Correspondent” he also reports from Russia. On the death of his father Fritz Pleitgen, son Frederik Pleitgen tweeted on behalf of the family: “Rest in peace, dad! We have lost a great journalist and the best father imaginable.”
Fritz Pleitgen: Stations of his life – from reporter to director
Fritz Pleitgen is a child of the Ruhr area. He was born in Duisburg in 1938.
► Fritz Pleitgen had been active as a TV reporter since 1963, reporting for the “Tagesschau” among other things
► At a time when most Germans were still watching black-and-white television , he was the ARD man in Moscow in what was then the Soviet Union (1970-1977).
► Fritz Pleitgen stood in front of the camera as a GDR correspondent until 1982
► Then the move to the West: Fritz Pleitgen headed the ARD studio in Washington and New York from 1982 to 1988
► Back at WDR, Fritz Pleitgen worked as TV editor-in-chief and radio director
► In 1995, Fritz Pleitgen was elected director of WDR West German Broadcasting, a position he held until March 31, 2007
Reactions to the death of Fritz Pleitgen
Karl Lauterbach (SPD), Federal Minister of Health: “Fritz Pleitgen represented public broadcasting with format and quality. His commitment to cancer research was valuable and exemplary. His fate shows that we need to invest more in cancer research.”
Hendrik Wüst (CDU), Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia (CDU): “With Fritz Pleitgen, North Rhine-Westphalia is losing a major media maker, a journalist with foresight and the highest standards of credibility.”
Mona Neubaur (Greens), Minister for Economic Affairs, Climate Protection & Energy in North Rhine-Westphalia: “With Fritz Pleitgen we are losing an icon of journalism. In his various functions, he has had a strong influence on WDR.”
Udo Lielischkies , himself an ARD correspondent in Moscow for many years: “Fritz Pleitgen was an extraordinary personality, an impressive director, a role model. Unforgettable how he made sure that WDR not only reported on the Bosnian war, but also accommodated refugees in its production halls!”
Henriette Reker , Mayor of Cologne: “His journalistic attitude will remain a role model for generations of journalists.” (kem/IDZRW/dpa)
