How the news is made: A day at the Munich Presshouse

On May 13th, 2025, our class visited the Presshouse of TZ and Münchner Merkur in Munich. From the outside, the building looked similar to many others in the city center. Inside, we got a closer look at how news is produced, edited, and prepared for publication each day.

One of the most fascinating things was how fast and dynamic the process of newsmaking has become. Unlike in the past, where editors and journalists acted as strong gatekeepers, today the flow of information is much quicker and more complex. News doesn’t wait. Stories need to be published across channels (print, web, social media) and constantly updated. 

The TZ and Münchner Merkur are part of a competitive and diverse media landscape in Munich. We learned that Munich still manages to support five daily newspapers, including the Abendzeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung and München Merkur. Each has its own style and audience. While the Abendzeitung is there for boulevard news, the Süddeutsche Zeitung offers local, national and international news, the Müncher Merkur positions itself as more serious and traditional.  

A Journalist told us that many people underestimate how intense the job is. Although the paper comes out in the morning, many journalists and editors work late into the night to finalize articles. That rhythm of constant deadlines was surprising to me. You always need to have a story ready. Sometimes, stories even start with a simple call from a reader. One journalist told us about a phone call from a woman who contacted the newspaper to share her story. She was still being charged for her late husband’s subscriptions, but because the account was in his name, she couldn’t cancel them, even though he had passed away. Her call drew attention to a broader problem and the journalists were able to turn it into a full article about how companies deal with subscriptions after someone dies. Another funny fact was that journalist often have a story about health ready for the Sunday. Because on Sunday often not much has happened and there still needs to be a story for the next day, health is something people are always interested in. 

They also told is soemthing about the use of AI. The editorial team does use artificial intelligence tools in their daily work, sometimes to assist with ideas or basic content, but always with a critical eye. Everything that AI produces has to be checked for accuracy and relevance. For instance, when someone asked the AI to list the five best swimming spots in Munich, the journalists double-checked the results before considering them for a story. I expected AI to be a no-go in journalism but I think it’s smart to use it where it helps. But human judgement is still essential, maybe more than ever. 

The tour continued through the different departments: politics, national news, local news, sports, entertainment. It was interesting to see how every section had its own atmosphere and rhythm. While we were visiting the local news section, a journalist walked in. He had just returned from observing a situation where police officers were handing out fines to cyclists who had violated traffic rules. I found it funny and interesting to see how he came back from the scene and immediately sat down at his desk to write a short piece about it. It really showed me the craft of journalism – turning something you’ve just witnessed into a written story.

Overall, the visit gave me a new appreciation for the world of journalism. Seeing how stories come together helped me understand the responsibility and creativity involved in the job. I now see the news in a different way.