Hard-hitting research, occasionally satirical edge. Monitor doesn't pull punches. Investigative down to the detail, with clear editorial stance. Abuses not just named but documented with evidence. Sometimes unexpectedly pointed — the desk doesn't shy from ironic framing.
What this format covers
●Corruption and lobbying in politics and business
●Domestic policy failures and structural problems
●Corporate scandals and corporate power
●Technology, data protection, surveillance
●Social inequality and labour market policy
●Environmental policy and industrial interests
●Democracy and rule of law
What this format does NOT want
●Soft reportage or portraits
●Entertainment formats
●Natural history documentaries
●Historical documentaries without contemporary political relevance
●Topics without investigative core
●Pure foreign reporting without domestic policy angle
Visual expectations
Magazine aesthetic with investigative character: soundbites, documents, graphics, confrontational interviews. Undercover research where needed. Satirical elements can be supported graphically or through editing. Clarity and evidentiary weight over visual opulence.
Monitor: Klimapolitik — Versprechen und Wirklichkeit
Editorial notes
In-house production by the editorial team, external contributions only by prior arrangement/commission. Monitor (since 1965) is one of the most high-profile ARD political magazines. Programme consists of multiple segments per episode (approx. 8–12 minutes each). Strong focus on domestic policy, business, and technology. External journalists can pitch topics, but research and production typically remain with the editorial team.
Ready to pitch to ARD (WDR)?
The Pitch Doctor generates a format-compliant exposé tailored to ARD Monitor's exact editorial expectations.