Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 18, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Amlung began his editorial career at ARD.
At ARD-aktuell, from 1992 his responsibilities included editorial project management for the redesign of ARD news and setting up and heading the “Tagesschau” Internet editorial team.
In 1998, NDR sent him to ARTE Deutschland TV GmbH to take charge of the bilingual “arte info” editorial team in Strasbourg.
At the beginning of 2001, he moved to ZDF, where he took over the then “Nachrichten online” editorial team within the New Media main editorial department.
In 2004, he became head of the central editorial team in the New Media main editorial department, responsible for all cross-editorial content and projects.
At the beginning of 2005, he was also entrusted with the role of “Digital Development Coordinator”, in which he drove the further development of ZDF’s digital programme bouquet and multimedia offerings.
In August 2006, he took over the New Media main editorial department. In this role, he substantially developed ZDF’s Mediathek, which ushered in the era of time-independent television in September 2007.
Director-General Markus Schächter calls Robert Amlung an outstanding strategist with an excellent reputation in the industry, not least through the successful implementation of the Mediathek. Schächter: “Robert Amlung is distinguished by an unusual combination of journalistic expertise, technological know-how and strategic thinking. This makes him the logical choice for the role I have newly created as head of the Digital Strategies unit. The necessary restructuring of ZDF to meet the requirements of the digital future is the central challenge for the coming years. In Robert Amlung, we have not only an outstandingly qualified expert ready for this task, but also a colleague who is universally accepted and highly valued within the organisation.”
Dr. Eckart Gaddum, the current head of “ZDF-Morgenmagazin”, will take over the New Media main editorial department on June 1, 2008.
Eckart Gaddum has worked at ZDF since 1987, initially in various roles for “heute- journal”. In 1995, he took over as head of ZDF’s regional studio in Thuringia.
In 1997, he returned to Mainz and took the position of duty editor in the Current Affairs main editorial department. At the same time, he presented the late-night news programme “heute Nacht”.
In July 2001, he moved to ZDF’s Paris studio as a foreign correspondent. At the beginning of 2003, he took over “ZDF-Morgenmagazin” in Berlin. For the past year, he has also headed a project group within the editor-in-chief’s department developing concepts to optimise the interaction between television and online services in news and information.
ZDF Director-General Markus Schächter: “Eckart Gaddum is an unusually versatile and knowledgeable journalist. He has extensive management experience and, as head of “ZDF-Morgenmagazin”, has made a significant contribution to connecting the morning TV format with new media and integrating the possibilities of the Internet into traditional editorial work. With his qualities and abilities, Eckart Gaddum is an excellent choice to head the important New Media main editorial department.”
Eckart Gaddum will be succeeded by Ulf Röller (43), who currently works as an editor and reporter for the capital studio. Ulf Röller completed an editorial traineeship from 1992 to 1994. He subsequently worked first in ZDF’s Bonn studio and, following the capital studio’s move in 1999, in Berlin. Schächter: “Ulf Röller is a highly committed and knowledgeable reporter and observer of political events. His extensive experience and pronounced ability to work in a team make him ideally suited to the leadership position at the morning magazine.”
The Director-General had presented the planned changes to ZDF’s Administrative Council at its meeting on March 14. The body also approved extending Dr. Peter Frey’s appointment as head of ZDF’s Berlin capital studio.
Peter Frey (50) has headed ZDF’s capital studio in Berlin since September 2001. In this role, he also presents various formats such as “Berlin direkt”, special broadcasts and the “Berliner Runde”. Peter Frey had previously worked for ZDF as an editor and reporter for “heute-journal” and as a foreign correspondent in the USA, among other roles. Later, he first headed the then-new “ZDF-Morgenmagazin” and then the Foreign Affairs main editorial department. For Director-General Markus Schächter, Peter Frey is one of the broadcaster’s defining journalistic figures. Schächter: “Peter Frey stands for competence, independence and closeness to viewers – he knows how to analyse complex political connections and make the essential points clearly understandable. I am pleased that he will continue to be responsible for and shape our coverage from the capital in the politically highly exciting years ahead.” Overall, ZDF Director-General Schächter was very pleased with the staffing decisions: “We have filled important leadership roles with top people. I am particularly pleased that they are all long-serving ZDF employees. This proves that consistent staff development offering many opportunities within one’s own company pays off in the long term.”
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