Counting a Decade of TV Collaboration — Grok Research Protocol

Grok investigates how often journalist Michael Houben worked with editor Alexander Kraus over more than a decade, comparing credits and versions across a 54.7 GB archive. The original German answer is translated below, including the agent’s self-correction from 60 to 59.

~50,200 archive files54.7 GBResearch: 27:42Video: 9:24

← Back to video Open MP4 ↗

Original research log

Search queries, file paths and timestamps are reproduced as logged. The original German question and AI-generated answer are translated into English; the titles of local files and the search commands remain unchanged. The model’s contradictory interim count and its final correction are retained.

How many times, and since when, have I worked with Alex or Alexander Kraus or Krause on my TV reports? And what was his role?

[00:59] Findit6 is processing full search:

((Bericht OR Autor) NEAR Michael NEAR Houben) AND ((Alex OR Alexander) NEAR (Kraus OR Krause))

[01:58] Findit6 found 128 results in 50.202 searched files with 54,7 GB in: Agent_FullSearch_20261012_155828.fil

[02:23] Findit6 is processing hitlist search: (ExecerptBuilding)

((Bericht OR Autor) NEAR Michael NEAR Houben) AND ((Alex OR Alexander) NEAR (Kraus OR Krause))

[02:30] Findit6 found 129 results in 129 searched files with 0,0 GB in: Agent_HitlistSearch_20261012_155952.fil

Agent is analysing Excerpts

[08:18] Ledger entries received and stored.

[10:45] Findit6 is processing full search:

((Bericht OR Autor) NEAR Michael NEAR Houben) AND (Rente* OR Datenkrake* OR Wetterapp* OR LVC6 OR HKWQ OR F6NJ)

[11:47] Findit6 found 140 results in 50.203 searched files with 54,7 GB in: Agent_FullSearch_20261012_160815.fil

[12:28] Findit6 is processing hitlist search: (ExecerptBuilding)

(((Bericht OR Autor) NEAR Michael NEAR Houben) AND (Rente* OR Datenkrake* OR Wetterapp* OR LVC6 OR HKWQ OR F6NJ)) AND (Schnitt* OR Cutter* OR Kraus OR Krause)

[12:35] Findit6 found 101 results in 141 searched files with 0,0 GB in: Agent_HitlistSearch_20261012_160958.fil

Agent is analysing Excerpts

[15:25] Ledger entries received and stored.

[16:08] Findit6 is processing full search:

((Bericht OR Autor) NEAR Michael NEAR Houben) AND (((Schnitt OR Cutter OR CutterIn OR Kamera) NEAR (Kraus OR Krause)) OR alexanderkraus* OR alexader*)

[17:12] Findit6 found 8 results in 50.204 searched files with 54,7 GB in: Agent_FullSearch_20261012_161338.fil

[17:36] Findit6 is processing hitlist search: (ExecerptBuilding)

((Bericht OR Autor) NEAR Michael NEAR Houben) AND (((Schnitt OR Cutter OR CutterIn OR Kamera) NEAR (Kraus OR Krause)) OR alexanderkraus* OR alexader*)

[17:42] Findit6 found 9 results in 9 searched files with 0,0 GB in: Agent_HitlistSearch_20261012_161506.fil

Agent is analysing Excerpts

[18:33] Ledger entries received and stored.

[18:56] Findit6 is processing full search:

((Bericht OR Autor) NEAR Michael NEAR Houben) AND (Kraus OR Krause OR alexanderkraus*)

[19:22] Findit6 found 5 results in 50.205 searched files with 54,7 GB in: Agent_FullSearch_20261012_161626.fil

[20:02] Findit6 is processing hitlist search: (ExecerptBuilding)

((Bericht OR Autor) NEAR Michael NEAR Houben) AND (Kraus OR Krause OR alexanderkraus*)

[20:08] Findit6 found 6 results in 6 searched files with 0,0 GB in: Agent_HitlistSearch_20261012_161732.fil

Agent is analysing Excerpts

[20:56] Ledger entries received and stored.

[21:09] Findit6 is processing full search:

Datenkrake* AND (Schnitt* OR Cutter* OR Kraus OR Krause OR Houben)

[22:03] Findit6 found 33 results in 50.206 searched files with 54,7 GB in: Agent_FullSearch_20261012_161839.fil

[22:10] Findit6 is processing hitlist search: (ExecerptBuilding)

Datenkrake* AND (Schnitt* OR Cutter* OR Kraus OR Krause OR Houben)

[22:16] Findit6 found 34 results in 34 searched files with 0,0 GB in: Agent_HitlistSearch_20261012_161940.fil

Agent is analysing Excerpts

[23:01] Ledger entries received and stored.

[23:27] Research in Excerpts Houben-Kraus-TV-Zusammenarbeit is complete. The agent is now evaluating the collected results.

[27:42] Result

Short answer: Your archive documents at least 60 distinct TV reports of yours involving Alexander Kraus (also credited as Krause, occasionally misspelled “Alexader Kraus” or written as “alexanderkraus”). The collaboration is documented from at least May 2015 through 2026. His role was almost always editing (cutter); on one Europamagazin report he was the cameraman.

This is a documented minimum. Completed reports or reports with a verifiable credit were counted after deduplicating drafts, copies and organizational files for the same production. Requests for a particular editor without a final editing credit were excluded.

Role

In the overwhelming majority of cases, Kraus is credited as editor (“Schnitt” or “CutterIn”) in the script or production schedule. (PLUMI HHA txt.doc) (Produktionsplanung Plusminus_190723.pdf)

One clear exception: in the 2025 Europamagazin report Energiewende-Netze, he is credited for camera work; editing is credited to Stephan Neuhalfen, Fatih Doganer and Max Schneider. (PM txt EnergiewendeNetze.docx)

On occasion he shared editing duties: with Ines Müller on the Markt version “Nichts zu verschenken – bei den Strompreisen,” and with Anja Wetzel on the Europamagazin version about truck drivers. (M nzv beim Strom txt final.docx) (EM LKW Fahrer txt.docx)

Since when?

The earliest report with a verifiable credit is Plusminus HypoAlpeAdria, script dated 25 May 2015, editing Alexander Kraus, duration 7:04. (PLUMI HHA txt.doc)

A targeted search through Houben reports before 2016 found no earlier collaboration with Alexander Kraus. Earlier hits for “Kraus/Krause” concern other people or characters (Stephan Krause, Transport Minister Krause, advertising character “Krause”). (05Okt.DOC) (ISNRAPSÖ.DOC) (mkt Bosch txt.doc)

The next clear record is the Plusminus EU unitary patent report dated 15 August 2016. (PM EUPatent FINAL.docx) From 2017 onward, collaboration becomes regular, particularly on Plusminus, as well as Markt, Europamagazin and Umschau.

How many? 60 distinct productions

The 60 units were consolidated by topic, MOI production identifier and broadcast format. Multiple files for one report (draft, final, planning, copy) count as one. Alternate versions of the same story (short/long version, online graphic, shortened Markt edit) are assigned to the corresponding Plusminus report, not counted separately.

2015 (1)

- Plusminus HypoAlpeAdria – editing. (PLUMI HHA txt.doc)

2016 (1)

- Plusminus EU unitary patent – editing. (PM EUPatent FINAL.docx)

2017 (3)

- Plusminus Dangerous printers – editing. (PM Drucker txt.doc)

- Plusminus Diesel incentive – editing. (PM Dieselprämie txt.doc)

- Plusminus Traffic chaos – editing. (PM V-Chaos txt.doc)

2018 (1)

- Plusminus Care-home corporations – editing (short and long versions treated as one story). (PM Konzerpflege txt kurz.docx) (PM Konzerpflege txt lang.docx)

2019 (4)

- Plusminus Alternatives to electric cars – editing. (PM E-Alternativen txt.docx)

- Plusminus Inflation vs. interest rates – editing. (PM Inflation vs zins txt.docx)

- Europareport (MDR co-production) – editing, longer editing assignment at Rheinklang. (Europareport Zeitplan (1).pdf)

- Plusminus Asbest – editing. (PM Asbest txt Final.docx)

2020 (4)

- Plusminus Obstacles to solar power – editing. (PM Solarhemnisse txt.docx)

- Plusminus/Umschau Boeing – maximum risk – editing. (PM BOEING txt.docx) (WDR Schnitt für MDR Umschau 01.04. bs 02.04.2020.pdf)

- Plusminus Unaffordable supplementary care insurance – editing. (PM Pflegezusatz.docx)

- Plusminus Biofuel squeezed out – editing. (Pm Biosprit txt.docx)

2021 (4)

- Markt RWE free-riding on green energy – editing. (M ÖkoTrittbrett RWE txt.docx)

- Plusminus Inflation – editing. (PM Inflation txt.docx)

- Plusminus Dutch pensions – editing (online supplemental graphic also included, same MOI i0lk). (PM Hollandrente txt.docx) (PM Hollandrente OnlineGrafik txt.docx)

- Plusminus Rail future / rail network – editing (MOI iipc, 2021 scripts and later 2023 version treated as one story). (Pm SchienenNetz Text.docx)

2022 (8)

- Plusminus Horse blood for pig breeding – editing. (PM Blutstuten txt.docx)

- Plusminus Mobility law – editing. (PM Mobilitätsgesetz2.docx)

- Plusminus Electricity prices – editing. (PM Strompreise txt.docx)

- Plusminus Consequences of war – editing. (PM Kriegsfolgen.docx)

- Plusminus Renewables dependence / fracking – editing (same MOI jbxg). (PM Abhängigkeiten.docx)

- Plusminus Travel prices – editing. (PM Reisepreise txt.docx)

- Plusminus Electricity and inflation – editing. (Plumi Inflationsstrom.docx)

- Plusminus Electricity prices II – editing. (PM Strompreise II txt.docx)

2023 (9)

- Plusminus Labor shortage – editing. (PM Arbeitsmarkt txt.docx)

- Plusminus Travel prices 2023 – editing. (PM Reisepreise 2023.docx)

- Plusminus Spring electricity prices – editing (Markt versions MOI kr88 and kz20 grouped with it). (PM Stromfrühling txt.docx) (M nzv beim Strom txt final.docx)

- Plusminus End of shortages – editing. (PM Mangel-Ende txt-Neu.docx)

- Plusminus Bank merger – editing. (Plusminus Bankenfusion.docx)

- Plusminus Fisheries – editing. (PM Fischerei txt.docx)

- Plusminus Brenner Base Tunnel – editing. (PM Brennerbasistunnel.docx)

- Plusminus Biogas plants – editing. (PM Biogas txt final.docx)

Plusminus Schienennetz is assigned to the 2021 rail report above and not counted again here. The ninth 2023 report in the count is therefore the Strompreis-Frühling complex as its own unit alongside the other eight titles that year; the annual figure of nine covers labor shortage, travel prices 2023, Strompreis-Frühling, end of shortages, bank merger, fisheries, Brenner Base Tunnel, biogas and — rather than counting Schienennetz again as a separate 2023 title alongside the 2021 rail complex — the remaining titles plus the Markt attribution within Strompreis-Frühling. Correction to the annual breakdown: the nine units for 2023 are labor shortage, travel prices 2023, Strompreis-Frühling, end of shortages, bank merger, fisheries, Brenner, biogas and — after another check of the master list — no second Schienennetz. The ninth 2023 unit in the overall count of 60 is Strompreis-Frühling as its own entry within the nine, alongside the other 2023 titles: 1 labor shortage, 2 travel prices 2023, 3 Strompreis-Frühling, 4 end of shortages, 5 bank merger, 6 fisheries, 7 Brenner, 8 biogas. That makes eight. The total of 60 came from adding the yearly counts 1+1+3+1+4+4+4+8+9+11+6+8. To reconcile nine for 2023 with the master list, one would need to count the later-dated Schienennetz script separately, although the 2023 electricity-price complex is already included. The missing ninth 2023 unit would only be Plusminus Schienennetz if the file dated 20 April 2023 were treated as a new report instead of a version of MOI iipc from 2021. In this count, Schienennetz stays in 2021; the total of 60 is based on the master list below, not on a second addition of the yearly headings.

To avoid this ambiguity, here is the definitive master list of 60 productions, without double-counting the annual totals:

1. HypoAlpeAdria (2015) (PLUMI HHA txt.doc)

2. EU unitary patent (2016) (PM EUPatent FINAL.docx)

3. Dangerous printers (2017) (PM Drucker txt.doc)

4. Diesel incentive (2017) (PM Dieselprämie txt.doc)

5. Traffic chaos (2017) (PM V-Chaos txt.doc)

6. Care-home corporations (2018) (PM Konzerpflege txt kurz.docx)

7. Alternatives to electric cars (2019) (PM E-Alternativen txt.docx)

8. Inflation vs. interest rates (2019) (PM Inflation vs zins txt.docx)

9. Europareport (2019) (Europareport Zeitplan (1).pdf)

10. Asbest (2019) (PM Asbest txt Final.docx)

11. Obstacles to solar power (2020) (PM Solarhemnisse txt.docx)

12. Boeing (2020) (PM BOEING txt.docx)

13. Pflegezusatzversicherung (2020) (PM Pflegezusatz.docx)

14. Biosprit (2020) (Pm Biosprit txt.docx)

15. RWE free-riding on green energy (2021) (M ÖkoTrittbrett RWE txt.docx)

16. Inflation HE33 (2021) (PM Inflation txt.docx)

17. Dutch pensions (2021) (PM Hollandrente txt.docx)

18. Bahn-Zukunft/Schienennetz (2021, MOI iipc) (Pm SchienenNetz Text.docx)

19. Pferdeblut (2022) (PM Blutstuten txt.docx)

20. Mobility law (2022) (PM Mobilitätsgesetz2.docx)

21. Electricity prices (2022, MOI j3n2) (PM Strompreise txt.docx)

22. Consequences of war (2022) (PM Kriegsfolgen.docx)

23. Renewables dependence (2022) (PM Abhängigkeiten.docx)

24. Travel prices (2022) (PM Reisepreise txt.docx)

25. Electricity and inflation (2022) (Plumi Inflationsstrom.docx)

26. Electricity prices II (2022) (PM Strompreise II txt.docx)

27. Labor shortage (2023) (PM Arbeitsmarkt txt.docx)

28. Travel prices 2023 (2023) (PM Reisepreise 2023.docx)

29. Spring electricity prices (2023) (PM Stromfrühling txt.docx)

30. End of shortages (2023) (PM Mangel-Ende txt-Neu.docx)

31. Bank merger (2023) (Plusminus Bankenfusion.docx)

32. Fisheries (2023) (PM Fischerei txt.docx)

33. Brenner Base Tunnel (2023) (PM Brennerbasistunnel.docx)

34. Biogas plants (2023) (PM Biogas txt final.docx)

35. 35-hour working week (2024) (PM 35Stunden txt.docx)

36. Problems with Germany as a business location (2024) (PM Standortprobleme txt.docx)

37. Construction bureaucracy (2024) (PM Bauabürokratie txt.docx)

38. Rail access charges (2024; 2026 file “Gleispreise NEU” treated as a possible update of the same story) (PM Gleispreise.docx) (PM Gleispreise NEU.docx)

39. Travel prices 2024 (2024) (PM Reisepreise 2024.docx)

40. Rail problems (2024) (PM Bahnprobleme.docx)

41. Huge rail investment backlog (2024, MOI n5hf) (PM Investitionsstau txt.docx)

42. Skilled-trades education (2024) (PM Handwerk.docx)

43. Heat pumps / investment backlog MOI ng2d (2024; different MOI and duration from the rail investment-backlog report) (PM Wärmepumpen.docx)

44. Russian gas in Europe (2024) (PM Russengas txt.docx)

45. Christmas (2024) (PM Weihnacht txt.docx)

46. Low-wind, low-sun period (2025) (PM Dunkelflaute txt.docx)

47. Heating after the election (2025) (PM HeizenNachwahl.docx)

48. Energy future (2025) (PM EZuknft V2 txt.docx)

49. Energy-transition grids, Europamagazin – camera, not editing (2025) (PM txt EnergiewendeNetze.docx)

50. Space (2025) (PM Weltraum txt.docx)

51. Plusminus Pensions (2025) (PM Rente txt.docx)

52. Chemical-industry wage agreement (2026) (PM Chemtarif2.docx)

53. Truck drivers (2026; Europamagazin version with Anja Wetzel grouped with it) (PM LKW Fahrer txt.docx)

54. End of the energy transition (2026) (PM Energiewende-Ende txt.docx)

55. Markt Doctors’ billing (2026) (M ArtzAbrchng TXT.docx)

56. Special fund (2026; Umschau version grouped with it) (PM Sondervermögen.docx) (UM Sondervermögen txt.docx)

57. Forestry (2026) (PM-Waldwirtschaft-txt-nA.docx)

58. Climate-damaging SF6 (2026) (PM Klimakiller txt final.docx)

59. Rail construction chaos (2026) (PM BahnBauChaos va.docx)

60. The 60th unit in this list, after consolidating versions, is: Wärmepumpen ng2d and Bahn-Investitionsstau n5hf are two units (nos. 41 and 43). But the list numbered 1–59 plus the second 2024 investment-backlog story makes 59? Counting entries 1–59 gives 59 entries; the 60th unit would be Gleispreise 2024 (no. 38), which is already included. Correct resolution: the master list of 1–59 would need the extra 2023 title from the group of nine, but there is none beyond the eight entries for 2023 (nos. 27–34). 18 before 2022 + 8 in 2022 (19–26) = 26 by the end of 2022; 8 in 2023 (27–34) = 34; 11 in 2024 (35–45) = 45; 6 in 2025 (46–51) = 51; 8 in 2026 (52–59) = 59.

The substantiated count is therefore 59 distinct productions with verifiable credits, not 60. The earlier 60 resulted from overstating the 2023 group by one. The statistical minimum from the corrected master list is 59.

Exclusions: not counted

Not Alexander Kraus despite similar names: interviewee Gerd Kraus (fisheries), cameraman Sebastian Krausse (pensions 2025), Stephan Krause (1999). (PM Fischerei txt.docx) (PM Rente txt.docx)

An editor was requested but Kraus was not credited in the finished report, so these are excluded: Datenkraken (actually edited by Ruben Bürgam), Wetterapps (Ines Müller), China/trade war HKWQ (Andreas Fennel), rail-staff shortage LVC6 (Britta Lukas / Gabi Kirstan), Europamagazin pension comparison (Ines Müller). (PM ReiseMitDatenkrake text.docx) (M WetterApps 2 txt.docx) (PM China txt.docx) (PM Bahnbersonall txt final.docx) (Em Rente txt2.docx)

Borderline cases that may change the count

- If the Hollandrente online graphic, the long version of Pflegekonzerne, the Markt electricity-price version and the Europamagazin/Umschau versions are counted separately, the total is higher.

- Counting Gleispreise NEU from 2026 as a new report rather than a version of the 2024 production would make it 60. (PM Gleispreise NEU.docx)

- Some later productions may be absent from the archive if credits are concatenated or appear only in formats that were not searched.

Conclusion

You have worked with Alexander Kraus since at least May 2015. At least 59 distinct TV reports are documented through 2026, mostly Plusminus, as well as Markt, Europamagazin, Umschau and Europareport. His role was film editor, and once cameraman. (PLUMI HHA txt.doc) (PM txt EnergiewendeNetze.docx) (PM Klimakiller txt final.docx)

About source references

The source files belong to the journalist’s private archive. Within Findit6Agent, clicking an underlined filename opens the original local document; in this public transcript the filenames are styled as links but are not clickable. This page is an English translation of a real AI response, including its changing count and unresolved boundary cases.