Karl König

“There are plenty of initiatives in the service of sustainability. They need to become visible so that they inspire and motivate us all “

The daily news. Usually the first news item: Weather disasters all over the world. It can happen anytime and anywhere – in a matter of seconds. Streams turn into raging rivers. Or there are images of oppressive droughts. Not – as in the past – somewhere on another continent. There too. But now also on our doorstep.
The realisation that nature is stronger than us. We humans tend to overestimate our power and underestimate our responsibility. But anyone who has experienced how storms, droughts or floods can change entire regions knows that we are well advised to work with nature – not against it.
I became a journalist because I believe in the power of stories. Stories can enlighten, move and change. As an editor, reporter and communicator, I have learnt to convey messages in such a way that they are heard – even in a noisy world.

Today, I would like to use this craft, which I have acquired over the years, for a goal that is close to my heart: our future viability.

The aim of ISTE is to bring together research, education and business in a harmonious triad. Concrete initiatives, projects and realisations in the service of the environment are collected here. There are plenty of them. These stories want to be told. The people who are driving these projects forward deserve to be visible – to motivate and inspire us. And to be appreciated.
If we succeed in describing what drives these people, their ideas and their daily work in the service of sustainability, we will have gained a great deal.
It is a logical step to put experience at the service of an issue that has no time to wait. Because nature will not ask us if we are ready. It acts – and we have to learn to deal with the facts that we hear about in the news every day.

Background

Karl’s professional journey began in the classic way: as a newspaper trainee. From 1985 to 1989, he learnt the craft of journalism from the ground up – as an editor at a daily newspaper. In 1990, he switched to TV. A decade at RTL, where he travelled around Germany and the world as a reporter and editor for regional and national formats. Complex or palatable topics, informative or entertaining stories.

At ProSiebenSat.1, he was responsible for central areas of the media company as Editorial Director, Editor-in-Chief, later as Managing Director of kabel eins and as Managing Director Programme and Operations/COO of the ProSiebenSat.1 broadcasting group.

As co-founder of a start-up for digital onboarding and external company management and as director of a communications consultancy, Karl always focuses on conveying exciting stories – even when the content is complex.
Reporter, manager, communicator – the realisation is always the same: The core must reach people. Only then does the message work.