Overview

• ZDF announced Gahntz’s death on June 16 during its heute broadcast with presenter Mitri Sirin conveying the news to viewers.
• He began as a freelance contributor in 1971 and became the lead anchor for heute in 1975 before joining the heute-journal in 1979.
• In 1989 he co-founded the Mittagsmagazin and served as its first editor, establishing a lasting fixture in ZDF’s daytime lineup.
• After returning to heute in 1990 as editorial director, he later led ZDF’s economics, social affairs and environment department until retiring in 2010.
• Colleagues and executives lauded his calm professionalism and strong journalistic integrity that shaped ZDF’s news coverage.