ZDF “heute-journal”: Christian Sievers succeeds Claus Kleber

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Christian Sievers headed the ZDF studio in Tel Aviv, and has been moderating the “heute” news since 2014

Photo: Jana Kay / ZDF

Christian Sievers will moderate the "heute journal" from January 2022, as the Mainz broadcaster announced on Thursday. The 51-year-old has so far been the presenter of the 7:00 p.m. edition of the “heute” program. In addition, he is already working for the “heute journal” for a few weeks a year. Next Thursday (September 30th) Sievers will be seen for the last time on "heute" at 7:00 pm. On December 30th, Kleber, 66, will host the “heute journal” on ZDF for the last time.

"Claus Kleber gave the› heute journal ‹a face for 18 years and played a decisive role in keeping the show on course as the leading news magazine on German television," said ZDF editor-in-chief Peter Frey, according to the announcement.

"With Christian Sievers he will be followed by a passionate correspondent who will repeatedly bring his experience as a reporter to the moderation."

Christian Sievers' successor in the 7pm "heute" show will be Mitri Sirin, who will present the main news program on ZDF for the first time on October 11th.

"Mitri Sirin is an experienced colleague who has made a name for himself in the› ZDF-Morgenmagazin ‹in the last few years," Bettina Schausten, head of the ZDF main editorial department, is quoted as saying.

"He will complement the team with Jana Pareigis and Barbara Hahlweg perfectly."

Kleber has presented the “heute journal” since 2003.

From next year Christian Sievers can be seen alternating with Marietta Slomka, Bettina Schausten also presents the program a few weeks a year.

Sievers has been working for ZDF since 1998 and has already worked as a presenter for the »ZDF morning magazine« and presented projections and analyzes in ZDF election programs.

He was also head of the ZDF studio in Tel Aviv.

Since 2014 he has moderated the 7pm “heute” show and occasionally the “heute journal”.

cpa / dpa