For the first time in its 72-year history, German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle will be led by a woman. The DW Broadcasting Council has appointed Barbara Masing as its new director general.
Deutsche Welle announced on Friday (June 20) that Barbara Masing will take over from current director general Peter Limburg on October 1, 2025.
“I am thrilled to appoint Barbara Masing as the next director general,” said Karl Eusten, chairman of the DW Broadcasting Council and its election committee.
“She brings not only top-level leadership and journalistic skills, but also the strategic foresight necessary for Deutsche Welle to succeed in the challenging global media environment.”
Maasing previously served as managing director of DW’s business administration department. Eusten said Masing has played a key role in expanding DW’s programming and streamlining the organization. He said Masing is the right leader to “strengthen Deutsche Welle’s role as a trusted, independent global voice for democracy and freedom.”
Achim Dirks, deputy director of the DW advisory board, also praised Masing’s success in expanding and restructuring Deutsche Welle’s activities. Dirks pledged to work with Masing to ensure that DW “remains a relevant voice in the world and provides people with free information in these geopolitically challenging times.”
Masing thanked the council for trusting in his leadership and giving him the opportunity to help shape DW’s future.
“Fact-based, reliable journalism is our most valuable asset and more important than ever in this era of AI-relatedness and the flow of misleading information,” Masing said.
The Broadcasting Council’s seven-member selection committee announced Masing’s appointment by unanimous decision.