Anne Will (born 18 March 1966) is a German television journalist and host of the eponymous political talk show. She was anchorwoman of the daily Tagesthemen news broadcast on ARD from 2001 until 2007.
Early life and career
Will was born on 18 March 1966 in Cologne, West Germany, the daughter of an architect. She grew up in Hürth and attended the Albert-Schweitzer-Gymnasium high school. From 1985 she studied history, politics, and English in Cologne and Berlin, with a scholarship of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES). While a student she had articles published in the Kölnische Rundschau and Berliner Volksblatt newspapers. In 1990 she graduated with a Magister's degree from the University of Cologne.
Career in television
Will began her career in radio and television at Sender Freies Berlin. She also interviewed Merkel in September 2009 (shortly before the 2009 election), in October 2015, in February 2016, November 2016 and in June 2018 (following the 44th G7 summit). She hosted Merkel’s successor Olaf Scholz for the first time in March 2022. Among the international dignitaries who appeared on the show were the foreign ministers of Austria and Luxembourg, Sebastian Kurz (2016) and Jean Asselborn (2014, 2015 and 2018).
In 2010, Will interviewed former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder for daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Later career
In 2024, Will launched a weekly interview podcast, Politik mit Anne Will (Politics with Anne Will).
Other activities
An active contributor to the Kindernothilfe and UNICEF charities, Will is also involved in projects aiming to eliminate landmines. On 2 July 2005, she hosted the German stage event of the Live8 in front of the Siegessäule in Berlin. She also serves as Ambassador for the Room of Names of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin.
Personal life
Will lives in Berlin. From 2016 until 2019 she was married to Miriam Meckel, then editor-in-chief of the major German magazine WirtschaftsWoche and professor of communications and media at the Swiss University of St. Gallen. Will is Roman Catholic.
Awards (selection)
- 2002: Goldene Kamera
- 2006: German Television Award
- 2007: Hanns Joachim Friedrichs Award