Reflection on Media Fieldtrips

Over the past few weeks, I had the opportunity to visit two of Munich’s key media organizations: the TZ and Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ). These visits provided insights into the world of journalism and the history, evolution and ongoing challenges faced by media in modern German society.

The first visit was to TZ. One of the most interesting insights from the visit was how the newsroom prepares a page one about a health topic just in case there are no significant news developments by Sunday night.

Another thing that stood out was how multimedia plays a crucial role in todays media. When a major event happens, it is not just the newspaper reporting it but also the radio, television and digital platforms like social media. Most young people now get their news from smartphones so TZ must also adapt to fit these new habits.

Historically, I learned that the media world used to be more male-dominated; only men used to decide what stories made it to the print. But today, that’s changing, with more diverse voices contributing in the newsroom. Also, there are 5 main newspapers in Munich, keeping the local media landscape competitive.

The SZ is located in a more rural setting compared to TZ. What amazed me about the SZ visit was the scale of the printing process. There were giant paper rolls that could print 16 pages on each side and run through the machines at about 28 miles per hour.

The editorial conference is the most critical part of the SZ’s day. Editors gather to decide how many pages will go into the next day’s edition. Once the decision is made, the information is sent to the mainframe, ensuring the printers are ready.

There is close communication between printing houses across Germany. Interestingly, SZ does not just print newspapers but also tabloid-style print work.

While both visits were enlightening, seeing first-hand the difference in operation by both companies was fascinating. As a student, the field trip showed me that journalism is more than just the newspapers we receive at our front doors in the early morning, but is also about timing, teamwork and organisation. Whether at TZ or SZ, each page roll is what continues to shape informed societies in Germany.