“There were few situations in the studio in which I could hardly contain myself from laughing. This was one of them.” In an interview with the German Press Agency, Caren Miosga talks about one of the funniest studio moments in her 16 years as a presenter on “Tagesthemen”.
At the beginning of 2022, the then outgoing head of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, confused Miosga with ZDF presenter Marietta Slomka from the “heute journal” and addressed her on the “Tagesthemen” as follows: “Good evening, Ms. Slomka.” Miosga replied: “My name is Miosga. Hello, Mr. Ischinger, it doesn’t matter.” As a result, the name mix-up occurred twice more. Miosga said in the dpa interview: “Poor Mr. Ischinger really thought he was on ZDF until the end of the interview.”
Now Caren Miosga has quit the “Tagesthemen”, which is produced for ARD on the NDR premises in Hamburg. She presented the show for the last time on October 5th. Chief spokesman Jens Riewa presented Miosga with a dancing Snoopy figure for his “infinite sympathy and empathy”. Visibly touched, the 54-year-old presenter said goodbye to her audience: “Now I feel a bit like a character from a Jon Fosse play, heavy and humble, that I’m saying goodbye here after 16 years. But of course at the same time Very happy to have been part of an editorial team for so long that tries every day to understand this world and make it understandable for you.” With a view to her successor, her moderation ended with the words: “Please stick to the topics of the day and be nice to Jessy Wellmer, she is too.” Ingo Zamperoni and his colleagues had already said a warm goodbye to the stock market and the weather. A compilation of extraordinary scenes from Miosga’s presentations was shown. Then colleagues surrounded the moderator.
She was a presenter for longer than anyone else before her, even overtaking Ulrich Wickert. For 16 years she shaped one of the most important ARD programs, which millions of viewers watch every day. Miosga alternated with Ingo Zamperoni and Aline Abboud. Will she be approached on the street? “That happens occasionally. But most people are friendly. Fortunately, I only receive ugly comments online…” says Miosga in an interview with dpa. The TV journalist represents a new generation of “Tagesthemen” presenters. In recent years it has been seen that the show has repeatedly incorporated the unexpected at times. Otherwise, the news programs “Tagesschau” and “Tagesthemen” – this is intentional – follow a clear, recurring and formal sequence.
In 2014, Miosga stood on the moderation table in front of the camera. She paid tribute to the late Hollywood actor Robin Williams in an unusual way. That was an allusion to his most famous roles: In “The Dead Poets Club” from 1989, as a teacher he wanted to encourage his students to think freely. In one scene he was standing on a table. Miosga says of the table scene at the time: “It was a serious gesture, as we television people also do well to sometimes change our perspective.”
The second editor-in-chief of ARD-aktuell (“Tagesschau”, “Tagesthemen”), Helge Fuhst, recently said: “Caren Miosga knows how to draw attention to what is important with her words and looks. These were always surprising topics and perspectives – or Places like the “Tagesthemen” from Ukraine or Turkey hosted by Caren Miosga.” The “Tagesthemen” won the German Television Prize days ago for the live reporting of the ARD news program from the Ukrainian capital in the summer of 2022. Miosga said: “To personally experience how Ukrainians withstand this terror every day is one of the most impressive experiences for me.”
The journalist, who was born in Peine in Lower Saxony, is approachable on social media away from the news broadcast – on Instagram she shows some of her life and everyday work. When she sits in the mask. Of travel. Or when she is traveling with the former “Tagesschau” spokeswoman Linda Zervakis.
Miosga was also one of the celebrities who took part in a PR campaign in the spring before the publication of the book “Still awake?” by best-selling author Benjamin von Stuckrad-Barre. The author published clips on his Instagram account in which the celebrities read out chapter titles of his work, which had previously been treated as a roman à clef about the media company Axel Springer (“Bild”).
Miosga is now taking the next career step in public broadcasting. She will be the successor to political talker Anne Will. The Sunday evening slot after the TV ratings hit “Tatort” on Erste is one of the most sought-after on television. Miosga has followed Will before – as a “Tagesthemen” presenter, now for the second time. The working title of the show was announced months ago: “Miosga”.
The 54-year-old is starting at a time when criticism of German TV political talk is becoming more prevalent again. Always the same guests, you’re too much in your own media-political bubble, the shows are too similar – this is currently being discussed again. ARD program director Christine Strobl is currently pushing ahead with a revision of the talk concept on ARD. The entire plan and all details are not yet known. Miosga will certainly also be judged by whether she can further develop her own profile in the middle of the talk sessions.
