Demian von Osten
Current job:
Television correspondent at the ARD studio in Moscow
Studies in Mannheim:
Political Science and Business Administration
Highest degree:
Magister
Career
“I heard you presenting the news on the radio!”, other students frequently said to me during seminars and lectures at university. While I was still a student, I wrote and presented news for the SWR youth radio station, DASDING. During the semester breaks, I completed internships in journalism, for example, at the ZDF studio in Paris and the German Press Agency (dpa) in Berlin. These hands-on experiences were very valuable during the selection process for a practical training at the broadcasting station Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)—I prevailed over the other applicants. What followed was an exciting and insightful time.
After completing my practical training, I occupied various positions at the WDR: I was a reporter for the ARD-Morgenmagazin, published for the investigation cluster of WDR, NDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung, and I was a regional correspondent for the news programs tagesschau and tagesthemen in North Rhine-Westphalia. At the same time, I filled in for colleagues at the ARD studios in Paris, Washington, and New York.
In 2018, my career dream came true: I became the permanent foreign correspondent at the ARD studio in Moscow. My colleagues and I are responsible for 13 countries, such as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus—it never gets boring to report on this region.
Tips for starting your career
The media industry is undergoing a revolutionary change, which students embarking on their career should be aware of. During my studies, I was recommended to do internships in different media companies including television, newspaper, and radio. As for me, it really paid off. But the demands on today’s young professionals continue to grow: being present on social media and having technical know-how (camera, cut) are becoming increasingly important. We are experiencing a rapid change in the media landscape.
Relevance of the studied program
Political Science and Business Administration—do these fields go well together? Definitely, yes, because both really helped me in my career: the theories from Political Science and the practical approaches from Business Administration. It was the perfect combination for me! One of the highlights of my studies was the year I spent abroad in Lyon, France. And at the University of Mannheim, I learned to appreciate student organizations, such as “radioaktiv” and the university orchestra.
Last updated: February 2023
Credit: Gleb Apuschkin