Deutsche Welle (DW)

Gudrun Engel to Host Bremen TV & Digital Awards

ARD correspondent Gudrun Engel will for the first time moderate the Bremer Fernseh- und Digitalpreis after Frank Plasberg's departure, ARD announced. Hans Helmich, who is responsible for programme management at Deutsche Welle, has taken over as chairman of the award jury; Engel will also join the jury in addition to hosting. Public broadcasters, private German and German-language foreign broadcasters and providers are invited to submit entries across six categories, including Best Current Video, Best On-Camera Performance, Best Investigative Performance, plus the audience prize "Nah dran." Winners will be announced in Bremen on 13 November 2026, and a workshop in cooperation with the ARD‑ZDF‑Medienakademie is scheduled for the afternoon before the gala.

Turkish DW Correspondent Uludağ Arrested Again

Alican Uludağ, a Turkish investigative and court reporter who works as a correspondent for Deutsche Welle, was arrested again two months after his release. He had previously been detained on 19 February and held in pre-trial custody for 92 days before being released on 21 May; that earlier case remains pending with a court date scheduled for 18 September. Authorities have opened a separate investigation with new allegations that have not been detailed publicly. Deutsche Welle's director-general Barbara Massing called the re-arrest deeply worrying and emphasised the need for a fair legal process. Uludağ was awarded the 2026 Press Freedom Prize by the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC), and Deutsche Welle says it is in contact with his legal representatives.

DW Supervisory Board Warns of Further Budget Cuts

Deutsche Welle's supervisory board warned that further federal budget cuts could force deep savings and jeopardize the public broadcaster's ability to fulfil its mandate. The federal government cut DW's 2026 budget by €10 million; mid-term planning foresees a €425 million federal subsidy for 2027, but a proposed €16.9 million reduction in ODA funds could lower DW's 2027 grant to €408.1 million. The supervisory board highlighted unresolved questions about whether the federal government will fully compensate tariff (collective bargaining) cost increases — €10.8 million for 2026 and €12.8 million for 2027 — and warned that combined savings requirements mean DW must cut roughly 10% of spending within three years, risking investment, jobs and reductions to the journalistic offering.