Heribert Prantl
Encyclopedia
Heribert Prantl is a German
journalist
and jurist
. He is currently the head of the domestic policy
department of the Süddeutsche Zeitung
.
in Bavaria
on 30 July 1953. A stipendiary of the Catholic
"Cusanuswerk", he studied law
, philosophy
and history
at the University of Regensburg
and earned his juris doctor
. Afterwards he studied journalism and worked as a judge as well as a public prosecutor.
in the department for domestic policy with focus on legal policy. In 1992 he was promoted to deputy head of the department and 1995 he became the head of the department where he works until today.
Considered a social liberal by many, Prantl has achieved a reputation of being a defender of a liberal
and cosmopolitan
society that respects the basic rights of all people.
radio stations as a commentator for current domestic affairs.
Prantl is also a lecturer for journalism
at the Akademie für Publizistik in Hamburg
and at the Institut zur Förderung publizistischen Nachwuchses in Munich
as well as a member of the PEN center
of Germany. Since 2002 he is lecturer for law at the University of Bielefeld and since 2004 he is on the advisory board of "Pro Justitia". He is also a member of the senate of the "Deutsche Nationalstiftung".
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
. He is currently the head of the domestic policy
Domestic policy
Domestic policy, also known as public policy, presents decisions, laws, and programs made by the government which are directly related to all issues and activity within the country....
department of the Süddeutsche Zeitung
Süddeutsche Zeitung
The Süddeutsche Zeitung , published in Munich, is the largest German national subscription daily newspaper.-Profile:The title literally translates as "South German Newspaper". It is read throughout Germany by 1.1 million readers daily and boasts a relatively high circulation abroad...
.
Early life
Prantl was born in NittenauNittenau
Nittenau is a municipality in the district of Schwandorf, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Regen, 18 km southeast of Schwandorf, and 24 km northeast of Regensburg....
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
on 30 July 1953. A stipendiary of the Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
"Cusanuswerk", he studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at the University of Regensburg
University of Regensburg
The University of Regensburg is a public research university located in the medieval city of Regensburg, Bavaria, a city that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university was founded on July 18, 1962 by the Landtag of Bavaria as the fourth full-fledged university in Bavaria...
and earned his juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
. Afterwards he studied journalism and worked as a judge as well as a public prosecutor.
Work as a journalist
In 1988, Prantl started working for the Süddeutsche ZeitungSüddeutsche Zeitung
The Süddeutsche Zeitung , published in Munich, is the largest German national subscription daily newspaper.-Profile:The title literally translates as "South German Newspaper". It is read throughout Germany by 1.1 million readers daily and boasts a relatively high circulation abroad...
in the department for domestic policy with focus on legal policy. In 1992 he was promoted to deputy head of the department and 1995 he became the head of the department where he works until today.
Considered a social liberal by many, Prantl has achieved a reputation of being a defender of a liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and cosmopolitan
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
society that respects the basic rights of all people.
Other work
Apart from his work as a journalist, Prantl is a critically acclaimed author of political commentary, especially concerning basic liberties and the rule of law. He also appears often on ARDARD (broadcaster)
ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
radio stations as a commentator for current domestic affairs.
Prantl is also a lecturer for journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at the Akademie für Publizistik in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and at the Institut zur Förderung publizistischen Nachwuchses in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
as well as a member of the PEN center
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
of Germany. Since 2002 he is lecturer for law at the University of Bielefeld and since 2004 he is on the advisory board of "Pro Justitia". He is also a member of the senate of the "Deutsche Nationalstiftung".
Awards
- 1983: Science award of the University of RegensburgUniversity of RegensburgThe University of Regensburg is a public research university located in the medieval city of Regensburg, Bavaria, a city that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university was founded on July 18, 1962 by the Landtag of Bavaria as the fourth full-fledged university in Bavaria...
and the House of Thurn und TaxisThurn und TaxisThe Princely House of Thurn and Taxis is a German family that was a key player in the postal services in Europe in the 16th century and is well known as owners of breweries and builders of many castles.- History :...
for studies in law and economics - 1989: Editorial award of the journalistic foundation Der TagesspiegelDer TagesspiegelDer Tagesspiegel is a classical liberal German daily newspaper...
- 1992: Journalism award of the Deutscher Anwaltverein (German lawyers' association)
- 1994: Geschwister-Scholl-PreisGeschwister-Scholl-PreisThe Geschwister-Scholl-Preis is a literary prize which was initiated in 1980 by the State Association of Bavaria in the Stock Market Society of the German Book Trade and the city of Munich...
for his book „Deutschland, leicht entflammbar“ - 1996: Kurt-Tucholsky-PreisKurt-Tucholsky-PreisKurt-Tucholsky-Preis is a literary prize of Germany....
for journalismJournalismJournalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and... - 1999: Siebenpfeiffer-Preis for freedom and democratic rights
- 2001: Theodor-Wolff-Preis in the category "Essay" for his comment "Lob der Provinz" (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 1 April 2000)
- 2004: Rhetoric award for the "speech of the year" by the University of Tübingen
- 2006: Erich-Fromm-PreisErich-Fromm-PreisErich-Fromm-Preis is a literary prize of Germany....
(together with Hans LeyendeckerHans LeyendeckerHans Leyendecker is a German journalist. He writes for the Süddeutsche Zeitung and is one of Germany's best known investigative journalists....
) - 2006: Arnold-Freymuth-Preis
- 2007: Roman-Herzog-Medienpreis
- 2008: Goldener Prometheus for political journalism, awarded by the magazine V.i.S.d.P.
- 2008: Puk-Preis for cultural journalism, awarded by the Deutscher Kulturrat
- 2008: Ketteler-Preis of the foundation 'Zukunft der Arbeit und der sozialen Sicherung' (ZASS)
- 2009: Justice medal of BavariaBavariaBavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
- 2010: Cicero-Rednerpreis (orator's award)