Overview

Sylke Tempel (30 May 1963 – 5 October 2017) was a German author and journalist best known for her work on international affairs and as the editor‑in‑chief of the foreign policy magazine Internationale Politik from 2008 until her death. Born in Bayreuth, she combined reporting from conflict zones with commentary and editorial leadership in Berlin. In addition to her non‑fiction and journalism, she published several young‑adult novels with Rowohlt Berlin.

Career and reporting

Tempel worked for a variety of newspapers and magazines during her career, including Profil, Facts and Der Tagesspiegel. Her reporting often focused on the Middle East and on pivotal diplomatic moments. She covered major developments such as the Oslo I Accord process, episodes of the Intifada, and the political aftermath of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. Her work combined on‑the‑ground reporting with analysis aimed at readers interested in foreign policy and international relations.

Writing and themes

Alongside journalism, Tempel authored several young‑adult novels published by Rowohlt Berlin. Her non‑fiction and editorial projects emphasized the complexities of diplomacy, conflict and reconciliation; her fiction explored themes accessible to younger readers while reflecting a thoughtful interest in society and politics. As an editor she shaped discussion on global issues and provided a platform for expert voices in the German language.

Awards, recognition and contributions

In 2003 Tempel was a recipient of the Quadriga award, a German prize recognizing commitment to civic innovation and international understanding. Her appointment as editor‑in‑chief of a leading foreign policy magazine in 2008 marked her role as an influential voice in public debates on Germany’s international engagement. Colleagues remembered her for combining reportage with editorial stewardship and for mentoring younger journalists.

Death and legacy

On 5 October 2017 Tempel died in Tegel, a neighborhood of Berlin, after being struck by a falling tree during Storm Xavier; she was 54. The accident drew attention to her contributions to journalism and to public discussions of international affairs in Germany. After her death, obituaries and remembrances emphasized her dual role as a reporter and as an editor who helped shape foreign‑policy discourse for a broad readership.

Selected topics she covered

  • Peace processes and diplomatic negotiations such as the Oslo accords;
  • Popular uprisings and regional conflicts, including reporting on the Intifada;
  • Political violence and its consequences for democratic societies, exemplified by coverage of events around the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin;
  • Editorial leadership and public foreign‑policy debate through Internationale Politik and other outlets.

Further reading and archival material may be available through contemporary German media archives and the publishers of Tempel’s books and articles.