Thomas Leif

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Thomas A. Leif (born March 13, 1959 in Daun ; † December 30, 2017 ) was a German journalist , film and non-fiction author and political scientist . He was the founder and honorary chairman of the Netzwerk Recherche from 2001 to mid-2011 .

Career

After graduating from the Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium Daun, Leif studied political science , journalism and education at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz and the University of Frankfurt from 1978 to 1985 . In 1990 he was at Andreas Buro at Frankfurt University with a thesis on the strategic (fainting) If the peace movement: communication and decision-making structures in the eighties to Dr. phil. PhD . During this time he received a scholarship from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung .

Since 1977 Leif has worked as a journalist and author on the topics of democracy development, participation, lobbying and political advice, initially as a freelancer for ARD radio and SR television . From 1985 Leif worked as a permanent freelancer for ARD-aktuell and Report Baden-Baden , from 1995 as a permanent editor for SWR television and since 1997 as chief reporter for television at SWR in Mainz .

Leif was honorary chairman of Netzwerk Recherche from 2001 to mid-2011. He left because Netzwerk Recherche had apparently received event grants from the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb), which were not legally permitted. Leif took responsibility for this.

Leif was a member of the jury for the Otto Brenner Prize , the IG Metall science foundation . He was co-editor of the research journal Social movements . He was a member of the Advisory Board of Transparency International .

From January 2009 to December 2013 he hosted the political talk show 2 + Leif on SWR television . In 2009 he received an honorary professorship for political science at the University of Koblenz-Landau .

reception

In the taz it was criticized that Leif's book advising and selling reports how management consultancies work with think tanks close to employers 'associations, such as the New Social Market Economy Initiative or the Citizens' Convention , but the work of the Bertelsmann Foundation was not examined. In this context, the question was raised whether this was related to the fact that the book was published by Bertelsmann Verlag. Leif replied that no book “deals with all topics in the world” and that the foundation's activities have already been documented in detail elsewhere.

His 2008 documentary broadcast on ARD, Quotas, Clicks and Coal , in which u. a. A larger online offer of public broadcasting had been requested, was accused by various private media of one-sidedness in favor of the public broadcasters. The SWR Broadcasting Council dealt with the broadcast on the basis of two formal complaints . This rejected the criticism and praised Leif's contribution as an “impressive example of author and presenter journalism”.

Awards

Publications

Book publications

  • The professional movement. Peace movement from within. Forum-Europa-Verlag, Bonn 1985, ISBN 3-925656-00-6
  • The strategic (powerless) power of the peace movement. Communication and decision-making structures in the eighties. Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen 1990, ISBN 3-531-12149-9 (dissertation)
  • with Karl Starzacher , Konrad Schacht & Bernd Friedrich (eds.): Protest voters and voters who refused to vote. Crisis of Democracy ?. Bund-Verlag, Cologne 1992, ISBN 3-7663-2386-5
  • with Ansgar Klein & Hans-Josef Legrand (eds.): The political class in Germany. Elites put to the test. Bouvier, Bonn / Berlin 1992, ISBN 3-416-02391-9
  • with Ullrich Galle (Ed.): Social sponsoring and social marketing. Practical reports on the “new product compassion”. Bund-Verlag, Cologne 1993, ISBN 3-7663-2438-1
  • with Ansgar Klein & Hans-Josef Legrand (eds.): Reform of the DGB. Challenges, plans to start and modernization concepts. Bund-Verlag, Cologne 1993, ISBN 3-7663-2432-2
  • with Joachim Raschke : Rudolf Scharping , the SPD and power. A party is visited. Rowohlt, Reinbek 1994, ISBN 3-499-13519-1
  • with Konrad Schacht & Hannelore Janssen (eds.): Helpless against right-wing extremism? Causes, fields of action, project experience. Bund-Verlag, Cologne 1995, ISBN 3-7663-2572-8
  • (Ed.): Passion: Research. Scandal stories and reports of disclosures. Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen / Wiesbaden 1999, ISBN 3-531-13290-3
  • with Rudolf Speth (Ed.): Die Stille Macht. Lobbyism in Germany. Westdeutscher Verlag, Wiesbaden 2003, ISBN 3-531-14132-5
  • (Ed.): More passion for research. Scandal stories and reports of disclosures. A handbook for research and information gathering. Westdeutscher Verlag, Wiesbaden 2003, ISBN 3-531-14126-0
  • with Rudolf Speth (ed.): The fifth power. Lobbyism in Germany. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2006, ISBN 3-531-15033-2 ; BpB, Bonn 2006, ISBN 3-89331-639-6
  • Advises and sells. McKinsey & Co. - the big bluff of management consultants. Bertelsmann, Munich 2006, ISBN 978-3-570-00925-3 ; updated and exp. Paperback edition: Goldmann, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-442-15485-2
  • Adjusted and burned out. The parties in the offspring trap. Why Germany is threatened with standstill. Bertelsmann, Munich 2009, ISBN 978-3-570-01129-4 ; Goldmann, Munich 2010, ISBN 978-3-442-15620-7
  • (Ed.): Training manual research. Professional information gathering. 2., ext. Edition. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2010, ISBN 978-3-531-17427-3

Articles in journals and edited volumes (selection)

  • Decision-making structures in the West German peace movement. In: Leviathan . 4/1989, pp. 540-560
  • The peace movement at the beginning of the eighties, themes and strategies. In: From Politics and Contemporary History . B26 / 89, pp. 28-40
  • Two worlds - youth cultures and youth associations. In: Sheets for German and international politics . 2/1992, pp. 223-234
  • Minds instead of concepts? On the personnel policy of the social democracy. In: operations . 2/1992, pp. 24-36
  • Hope for reforms? Reform backlog and participation blockades in parties. In: From Politics and Contemporary History. B43 / 93, pp. 24-33
  • Western imports across the board. Party profiles and party ties in East Germany. In: State Center for Political Education Brandenburg (Hrsg.): The actually existing post-socialist society. Berlin 1994, pp. 96-100
  • With reforms against contempt for politics? In: processes . 1/1994, pp. 55-70
  • Unconventional forms of participation and the need to revitalize civil society. In: From Politics and Contemporary History. B 38/98, pp. 12-21
  • “Wood that has grown slowly does not break as quickly.” Rudolf Scharping, the first Social Democratic Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate - career, understanding of poverty and political focus. In: Ulrich Sarcinelli , Jürgen W. Falter , Gerd Mielke & Bodo Benzner (eds.): Political culture in Rhineland-Palatinate. v. Hase and Koehler, Mainz 2000, pp. 437-460
  • Power without responsibility, the rampant influence of the media and the disinterest of society. In: From Politics and Contemporary History. B 41-42 / 2001
  • From the left people's party to the flexible chancellor's electoral association. In: Neue Gesellschaft Frankfurter Hefte. 48/3, March 2001, pp. 139-144.
  • The fascination of large numbers. Voluntary work: Politicians operate with embellished numbers. In: Frankfurter Rundschau . December 29, 2001 (preprint from the Berlin Republic)
  • Abbreviated reality, flattened meaning, disused discourse. In: processes . 2/2002, pp. 39-47
  • Political mediation in the valley of entertainment. In: Frank Nullmeier & Thomas Saretzki (eds.): Beyond the government's everyday life . Strategic ability of political parties. Campus-Verlag, Frankfurt / New York 2002, ISBN 3-593-37017-4
  • with Anke Hassel: Reformable unions. On the future process of IG Metall . In: trade union monthly books , 6/2002, p. 298 ff.
  • Communication elites and their strategies - who fills the vacuum that politics leaves? In: Lothar Rolke & Volker Wolff (eds.): The opinion makers in the media society. Germany's communication elite from the inside. Westdeutscher Verlag, Wiesbaden 2003, ISBN 3-531-14089-2 , pp. 25-34
  • The undercover agent in the PR industry - Moritz Hunzinger has given a shady business a face. In: Rupert Ahrens & Eberhard Knödler-Bunte (Hrsg.): Public Relations in the public discussion. The Hunzinger affair - a PR misunderstanding. Media-mind-Verlag, Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-934630-01-4 , pp. 45-52
  • The research: the journalist's duty and freestyle. In: Vivian Massaguié & Markus Resch (eds.): Fascination TV journalism. Tips and tricks from prominent TV makers for starting a career. BW, Bildung-und-Wissen-Verlag, Nuremberg 2004, ISBN 3-8214-7639-7 , pp. 35-58
  • Prima donnas, paragraphs and principles - a constitutional lawyer in the media jungle. In: Stefan Brink & Heinrich Amadeus Wolff (eds.): Common good and responsibility. Festschrift for Hans Herbert von Arnim on his 65th birthday. Duncker and Humblot, Berlin 2004, ISBN 3-428-11603-8 , pp. 463-479
  • Recovery of social functions. In: Christoph Fasel (ed.): Quality and success in journalism. UVK-Verlags-Gesellschaft, Konstanz 2005, ISBN 3-89669-700-5 , pp. 31-48
  • Service provider or scout? Leveling, staging and PR as a danger to the “fourth estate”. In: processes . 1/2005, pp. 34-48
  • Research journalism as a quality catalyst for subtle journalism. In: Frank Werneke (Ed.): The threatened instance. Positions for sustainable public broadcasting. ver.di GmbH, Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-932349-19-9
  • Media and policy advice - communicating and competing tubes. In: Svenja Falk, Dieter Rehfeld, Andrea Römmele & Martin Thunert (eds.): Handbuch Politikberatung. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2006, ISBN 978-3-531-14250-0 , pp. 322–333
  • Journalists as better policy advisers. In: Miriam Melanie Köhler & Christian H. Schuster (eds.): Handbook Government PR. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2006, ISBN 978-3-531-15192-2 , pp. 99–111
  • Power and misery of the press council. In: Christian Schertz & Thomas Schuler (eds.): Character murder and media victims. The violation of personal honor. Links, Berlin 2007, ISBN 978-3-86153-424-2
  • Freedom of the press under pressure. Research journalism as an anchor of quality. In: ARD yearbook 08th 40th year. Nomos, Baden-Baden 2008, ISBN 978-3-8329-4022-5
  • Political renaissance through party reform. In: Neue Gesellschaft Frankfurter Hefte . 12/2009, pp. 49-52
  • The primacy of politics must be restored. In: Jürgen Rüttgers (Ed.): Berlin is not Weimar. On the future of the people's parties. Klartext, Essen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8375-0290-9
  • Communities: breeding ground for corruption. In: Hans Herbert von Arnim (Hrsg.): Deficits in the fight against corruption and corruption research. Contributions to the 9th Speyer Democracy Conference on October 26th and 27th, 2006 at the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer. Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 2009, ISBN 978-3-428-13242-3
  • From the symbiosis of systemic crisis - essay . In: From Politics and Contemporary History . No. 19/2010 , May 3, 2010 ( online ).
  • Scandals in the media society: the inflated nothingness and the ignored relevance. In: Hans Herbert von Arnim (ed.): Integrity in State and Economy. Contributions to the 11th Speyer Democracy Conference from October 23 to 24, 2008 at the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer. Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-428-13398-7
  • Ordered truths, lobby in journalism. In: Neue Gesellschaft Frankfurter Hefte. 7 / 8-2010, pp. 39-43

Filmography

  • Eat. To wash. Be quiet. Care for the elderly from collapse. Report, 30 min., A film by Thomas Leif and Gottlob Schober. Editor: Holger Höbermann, editor: Ursula Höltermann, first broadcast: ARD , September 19, 2003
  • The sex taboo. Seminaries in twilight. A film by Ute-Beatrix Giebel and Thomas Leif, 30 min., First broadcast: ARD, August 22, 2004
  • Read, laughed, punched - on the madness of the advisory republic. Report, 44 min., Production: SWR , director: Harold Woetzel , editor: Holger Höbermann, first broadcast: May 30, 2005
  • Pulling the cord and back room - opinion makers in the Berlin media circus. Documentation, 45 min., A film by Thomas Leif and Julia Salden, editor: Holger Höbermann, series: Zapp, NDR and Betrifft SWR , production: SWR, NDR, first broadcast March 6, 2006 SWR
  • I am Wagner - you are Germany. Report about Franz Josef Wagner , 30 min., Editor: Holger Höbermann, series: Zapp, NDR and Schlaglicht, SWR, production: SWR, NDR, first broadcast: April 19, 2006
  • Construction site employment agency - the mammoth authority from the inside. Report, 45 min., Series: Betrifft, director: Harold Woetzel , editor: Holger Höbermann, production: SWR, first broadcast: September 25, 2006
  • The winemaker's tricks - cultural asset or industrial product? Report, 30 min., Series: ARD-exclusiv, director: Harold Woetzel , editor: Holger Höbermann, production: SWR, first broadcast: November 8, 2006
  • Art temple or castle in the air? The fight for the Arp Museum. Documentation, 30 min., Quarter past six series, co-production Ulrich Paulus, editing: Jörg Hommer, production: SWR, first broadcast: September 22, 2007
  • Odds, Clicks & Coal - The fight for the viewer. Documentation, 45 min., Series Subjects, editing: Holger Höbermann, production: SWR, first broadcast: April 30, 2008 (ARD)

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. netzwerk recherche: nr mourns founding chairman Thomas Leif - netzwerk recherche . In: network research . January 16, 2018 ( netzwerkrecherche.org [accessed January 16, 2018]). ZAPP Media Magazine: The chief reporter of the SWR Thomas Leif is dead, he died already on 30.12.2017 at the age of 58 years after illness, such as the SWR confirmed on request.. Leif had co-founded @nrecherche and was often a clever conversation partner for us too.pic.twitter.com/w76miZwvHg. In: @ZappMM. January 16, 2018, accessed January 16, 2018 .
  2. Declaration by the board of directors of netzwerk recherche. In: www.netzwerkrecherche.de. July 2, 2011, archived from the original on July 5, 2011 ; accessed on July 3, 2011 (website of the association).
  3. Network research without Thomas Leif - clearer in need of explanation. In: www.sueddeutsche.de. July 3, 2011, accessed on July 3, 2011 (online article in the Süddeutsche Zeitung).
  4. ^ Members of the jury , Otto Brenner Prize, accessed on January 15, 2014.
  5. ^ Research journal New Social Movements, The Team ( Memento from September 28, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  6. ^ Transparency International Advisory Board ( Memento from December 30, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
  7. Homepage SWR broadcast 2 + Leif
  8. ^ Condolence page of the Institute for Social Sciences , University of Koblenz-Landau, January 17, 2018.
  9. ^ Matthias Holland-Letz: Pitfall research . Die Tageszeitung (taz), August 4, 2006, accessed on January 17, 2018.
    Manfred Redelfs (Netzwerk Recherche): Absurd theses regarding: “Fallstrick Recherche”, taz from August 4, 2006
    . Letter to the editor in Die Tageszeitung (taz), August 12, 2006, accessed on January 17, 2018.
  10. ^ Continue on the propaganda path , article from June 15, 2008 in the Kölner Stadtanzeiger
  11. ^ PR film with aftermath , article from June 19, 2008 on Spiegel-Online
  12. DWDL.de: "TV Committee praises 'quotas, clicks and coal'"
  13. ^ Table of contents , May 28, 2005
  14. ^ Gunnar Sohn: Review of Read, laughed, punched ( memento of March 7, 2006 in the Internet Archive ), neueachricht.de
  15. NDR: Stripping and back room ( Memento from October 13, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
  16. ^ NDR: I am Wagner - You are Germany ( Memento from December 10, 2006 in the Internet Archive ). April 19, 2006 (broadcast text ( memento of December 15, 2006 in the Internet Archive ))
  17. The Tricks of the Winemakers. In: SWR. October 1, 2008, accessed July 18, 2020 .
  18. SWR : SWR chief reporter Leif reveals tricks of winemakers ( Memento from May 7, 2008 in the Internet Archive ). November 7, 2006
  19. Werner Theurich: The flavor enhancers . In: Spiegel Online . November 8, 2006
  20. SIEMENS in the bribe swamp - the business of corruption investigators. ( Memento of 22 December 2007 at the Internet Archive ) Documentary, 45 min series Subject, Editing:. Holger Höbermann, Production: SWR, first broadcast 17 October 2007 (ARD)