What is good German? Wolf Schneider had the answer ready in his books. He was one of the most popular journalists in the country and trained generations of media professionals. Now he is dead.
Munich/Starnberg – Well-known journalist and language critic Wolf Schneider has died, who died on Friday in Starnberg, as his family announced at the request. First “sueddeutsche.de” had reported.
Schneider, born in Erfurt, was 97 years old. Among other things, he directed the Henri Nannen School of Journalism in Hamburg and held management positions in well-known German media houses. With his books such as “German for Professionals” he became known throughout Germany as an expert on language and style.
He began his journalistic career as a translator for the US military government’s Neue Zeitung in Munich after World War II. He became an editor there without studying and without an internship. He later moved to the AP news agency, then to Süddeutsche Zeitung. There he was head of the news department, frequent author of the “Striplight” column, then Washington correspondent.
Stern founder Henri Nannen brought him to Hamburg in 1966. Schneider first became acting manager, then publishing manager, before moving to Springer in 1971. Among other things, he was editor-in-chief of Welt for 13 months .
Condolences from the President
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his condolences to Schneider’s widow. “Wolf Schneider had two great passions, den
Journalism and the mountains, and his first passion –
media and language – he gave almost 70 years of his life”, says the letter of condolence of the head of state.
generations of journalists with his style,
his aesthetic, and yes, even his pretense.” Many would describe Schneider as the “linguistic pope.” But that’s a choice of words he would never have allowed himself.
Head of the Henri Nannen School, Christoph Kucklick, said: “Wolf Schneider’s aim for the Nannen School was to create the best training center for journalists in Germany. He has certainly achieved this – with an iron fist, the highest standards and with excellent. effort Dedication to his students.” He is remembered as “a man obsessed with quality, edgy, smart, sharp-tongued, with a big heart that he knew how to hide.”