Stern

Henri Nannen launched Stern in Hamburg in 1948, just three years after World War II ended. The weekly illustrated magazine quickly became one of Germany's most widely read publications, reaching millions of readers at its peak. Nannen, who had worked as a journalist during the Nazi era, steered the magazine toward a liberal editorial stance that openly confronted Germany's recent past, a bold move in a country still grappling with denazification. Stern distinguished itself with high-quality photojournalism, investigative reporting, and cultural coverage, blending hard news with vivid picture stories.

The magazine's reputation suffered a devastating blow in 1983 when it published what it claimed were Adolf Hitler's private diaries. The documents turned out to be forgeries, triggering one of the biggest journalistic scandals in German history. Several senior editors resigned, and Stern's credibility took years to recover. The scandal remains a cautionary tale in media ethics.

In the decades since, Stern has adapted to the digital age. Its website stern.de offers daily news, video content, and interactive features, while the print edition continues to publish weekly. Circulation has declined, a common fate for print magazines, but Stern remains a fixture in German journalism, known for its long-form reporting and distinctive visual storytelling. The magazine is headquartered in Hamburg and owned by Gruner + Jahr, part of the RTL Group. [edit]