Interview with Clara Pfeffer
Our alumna Clara Pfeffer (B.Sc. Economics and Political Science) works as a journalist and presenter in the Berlin office of RTL/ntv. The focus of her journalistic work is on sustainability issues and informing about climate policy. In this alumni interview she tells us why she finds these topics important, what she thinks each of us can do to stop climate change and how her studies prepared her for work as a journalist.
In combination with political science and a few courses on economic psychology, the degree gave me a good foundation for reporting on politics and economics and precisely these intersections today.
Dear Clara, you already worked for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung during your WiSo studies and then started a voluntary internship at ntv. Did you always want to be a journalist?
I definitely became interested in it very early on. It all started as a children’s reporter for logo! But I wasn’t sure for a long time because I was interested in so many things, and the media industry has a dubious reputation. Especially as an economist, you wonder if you can earn more money somewhere else. But after an internship in marketing, it quickly became clear to me that I absolutely had to try journalism. Today I look forward to work (almost) every day – a luxury that is worth more to me than a consultant’s salary.
Why did you decide to study at the WiSo back then and how did your studies prepare you for your career in journalism?
I liked math and simply found the course descriptions interesting. Actually, everyone had warned me about economics. They said it was far removed from reality and dry. I found it super exciting to think about why certain countries are richer than others and how we present social problems in such a way that they become calculable. In combination with political science and a few courses on economic psychology, the degree gave me a good foundation for reporting on politics and economics and precisely these intersections today. Nowhere can you live out your curiosity as well as at university. The statistics courses are also valuable for me today, because only in this way can I classify the many numbers and statistics that we receive every day from press offices.
Actually, everyone had warned me about economics. They said it was far removed from reality and dry. I found it super exciting to think about why certain countries are richer than others and how we present social problems in such a way that they become calculable.
You currently work as a correspondent for RTL in Berlin. You focus on sustainability issues and provide information on climate policy in your journalistic work. How do you place these topics and where does your interest in them come from?
My interest was twofold: On the one hand, as a business journalist and economist, I have long observed that the market and companies are increasingly concerned about the topic of sustainability and the costs of the climate crisis.
On the other hand, I have my roots in Brazil, where the destruction of the Amazon has taken on enormous proportions since the election of Bolsonaro. And although this also massively affects us in Germany, the interest was rather moderate. I was determined to change that. Today, together with a great team, I am always looking for topics that directly affect our viewers, but by no means leave them alone with bad news. Our aim is to show what the respective scope for action is.
Does the company where I work have a plan to reduce CO2? Which party has the best answers to the heat in our cities? We need to discuss this with each other – the more, the better.
What do you think each of us can do to stop the advance of climate change?
Talk about it! We need to create a general awareness that this crisis is happening here and now. But this is not about pointing fingers at others. Instead, we should show each other what is possible. The big levers, in my opinion, are in politics and business. And that is where we can exert pressure. Does the company where I work have a plan to reduce CO2? Which party has the best answers to the heat in our cities? We need to discuss this with each other – the more, the better.
What are the first three websites you open in the morning?
None at all – I start the morning by trying to do without my smartphone & co. for half an hour. Later, of course, I look at ntv.de, RTL.de and listen to podcasts like “Was jetzt?” and Deutschlandfunk. After that, I have to stay on top of the latest developments anyway in order to keep up in our conferences.
Please complete the sentence: When I think back to my student days in Cologne, I recall...
wonderful friendships, long nights and “dat Jeföhl”!
Discussing, questioning, working independently (and memorising) – for me, these were the most important skills I learned at university.
Finally, what would you like to share with our students? What are your three tips?
Don’t focus so much on whether this course will “help you later”. Nowhere else can you absorb as much knowledge as at university. Discussing, questioning, working independently (and memorising) – for me, these were the most important skills I learned at university. You can also learn Excel skills and the like later. Take the time to find out what really interests you and what you enjoy. And don’t stress yourself out! I don’t know anyone who wishes they had started working earlier.
Dear Clara, thank you very much for your time and for the interview.