Gruner + Jahr | Hamburg, 08/27/2018

Big Reception Celebrates 70 Years of ‘Stern’ Magazine

To mark the 70th anniversary of G+J’s “Stern” magazine, Hamburg's First Mayor Peter Tschentscher hosted a Senate reception at Hamburg City Hall on Thursday. The evening’s speakers were former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, G+J CEO Julia Jäkel, Peter Tschentscher and “Stern” Editor-In-Chief Christian Krug.

Leading medium, affair of the heart or journalistic companion of democracy: The speakers at the Senate reception found many names to describe “Stern.” For 70 years, the G+J magazine has dominated public discourse in Germany, touching and moving people. The Hamburg Senate paid tribute to “Stern” magazine’s special role for journalism at a festive event on Thursday evening.

“‘Stern’ had a formative influence on the development of journalism in post-war Germany,” Mayor Peter Tschentscher told the 350 guests. “Its success is closely linked with Hamburg’s rise to become a media hub. The magazine’s liberal, critical attitude is a good fit for cosmopolitan, contemporary Hamburg.” G+J boss Julia Jäkel emphasized the current importance of journalism, , but also the challenges facing it: “Never before has journalism been under more pressure worldwide than today: In terms of media, it is expected to constantly reinvent itself. We want to remain relevant and interesting, so we have to keep developing new topics and formats. On the moral side, the new authoritarians - from Erdogan, Putin, and AfD to Donald Trump – are fundamentally questioning our legitimacy. And financially, companies like Facebook are cutting the ground from under us.”

And that is why it’s important to invent a new journalism for new generations, she said. “But that doesn’t mean that we should give up old virtues that have made us strong: research, getting to the bottom of things, getting a sense of the context, and critically reflecting on it.” According to Jäkel, “Stern” continues to stand for independent, incorruptible journalism in Germany, as it has for the past 70 years: “And in my opinion there has rarely been a moment in history when democracy and journalism needed each other as much as they do now. ‘Stern’ is and will remain an affair of the heart for our company.”

“Stern” also has a special place in the heart of keynote speaker Sigmar Gabriel. The former German Foreign Minister spoke of his very personal relationship with “Stern.” He stressed that freedom of the press is an integral part of the constitution - for good reasons. “Democratic politics cannot exist without independent media. And that’s why democratically-minded and genuine policymakers must do everything in their power to defend the diversity and independence of the press, all over the world,” said Gabriel. “Stay fresh, curious, vigilant, and vital,” he urged “Stern” and its creators: “Be what you always have been, because you have always been ready to embrace change. But do continue to keep an eye on the dark sides of our society. Because a better country doesn’t happen by itself.”

“Stern” Editor-In-Chief Christian Krug concluded by reviewing the magazine’s eventful history for listeners. He said “Stern” has been made, week after week for 70 years, by a committed editorial team, and supported by a publishing house that is no less committed. “We journalists, including those from ‘Stern,’ have the task of getting to the bottom of things. On a small and large scale,” said Krug. “And we seek to fulfill this task with zest, energy, and passion. In the next 70 years, too. Gruner + Jahr and all of its staff have always passionately supported this task. On this day, as on all others, the whole publishing house can be proud of this. While we don’t produce nuts and bolts, we produce words and images that can change society. It’s up to us to make sure that they retain their effectiveness. Even in a world that seems to be getting more and more conflict-ridden and complex.”