Former BILD Editor-in-Chief Kai Diekmann on His Time at BILD, His New Company StoryMachine, and Donald Trump

About this episode

Kai Diekmann is undoubtedly one of the most influential media personalities of recent decades. For 16 years, he led Germany's BILD newspaper as editor-in-chief – an impressive career that earned him both admiration and criticism.

The Path to the Top of BILD

Diekmann's rise to become BILD's editor-in-chief was no accident. In this comprehensive interview, he shares his career journey and the pivotal moments that brought him to the helm of Germany's largest tabloid newspaper. As BILD's chief, he constantly walked a tightrope – a position where making enemies is inevitable, and even long-standing allies sometimes don't remain unscathed.

Despite all controversies, Diekmann built an impressive network that continues to serve him well today. The ability to build and maintain relationships has been a central success factor throughout his career.

The Historic Trump Interview

His BILD career ended in January 2017 with a bang: the first interview by a German journalist with newly elected US President Donald Trump. This interview not only marked the end of an era at BILD but also the beginning of a new chapter for Diekmann.

Founding StoryMachine

After leaving BILD, Kai Diekmann co-founded the agency StoryMachine together with Philipp Jessen and Michael Mronz. The company positions itself as a digital ghostwriting agency that handles the digital presence and crisis communication for various corporations.

StoryMachine's concept is deliberately discreet: "Do the work and keep quiet," as the agency operates behind the scenes. In an era where the media landscape is rapidly changing, StoryMachine offers companies professional support for their digital communication.

Networking as a Success Factor

A central theme of the conversation is Diekmann's ability to build and maintain such an extensive network. He provides insights into the art of relationship building and explains what really matters when creating long-term professional connections.

Personal Insights: The Helmut Kohl Book

The conversation becomes particularly personal when Diekmann discusses his book recommendation. He describes the creation process behind "Ich wollte Deutschlands Einheit" (I Wanted German Unity) by Helmut Kohl – a work where he supported his good friend as an author, helping to organize his thoughts and make them readable for everyone. What Diekmann himself describes as "vain" actually comes across as authentic, revealing his close connection to one of the most important political figures in post-war German history.

Conclusion

Kai Diekmann's story is that of a media mogul who knew how to navigate his path even in controversial times. From the successes and challenges as BILD's editor-in-chief to reinventing himself with StoryMachine, his career demonstrates how important adaptability and a strong network are in the evolving media landscape.

His experiences offer valuable insights for anyone working in the media or communications industry – or for those who want to understand how opinion formation and digital communication work today.