German Media, Through the Eyes of a Korean Student

by. Hojin Jang

TZ&Merkur: A Local Newspaper That Surprised Me

Throughout the visit to the presshouse in Munich, I constantly found myself comparing it with newspaper companies in Korea. While the routines and methods of newspaper production were largely similar, the nature of the news products being created was very different.

TZ&Merkur are regional newspapers. In contrast, Korea’s newspaper market is dominated by national dailies centered in Seoul, with a particularly high concentration on political reporting. Although local newspapers exist in Korea, they play only a marginal role in agenda-setting, and their overall scale is quite limited. So what stood out during our visit was large scale for a local paper I expected, and the fact that their main content was focused on local news. One of the representatives we met at Merkur mentioned, “People are interested in politics and policy, of course, but they also want to know what’s happening in the place where they live.” It might be obvious to some, but as someone used to Korean media, it felt surprisingly unfamiliar to see people rely on newspapers for local news.

I also found it interesting that the media company owns both Merkur and TZ, two newspapers with different editorial identities. In Korea, it is not uncommon for a media group to own multiple outlets. Major national dailies often operate general programming channels. In addition, DongAilbo, one of the biggest national dailies, has distinct newspaper and publishing departments for their main newspaper and for various magazines. However, the fact that a single media group operates multiple “newspapers” with differing characteristics—and on such a scale—was unexpected. This likely reflects the fact that local newspapers in Germany are still able to maintain strong readership.

On a lighter note, I learned that German newspapers publish health-related content as standby articles when there are few urgent news items. In Korea, while health is a frequent topic as well, education-related issues seem to dominate more often. Given Korea’s intense education fervor—frequently portrayed in K-dramas—education stories can be the most powerful way to engage readers in their 40s and 50s, who have teenage children.

It was also interesting to observe how the newspaper is adapting to the digital era. Visiting the digital team, I noticed similarities to Korean outlets. I had learned that in print, where physical space is limited, gatekeeping—deciding what gets published—is crucial. In digital spaces, I assume there are no such spatial constraints. However, hearing that the number of articles that can appear on the main page of their website is limited, and that this creates a new form of spatial pressure, offered a fresh perspective. Just as broadcasters consider optimal upload times on YouTube or OTT platforms to maximize views, newspapers are also finding new, linear strategies to align with digital consumption patterns. It was enlightening to see how these structural adaptations are being implemented even in legacy media.

SZ’s Printing House: Tradition Meets Tomorrow

From the moment I stepped into the printing facility, I was struck by its immense scale. The printing machines were far larger than I had imagined, and the amount of paper used in the printing process was more than I expected. Watching so many newspapers being printed, I realized that despite the widespread narrative of the decline of print media, a significant number of people still actively seek out newspapers.

The size of the printing press also reminded me that producing a newspaper requires far more than just reporters. Before coming to Munich, I had worked as a student journalist at my home university’s newspapers. I wrote articles, designed the layout of the paper, and finalized a PDF version. I only knew that this file would then be sent to a Korean newspaper’s printing house. But during this field trip, I was able to witness firsthand the full process that follows the editorial deadline. From printing and ad placement to physical distribution—only when all these steps come together can the news truly reach its readers.

Print newspapers are arguably the most traditional form of media. In an era where rapid change seems to leave little room for tradition, it may feel like legacy media is becoming obsolete. But I don’t believe that print newspapers will disappear altogether. Although its scale may shrink and its challenges may increase, there will still be a place for it. I was encouraged to see how SZ is tackling the challenges ahead and shaping its vision for the future.

SZ’s printing house is not only efficient but also environmentally conscious. The company has developed methods to recycle paper effectively and harness the heat generated during printing. Rather than giving in to pessimism about print’s future, SZ is actively seeking ways to remain relevant and sustainable in a changing media landscape. I found their commitment to innovation within tradition especially impressive.