WDR personality Sven Kroll in conversation with MU students
During an excursion to WDR Cologne, first-year students of the “Journalism and Corporate Communications” program had a special encounter. The tour of the studios in the catacombs of the WDR complex in Cologne was actually only intended to show what the sets for programs such as ‘Sportschau’ or “Hier und Heute” look like in reality. In the “Hier und Heute” setting, the group unexpectedly met the show’s long-time presenter, Sven Kroll. A spontaneous question about his index cards (he writes 50 per show) led to a half-hour conversation that lasted almost until 4 p.m. – even though the show starts live at 4:15 p.m.
Kroll talked about his studies, his internship, and his positions at a wide variety of stations, including a tiny regional TV station in the Münsterland region. The presenter recommended such start-ups to his future colleagues, because there you can do, create, and learn much more than at the big stations. But he also reported on the hateful comments he receives, like almost all public figures – even as the host of a rather apolitical entertainment show like “Hier und Heute.” Overall, however, he encouraged the group in their desire to become journalists. Despite everything, it is still one of the most wonderful professions in the world.
