“Storytelling with and about people—that’s something we do well […]. We engage in dialogue and rely on our journalistic excellence, which would not be possible without a high level of diversity,” says Manuela Kasper-Claridge, Editor-in-Chief at Deutsche Welle.

Since 2020, DW has had a council as an extension of the editorial board, initiated by Manuela. “DW stands for great cultural diversity. It was my explicit wish for this to be reflected in the editorial leadership as well.” The council consists of three women and three men, bringing in their perspectives. Their backgrounds include Lebanon, Zambia, Turkey, the USA, and Germany.

Manuela has been with DW since 1992, starting as a reporter and editor, then leading the business editorial team from 1998. In 2014, she took over the Economics, Science, and Environment department, and in 2020, she became Editor-in-Chief of the international broadcaster.

Throughout her career, many things have changed—the technology, for one, but also leadership and corporate culture. It has become “more diverse, richer, and more open,” Manuela observes. A particular challenge is the rise of disinformation. Deepfakes and false information make it increasingly difficult to distinguish between truth and lies. However, this also presents an opportunity for DW to position itself as a credible media outlet. “AI is not on the ground the way our correspondents are. They are close to the action in Ethiopia, Mexico, and Ukraine,” emphasizes the Editor-in-Chief. It is the diverse perspectives, the proximity to events, and the dialogue with different people on-site that ensure the credibility and quality of journalistic work.

In the book Frauen des Jahres (Women of the Year), you can learn more about Manuela’s truly fascinating and extraordinary career journey. She is also available as a mentor. Want to know how to connect with her? You’ll find more details in the book.

A post by herCAREER,
posted on LinkedIn on 05.02.2025

 

Frauen des Jahres 2024/2025 (available only in German language)
Link to the book