Inside the Newsroom: My field trip to taz & SZ

A few weeks ago, I got a great opportunity to visit two very different media organisations in Munich: die tageszeitung (taz) and Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ). As a student who’s always been curious about how journalism works from the inside, not just what we read, but how it’s made, this field trip felt like a rare opportunity to step behind the scenes of how stories come to life.

Die tagrzeitung: personal, local, and proudly warm welcome

Walking into taz felt surprisingly warm, fun, and creative. Compared to the usual idea of a traditional newsroom, taz gave off a really friendly and relaxed vibe in the elegant room, the kind of place where ideas flow easily and people aren’t afraid to experiment. It may not be the biggest newspaper in Munich, but it definitely has its own strong identity.

They even let us create our own mini newspaper which was super fun and hands-on experience. It was not just about watching them do their work only, it was about trying, brainstorming, and laughing through it together. They also offered us some snacks that might sound like a small thing, but honestly, it made the whole visit feel even more welcoming. One thing that stood out immediately is every article carries the name of the journalist who wrote it. That gimmick might sound small, but it says a lot. It makes the paper feel real like the people behind the headlines actually matter and the reader can interact with them easier.

Taz has embraced the digital world with online editions and even television content. But they still print newspapers for the locals, and the local section is absolutely their pride. You could tell they care about Munich a lot, the people, their stories, and yes, football match (which is basically a religion here). They also focus on emotional wellbeing that often publishing expert tips on how to deal with stress or health which is something I didn’t expect but really interested in.

What hit me most, though, was how seriously they take accuracy and privacy. Fake news and disinformation are everywhere now, and at taz, they stressed how important it is to look at every little detail before publishing a story. That kind of careful thinking really stuck with me.

Süddeutsche Zeitung: old school but still powerful

Personally, SZ made me feel different, bigger, quieter. Like an older sibling who doesn’t need to shout to be respected. You can feel its legacy the moment you walk in their factory.

Even though they’re shifting more towards digital platform (because a fewer people are buying newspapers these days), there’s still something beautiful about the way they print especially seeing the actual machines in action. Watching how newspapers are physically made in the factory when they were printing off the colour layers and the folding. That gave me the big picture of what it takes to bring a single issue to life. It’s massive, detailed, and honestly kind of mind-blowing. Besides, they offered us to get tomorrow newspaper and anniversary SZ newspaper which is so cool.

SZ has so many sections in the newspaper such as local, international, business, sports, opera, culture… the list goes on. It’s the kind of paper where you could spend your whole morning reading and still not finish with your coffee cup. What’s more impressive is their approach to political reporting instead of giving one opinion, they bring together different perspectives so readers can decide for themselves. That felt really democratic, and personally, really rare in nowadays.

They even told us about how they had to move offices because of new car restrictions in Munich which reminded me that even journalism isn’t separate from everyday political decisions.

Two Papers and Two Worlds

The contrast between taz and SZ was huge, but also really interesting. Taz felt like a fun, creative, open-minded newsroom where you can feel the passion in the stories. SZ felt more serious and structured, but in a way that gave me a clear understanding of how big, professional journalism operates in real world from ideas to printing to delivery.

Both of them, in their own way, helped me see what journalism can look like whether it’s the friendly vibe of taz or the grand operation of SZ.

What I Took With Me

After visiting both places, I left with a new kind of respect for journalism. It’s not easy, especially now with so many pressures from the internet, politics, and public opinion. But these two newspapers reminded me that there’s still space for colourful and responsible storytelling.

As someone who loves writing and wants to make a difference, this field trip didn’t just show me how news is made, but it reminded me why it matters.