Knut Terjung

Knut Terjung (born April 21, 1940 in Wuppertal ) is a German journalist .

Professional background

After graduating from high school, Knut Terjung began studying Protestant theology at the church college in Wuppertal , which he broke off after a short time to become a journalist. In 1962, shortly after the Wall was built , he moved to Berlin , where he reported on life in the divided city as a young reporter and editor for the RIAS radio station . In 1965 Werner Höfer brought him to the editorial office of “ Here and Today ” at WDR in Cologne as a television reporter . In 1969 Terjung switched to the newly founded " ZDF-Magazin " as an editor with special tasks . In 1971 9 out of 13 editors (including Terjung) called on its director, Gerhard Löwenthal , to distance himself from right-wing extremist statements by two employees. Because he refused, all 9 critics were transferred within the station. So Terjung started as a correspondent in the Bonn capital city studio of the ZDF. In June 1974 Herbert Wehner , chairman of the SPD parliamentary group , appointed him as the parliamentary group's press spokesman. Terjung remained in this position throughout Helmut Schmidt's entire term of office as Federal Chancellor. After that, as he originally wished, he returned to television and became editor of the ZDF's Today Journal . In April 1985 he founded in Athens a new foreign Studio of ZDF, whose reporting area except Greece which Turkey and both parts of Cyprus belonged. Terjung reported exclusively in large-format documentaries about the Kurds ' struggle for freedom , torture in Turkey and special Greek behavior towards the EU. After the death of the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu in December 1989, Terjung also reported from Bucharest . In 1992 he took over the management of the ZDF studio in Warsaw and accompanied the Polish change to market economy and democracy for over 5 years . In 1997 he returned to Germany and took over the management of the ZDF inland studio in Hamburg . In order to make the presence of the Mainz broadcaster in the Hanseatic city of northern German institutions more visible , Terjung initiated and organized the ZDF-hansetreff , at which celebrities from film and politics, business and media came together every year in a different Hamburg location. In a farewell speech on his retirement, after 28 years at the Mainz television broadcaster, Terjung critically summed up that journalists should do more to "offer a piece of solid orientation in the confusion of an increasingly complex world" instead of introducing "how sexy" as a new public law standard is an issue.

CHINA TIME

In April 2005, the 1st Mayor of Hamburg , Ole von Beust ( CDU ) commissioned Terjung to organize a major event that was to anchor the Hanseatic city as an important partner of China in the public consciousness. "CHINA TIME", as Terjung called the program of around 200 individual events in September 2006, with a huge copper kite in the middle of the Inner Alster, an exhibition of contemporary Chinese art and Hamburg posters in 28 German cities and many metropolises around the world, was a great success. "CHINA TIME" now takes place in Hamburg every two years.

Freemasons

In February 1999 , when he was accepted into the oldest German Masonic lodge , “Absalom zu den Drei Netteln”, Terjung was primarily responsible for making the essence and educational goals of the supposed “secret society” known to a wider public. In 2003 he was the guest secretary, and in 2007 he was commissioned by his lodge to organize festivities for the 275th anniversary of German Freemasonry in Hamburg. In 2009, the Senate of the United Grand Lodges of Germany elected him “Coordinator for Social Issues” in order to open the brotherhood more closely to society. Serious differences of opinion within "Absalom" caused Terjung and a number of his lodge brothers to resign in 2011. In 2013 Terjung resigned from the lodge.

"Knut Terjung meets ..."

Since autumn 2014, the journalist has been having in-depth discussions with a wide variety of guests about their lives and values ​​under the motto “Knut Terjung meets ...”. The idea of ​​using the special atmosphere of St. Nikolai for this series came from the senior pastor at the time, who is now the EKD's cultural representative, Johann Hinrich Claussen . So far, Terjung has invited personalities such as the well-known architect Meinhard von Gerkan , the actress Hannelore Hoger , Roncalli boss Bernhard Paul , pianist Joja Wendt , Elbphilharmonie general director Christoph Lieben-Seutter , “ Wacken Festival ” founder, completely free in the selection of his partners Holger Hübner , industry manager Werner Marnette , the publicist Ulrich Wickert , Hamburg's former mayor Ole von Beust , former Federal President. D. Christian Wulff , comedian Karl Dall , the former commander of the command academy of the Bundeswehr, Major General Christian Beck, Imam Mehmet Karaoglu, Federal Minister and Hamburg Mayor ret. D. Klaus von Dohnanyi , but also people who work in silence, such as the long-time telephone counselor Maria Mädge or the chairwoman of the “Kinderjahre Foundation”, Hannelore Lay.

As a counterpart to hectic talk shows bristling with riot, Terjung understands the unexcited narrations of life plans and paths of life under the premise: Provide food for thought, encourage courage, and leave room for humor. Several hundred listeners regularly come to the free events.

Personal

Knut Terjung, Protestant, has been a union member ( RFFU , now ver.di ) since 1970 . He joined the SPD in 1971. He is married and has 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Publications

Knut Terjung (ed.): The uncle. Herbert Wehner in talks and interviews. Hoffmann & Campe, Hamburg 1986, ISBN 3-455-08259-9 .

Individual evidence

"Culture of conversation at the monastery star".

1. ↑ How "sexy" does the ZDF program have to be?
2. ↑ China Time Hamburg
3. ↑ “We need fresh air!” ( Memento of the original dated June 2, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
4. ↑ In September 2012 the Freemasons celebrate for 3 days ( memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
5. ↑ https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg-tipps/hamburg-live/article213043053/Knut-Terjung-trifft-Christian-Wulff-am-Klosterstern.html
6. ↑ . https://www.abendblatt.de/kultur-live/tv-und-medien/article207126169/Terjung-Ich-habe-garbeiten-wie-ein-Tier.html%3fservice=amp .

Web links

• Questionnaire Knut Terjung
• Hot milk with honey at the taskmaster of the SPD ( Memento from June 26, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
• Who is actually Knut Terjung?