ZDF's political chief departs from position. - Female employee assumes Fornoff's obligations following staff reorganization.
Shakuntala Banerjee (51), known to viewers for hosting "Berlin direkt," has been appointed as the new political chief at ZDF. This marks a significant career advancement for the long-time political presenter, who will begin her new role on November 1st.
About Shakuntala Banerjee
Banerjee co-hosts "Berlin direkt" with Diana Zimmermann, Daniel Pontzen, and Andrea Maurer (all from ZDF) every Sunday at 7:10 PM. This popular political magazine is the most successful show of its kind on German television, bringing the latest updates on political developments to viewers. In addition to this show, she is also famous for her summer interviews, conducting tough interrogations with top politicians.
Born to a German mother and an Indian father, Banerjee has been part of ZDF for over two decades, working her way up through the ranks. Her early career included time at the regional studio in Hessen and as a correspondent in Brussels. Currently, she is the deputy head of ZDF's main studio in Berlin, which provides political news updates for all ZDF shows.
Raised in Mönchengladbach, Banerjee studied political science and public law, interning at WDR and RTL before joining the Second German Television.
Details about her personal life are scarce, but she's often spotted wearing black glasses. When asked about her preferences outside of work, she disclosed that she's not a football fan, despite being a Mönchengladbach native during the club's prime years.
Banerjee's hobbies include playing tennis and spending time at the piano. Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Brahms are her go-to composers. In her professional life, her job allows her to interact with the country's most influential people daily. However, she doesn't consider them friends, maintaining professional boundaries with them as a journalist. "I'm not friends with them. I keep the necessary journalistic and critical distance," she declared in an interview with the "General-Anzeiger."
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