For many years Ulrich Wickert has been one of Germany's most respected television journalists. For 15 years he was a regular guest in German living rooms as 'Mr Tagesthemen', until he retired from this position in 2006. Through his numerous book publications and his articles in magazines, he also has made a name for himself as a politically committed publicist. Ulrich Wickert (*1942) was born in Tokyo and grew up in Heidelberg and Paris. After graduating from high school, he studied political science and law in Bonn and went to Wesleyan University in Connecticut/USA on a Fulbright scholarship. In 1968 he passed his state law exams and then worked as a freelance radio writer. This was followed by eight years as an editor for the TV magazine "Monitor" before he moved to Washington as an ARD correspondent. His love of France soon caught up with him and he became a correspondent in Paris. From 1981 to 1984, he was ARD studio director in New York, and in 1984 he went to Paris for seven years in the same position. From 1991 to 2006, Ulrich Wickert hosted the ARD Tagesthemen and thus advanced to become one of the best-known faces of German television. In addition to his work in television, Wickert was appointed honorary professor at the Magdeburg University of Applied Sciences in 2004 in the course of study Journalism/Media Management. From 2006 to 2014 Ulrich Wickert hosted his own radio magazine "Wickerts Bücher". Ulrich Wickert is now a sought-after author himself and has published numerous books, from non-fiction to crime novels. With the Ulrich Wickert Foundation he campaigns for children's rights under the umbrella of Plan International, and at the Académie de Berlin Ulrich Wickert holds the office of Secrétaire perpétuel. He has received many awards, including the Franco-German Journalism Prize, the Golden Camera, the German Television Prize and the Media Man of the Year Award. Because of his services to Franco-German relations, he was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour in November 2005 and in 2016 he received the Federal Cross of Merit, First Class. Ulrich Wickert gives his lectures without a manuscript. He is an impressive speaker and a witty storyteller who easily manages to captivate, entertain and amuse his listeners.