Hannes Jakobi is a versatile presenter, reporter and presenter with a great passion for sport and media. He is a familiar face on Sky Sport News, Magenta Sport and Sport1, where he delights viewers with his easy-going manner and expertise. With a degree in Media Studies and American Studies in Bayreuth, he combines academic expertise with practical experience. Whether at major events, international documentary trips or projects for well-known clients such as Sky and Deutsche Bahn – Hannes impresses with his professionalism, charm and technical versatility. He inspires live, digitally and on TV with his authentic presence and commitment.
Interview with Hannes Jacobi
How did you decide to become a presenter and what sparked your interest in this profession?
When I was still at school, I always said that I wanted to present the sports programme one day. At that time, it was still a distant and vague wish – but through my experiences in radio, my internship at ZDF (Fernsehgarten), my studies (Media Studies + English Studies & Campus TV presenter and various events) and then my traineeship at farbfilm Media in Berlin, the wish became more and more concrete and my skillset more and more extensive.
I find it exciting to present topics and manage the balancing act between professionalism and a pinch of humour – that’s only possible in my job.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in your career as a presenter and how did you overcome them?
Becoming self-employed was a big step. The right one for me. I have learnt to assert myself in a business and try to be unique in my own way by doing the balancing act I just mentioned.
What qualities and skills do you consider to be the most important to be a successful moderator?
Only meticulous preparation gives you the confidence to not only be confident at the actual event – but also the freedom to add a pinch of lightness.
Furthermore – it may sound obvious at first – but listening is a skill that only grows with experience. As a presenter, you always have the rest of the programme/show in mind, the big picture – but concentrating 100% on what is being said and still not losing the thread requires a lot of experience and attention.
Can you tell us about a particularly memorable or challenging event that you have hosted?
From the world of sport: Interviews and shows in which my guests have just suffered (personal) defeats. Here you have to strike the right note, be empathetic – and at the same time provide a fair, critical view.
From the world of shows: Double interviews or having several guests/speakers at the same time requires 100% concentration.
How do you prepare for a moderation and what strategies do you use to remain flexible during an event?
The most important thing, of course: consultation with the customer. Then, define the goals – what should the moderation achieve? Roughly outline the way to get there. And a tip that I learnt from a dear colleague: Always know considerably more than you need for the actual moderation in the end – this provides security and increases flexibility.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career as a presenter?
Start small – do everything. It could be the village fete or a speech at granny’s birthday party. You grow with every opportunity to speak in front of lots of people.
How do you deal with difficult or unexpected situations during an event?
Keep calm. A pinch of humour is usually the right way to go. Ask yourself: How can I, as the moderator, respond to the situation? Did I cause the unexpected situation myself? The most important thing: always take the audience with you. For example: If a microphone fails – address it, then everyone will understand the pause. If a contribution is not displayed in the right place – speak up, then everyone will understand the interruption.