After more than 40 years in the newsroom, veteran RTL journalist Caroline Mart is closing a defining chapter of her career. In this interview, she reflects on the future of journalism and what lies ahead in retirement.
With Mart’s departure, Kloertext – a political programme that has shaped and sustained public debate in Luxembourg – also comes to an end.
On Saturday, she hosted her final Télévie after 25 years. Télévie is an annual charity broadcast held in Luxembourg and Belgium to raise funds for cancer and leukaemia research, combining live television, fundraising events, and public participation.
The interview was recorded on Tuesday, and when asked whether this last Télévie would be more emotional, her answer was clear:
“Télévie is always an emotional programme. It has nothing to do with whether it’s the first or the last.”
Over the years, the programme had become increasingly personal for her, as she explained that it brought together so many stories and so many people.
After nearly 42 years at the same organisation, she describes herself, with a smile, as a “dinosaur”, but one who never stood still.
“So much has changed, not only technologically, but also in society, that I’ve never been bored and have constantly been learning new things.”
For her, it was never enough to simply get an answer. It was always about going one step further, pushing deeper, as a way of working that many have come to associate with her journalism.
She describes interviews as “a relationship, like a match”, where each person brings their own technique, temperament, and intuition, which cannot be learned from a book.
Looking at journalism today, she sees a major challenge: it is becoming increasingly difficult to go into depth.
The speed of news cycles and a growing sense of superficiality, she said, make it harder to truly explore issues in detail.
“If we only consume things through images and emotions, it becomes problematic.”
At the same time, she remains measured in her assessment. It is not about rejecting new developments, but about using them wisely.
The core principles of journalism, she insisted, remain unchanged: providing context, not cutting answers short, paying attention to language, and maintaining courtesy and respect.
Mart made a conscious decision to step down now. She believes it is important not to miss the right moment to leave.
Even in retirement, she says she will remain committed to the profession: “I’m retiring, but I’ll remain a journalist.”
She plans to continue staying informed, reading, and working on projects, while also making more time for family and friends. As is typical of good journalists, she said: “I don’t think I’ll get bored.”
Throughout her career, Mart has placed great importance on passing on knowledge, particularly to younger journalists.
I’ve now been working in journalism for over 10 years myself, and I know how much I’ve learned from her. Not just about the profession, but about attitude, the importance of asking the right questions, and the responsibility we carry. It may not always have been easy, but it was always worthwhile.
Thank you for the many discussions, and for the trust.
