What Gemeinschaftswerk Der Evangelischen Publizistik does

Gemeinschaftswerk der Evangelischen Publizistik (GEP) gGmbH is the central media enterprise of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), founded in 1973 and headquartered in Frankfurt am Main. The organization operates as a non-profit gGmbH wholly owned by the EKD, employing 140+ staff across Frankfurt and nationwide Germany. GEP's core function is to produce, aggregate, and distribute Protestant media content and provide media-related strategic services to the EKD, its ~20 member Landeskirchen, and affiliated institutions including Diakonie Deutschland.

GEP manages a portfolio of 16+ distinct media brands spanning print (chrismon magazine, welt-sichten, JS-Magazin), digital platforms (evangelisch.de, yeet, Gemeindebrief, religionen-entdecken.de), news services (epd - Evangelischer Pressedienst), broadcasting (Das Wort zum Sonntag, ZDF Gottesdienste, So gesehen on Sat.1), film distribution and curation (Matthias-Film, EZEF, Film des Monats), and a volunteer exchange portal (ein-jahr-freiwillig.de with 20,000+ placements). The organization also administers the EKD Innovationsfonds (up to 138,000 EUR annually) and serves as the Zentrale Koordinierungsstelle Digitale Mitgliederkommunikation coordinating digital member communication across all Protestant Landeskirchen. Technology components include digital publishing platforms, content management systems, and the Auxie non-commercial AI children's chatbot.

The business model is institutional rather than commercial. Revenue derives from church tax-derived EKD allocations and member church contributions, supplemented by media production services, professional consulting in media ethics/pedagogy/policy, and subscription-based access to epd newswire and digital platforms. GEP owns six wholly-owned operating subsidiaries (Amal gGmbH, earlybirds GmbH, Evangelische Verlagsanstalt GmbH, mecom Medien-Communikations-Gesellschaft, Medienhaus der evangelischen Kirche in Hessen und Nassau GmbH, m-public GmbH) providing vertical integration across publishing, digital project execution, broadcasting infrastructure, and advertising sales. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and the organization holds no venture capital or external shareholders.

Name

Gemeinschaftswerk Der Evangelischen Publizistik

Legal name

Gemeinschaftswerk der Evangelischen Publizistik (GEP) gGmbH

Website

https://gep.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gemeinschaftswerk der Evangelischen Publizistik (GEP) is the central non-profit media enterprise of the Evangelical Church in Germany, producing and distributing Protestant content across print, digital, broadcast, and film for the EKD, its 20 member churches, and the German public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Media Services

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Media, Publishing & Broadcasting (Radio, TV, Digital, Press) (BPAGAJAI)

Keywords

• Religious media services
• Protestant publishing
• Church media coordination
• Religious news agency
• Faith-based broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Church/Government Funding: GEP receives institutional funding as the central media company of the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) and its member churches. This includes coordination services, thematic management, and member communication services.
2. Media Production Services: GEP produces and distributes Protestant media content across print, online, broadcast, and film, including magazines (chrismon), news services (epd), digital platforms, radio and TV programs.
3. Professional Services: GEP provides consulting services for media ethics, media pedagogy, media policy, digital member communication, and thematic management coordination for EKD and member churches.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GEP is the central media enterprise of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), producing and distributing Protestant media content across print, digital, broadcast, and film channels. It operates magazines (chrismon, epd Film, welt-sichten, JS-Magazin), digital platforms (evangelisch.de, religionen-entdecken.de with AI chatbot Auxie, yeet, Gemeindebrief), broadcast programs (Das Wort zum Sonntag, ZDF Gottesdienste), and provides media production, consulting, and member communication coordination services to EKD and its member churches.

Product overview

GEP is a centralized media house and strategic technology partner for the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD), managing a diverse portfolio of over 16 distinct media products and services. The offering functions as a platform-plus-brand architecture centered on quality journalism, digital platforms, broadcasting, and educational content. Core products include the chrismon magazine (print and digital), the epd news agency (central editorial office), and evangelisch.de as a dialogue platform. The portfolio extends to religionen-entdecken.de featuring the first non-commercial AI children's chatbot 'Auxie', the yeet social media content network, broadcasting via 'Das Wort zum Sonntag' and ZDF Gottesdienste, and the Fastenaktion '7 Wochen Ohne'. Additional offerings include film magazines, volunteer exchange portals, film awards, and educational film resources. GEP also provides member communication services, theme management, and administers an innovation fund for Protestant media projects totaling 138,000 EUR annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• chrismon: Magazine for seekers of meaning, curious people, and those engaged - available digitally and in print
• epd (Evangelischer Pressedienst)
• evangelisch.de
• religionen-entdecken.de
• yeet
• Gemeindebrief
• epd Film
• ein-jahr-freiwillig.de
• Rundfunkarbeit (Evangelische Rundfunkarbeit)
• Robert-Geisendörfer-Preis

Products and services

• chrismon Das Magazin für Sinnsucher, Neugierige und Engagierte, available both digitally and in print format. Targets readers seeking meaning, curiosity, and engagement.
• epd (Evangelischer Pressedienst) Quality journalism news service for media professionals and decision-makers, providing multimedia and reliable news including specialized feeds on society, religion, culture, media, and social responsibility.
• evangelisch.de Dialogue platform for faith, society, and opinion, connecting Protestant perspectives with societal debates through digital content.
• religionen-entdecken.de with Auxie AI Chatbot Interactive knowledge platform for children and educational professionals exploring world religions, featuring Auxie, the first non-commercial AI children's chatbot for religious education.
• yeet Content network for creators and influencers in the social web, providing faith-based content and perspectives for digital-native audiences.
• Gemeindebrief Magazine and material database for parish public relations with ideas, templates, images, and topics supporting local parish communication work.
• epd Film Magazine for film lovers, featuring reviews, festival news, trends, and background stories for film fans and industry professionals.
• ein-jahr-freiwillig.de Evangelical volunteer exchange platform with over 20,000 placement positions from approximately 90 organizations for voluntary services in Germany and abroad.
• Evangelische Rundfunkarbeit Protestant broadcast programming distributed on radio, television, and online through partnerships with ARD, ZDF, and Sat.1, including 'Das Wort zum Sonntag', ZDF church services, and 'So gesehen' talk show.
• Film des Monats Monthly film award and recommendation from the Jury of the Evangelical Film Work, recognizing cinema films with educational and ethical value.
• Robert Geisendörfer Preis Protestant media prize recognizing value-based journalistic excellence in German-language media.
• 7 Wochen Ohne Annual Lenten fasting campaign of the Protestant Church in Germany, providing themed content and engagement opportunities during the seven weeks before Easter.
• EZEF (Evangelisches Zentrum für Entwicklungsbezogene Filmarbeit) Evangelical Center for Development-oriented Film Work, featuring and distributing films from the Global South to support development education and cultural understanding.
• welt-sichten Magazine for global development and ecumenical cooperation, covering international development, sustainability, and interfaith issues.
• JS-Magazin Magazine for young soldiers, providing content and ethical reflection relevant to military service.
• Matthias-Film Film distributor offering an extensive catalog of short films, feature films, and documentaries to promote cultural education through film-based learning.
• Themenmanagement (Topic Management for EKD) Central coordination service for EKD and member churches, coordinating church focal themes jointly to deliver unified, strategic communication across campaigns and crisis communications.
• Digital Member Communication Coordination Central coordination office for digital member communication across all EKD member churches, providing digital communication strategy and infrastructure support for parish member engagement.
• Media Consulting and Journalism Training Consulting services on media ethics, media pedagogy, and media policy, plus values-based journalism training and education program delivered in partnership with the Institut für Publizistik (ifp).
• Innovationsfonds Administration Administration of the EKD's Innovation Fund (up to 138,000 EUR annually) for Protestant and evangelical media projects, including application management, review committee coordination, and project tracking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports over 20,000 volunteer positions through ein-jahr-freiwillig.de
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Amal gGmbHcoreOthersSubsidiary/news platform providing news for refugees in Arabic, Persian, and Ukrainian. Located in Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, and Hamburg.
• earlybirds GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital projects agency based in Hamburg, providing technical implementation services.
• Evangelische Verlagsanstalt GmbHcoreOthersPublishing house located in Leipzig, part of GEP's subsidiary network.
• mecom Medien-Communikations-GesellschaftcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical infrastructure partner for secure transmission and warning systems, based in Hamburg.
• Medienhaus der evangelischen Kirche in Hessen und Nassau GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia house of the Protestant Church in Hessen and Nassau, co-located in Frankfurt am Main.
• m-public GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarketing, advertising, and commercial time sales company based in Berlin.
• Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD) und GliedkirchenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary institutional partner. GEP serves as the central media company and competence center for EKD and all its member churches across Germany.
• Diakonie DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtestant welfare organization, GEP provides media and communication services.
• Institut für Publizistik (ifp)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in values-based journalistic training and education program.
• Landesrundfunkanstalten, öffentlich-rechtliche und private SendercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic broadcasting corporations (ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandradio) and private broadcasters for Protestant broadcast content including 'Das Wort zum Sonntag'.
• Akademien, Stiftungen und BildungseinrichtungenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademies, foundations, and educational institutions for media ethics, film work, and youth media protection.
• Christliche Medienhäuser, Buchhandlungen und kirchliche VerlageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChristian media houses, bookstores, and church publishers for content distribution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• EWTN Global Catholic Network: Global Catholic media network spanning TV, radio, digital, and news. Comparable as a faith-based multi-platform media enterprise, though Catholic, globally distributed, and significantly larger than GEP.

Direct peers

• IDEA e.V. German evangelical news service and publisher (IDEA-Spektrum, IDEA.tv), serving the more conservative evangelical wing. Comparable as a Protestant-affiliated Christian media organization operating across print, digital, and broadcast in Germany.
• ERF Medien e.V. German Christian media broadcaster producing radio (ERF Plus), TV, and online content with a Protestant/evangelical focus. Comparable in faith-based broadcasting and digital content distribution within Germany.
• Bonifatius GmbH: Catholic publishing and media distribution house supporting Catholic media projects, bookstores, and publishers in Germany. Comparable as a church-owned media catalyst supporting faith-based publishing and broadcasting.
• KNA Katholische Nachrichten-Agentur: The Catholic counterpart news agency in Germany, providing religion, society, and church news to media outlets. Directly comparable as the parallel central news infrastructure for Germany's other major church.
• Bibel TV: German Christian television channel funded by a broad coalition including Protestant and Catholic partners. Comparable as a faith-based broadcaster producing religious programming in Germany, including partnerships with mainstream broadcasters.
• Katholisches Medienhaus (Catholic media houses): Network of Catholic regional media houses in Germany (e.g., kirchensite.de). Comparable as parallel church-owned media companies producing digital, print, and broadcast content for members and the broader public.

Broad incumbents

• dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur: Germany's flagship wire/news agency, comparable as a centrally organized news production and distribution operation, though secular and commercially funded rather than faith-affiliated.
• Deutsche Welle: Germany's international public broadcaster. Comparable as a publicly funded German broadcaster producing news, educational, and cultural content, but at much greater scale and globally rather than faith-focused.

Regional players

• Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz (EKBO) Medien: Regional Protestant church's media operations. Comparable as a Landeskirche-level media unit, but smaller in scale and regionally focused rather than serving the entire EKD federation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Gemeinschaftswerk-der-Evangelischen-Publizistik-GEP/100063670445951
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/just-eat-takeaway-com

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Gemeinschaftswerk Der Evangelischen Publizistik