This overview tells you how to find out about the news in writing, video and radio formats.
Most of the media mentioned are available in German, English or Arabic.
Which news in text form are available?
Spiegel Online
Spiegel Online is an online news portal for the magazine “Der Spiegel”. It offers news about politics as well as societal topics. Spiegel Online is available in German (www.spiegel.de) and English (www.spiegel.de/international).
Zeit Online
Zeit Online is the website of the German weekly newspaper, “Die Zeit”. It mainly offers articles related to society and politics. Zeit Online is available in German (www.zeit.de) and English (www.zeit.de/english).
Nachrichtenleicht
Nachrichtenleicht (www.nachrichtenleicht.de) is a news website written in simplified German. You will find brief articles on all sorts of news, short videos and even a podcast (www.nachrichtenleicht.de/podcast-nachrichtenleicht.2134.de.html).
WDR for you
WDR for you is a news website for refugees with information and documentation, as well as entertainment and services for children. It is available in German, English, Arabic and Persian. There are also short videos with tips for life in Germany (http://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/wdrforyou).
In addition, most of the websites for the major German daily newspapers like “Süddeutsche” (https://www.sueddeutsche.de/ or international.sueddeutsche.de) or “Welt” (https://www.welt.de/ or https://www.welt.de/english-news) have news in German and English.
WDR also offers a podcast “COSMO ukrayinskoyu” with news and information for refugees from Ukraine: https://www1.wdr.de/radio/cosmo/sprachen/ukrainisch/ukrainische-minute-100.html.
Which video news are available?
Tagesschau
The “Tagesschau” is the most popular German news programme on television. You can watch it every day at 8 pm (and at other times) on the broadcaster ARD or the website (www.tagesschau.de/). There you can also find a short video version of the news in German in 100 seconds (https://www.tagesschau.de/100sekunden/).
Tagesschau in Einfacher Sprache
The aim of “Tagesschau in Einfacher Sprache” is to make important news accessible to everyone. The texts are written clearly and comprehensibly and use simple words and short sentences. Every Friday, the most important news items of the week are published in plain language.
This service is particularly helpful if you are learning German. Not only can you improve your understanding of the language, but you can also find out more about current events in Germany and the world.
ZDF in Arabic and English
ZDF is the largest German broadcaster and offers news and other shows. A selection of shows is available online with English (www.zdf.de/international/zdfenglish) or Arabic (www.zdf.de/international/zdfarabic) subtitles.
ZDF in Ukrainian
ZDF offers some programmes with Ukrainian subtitles: https://www.tagesschau.de/multimedia/ukrainisch/. https://www.zdf.de/zdf-sendungen-und-nachrichten-mit-ukrainischen-untertitelen-100.html
One of these programmes is the news programme “heute journal”. It reports on the most important topics of the day and analyses them, for example, in interviews with politicians. https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten-sendungen/heute-journal
ARD
It is possible to enable subtitles: https://www.daserste.de/specials/service/barrierefreiheit-im-ersten-untertitel-deutsch100.html.
News in Ukrainian from RTL and ntv
RTL and ntv’s “Ukraine Update” is aimed at Ukrainian refugees in Germany and runs from Monday to Friday. “Ukraine Update” is presented by journalist Karolina Ashion, who herself fled from Kiev to Germany at the beginning of the war. The “Ukraine Update” can be found on ntv.de and RTL.de and on YouTube at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwneNHYIBCIRrzn9R-ShO8eduT5Bqu9I3.
“Deutsche Welle” news formats in Ukrainian and Russian
Deutsche Welle has set up two news formats that are broadcast in Ukrainian (“DW Nowyny”) and Russian (“DW Nowosti”). You can follow the news on YouTube at the following links: https://www.youtube.com/@DWUkrainian (Ukrainian) https://www.youtube.com/@dwrussian (Russian).
Which radio news are available?
WDR Refugee Radio
WDR Refugee Radio is a radio programme specifically for refugees. Programmes are available twice daily in Arabic and German (http://www1.wdr.de/radio/cosmo/programm/refugee-radio/)
SR 1 children’s news in Ukrainian
The radio station SR 1 offers the weekly “Domino” news for children in Ukrainian, too: https://www.sr.de/sr/sr1/programm/domino/sr1_domino_kindernachrichten_deutsch_ukrainisch_100.html-.
Last Updated: 01.01.2023