Where Future Journalists Begin: My Visit to Mediaschool Bayern

Introduction

On 16 June 2026, we had the opportunity to visit Mediaschool Bayern. The visit was both intriguing and eye-opening. Coming from Hong Kong, where media education is usually offered as a university major or bachelor’s degree rather than through specialised practical training institutions, I found this kind of educational model particularly interestin

Professional broadcasting and production studios are abundant in the school. There are also plenty of interior designs that make the inspiring environment even more motivating. When we toured the school, we visited TV studios, editing spaces and production offices, where people were busy working on their projects. It created a very energetic and interactive environment that encourages creativity. The most memorable part for me was the presence of a dog accompanying us during the whole tour, which helped to establish a very cozy atmosphere at the school.

Mediaschool Bayern

Mediaschool Bayern is a non-profit training institute (gGmbH). It cooperates with different media companies. These companies provide financial support to the Mediaschool Bayern. In return, the Mediaschool Bayern provides aspiring journalism and media students with opportunities to work in these companies after receiving professional training. Such an approach seems very unique.
One of the most appealing aspects about the school is that it operates with a flexible learning program. Students can enroll in it along with their academic studies and participate in it on a part-time basis, such as attending classes on one day each week. In this way, they get hands-on experience in radio broadcasting, TV production, and digital journalism.

As a non-profit institution, the companies that provide financial support do not have much influence over the students’ projects. Students therefore enjoy a high degree of freedom when producing their projects, while the Media School still maintains professional standards.

The Role of Mediaschool Bayern

The Mediaschool Bayern plays an important role in journalism education by providing accessible, practice-oriented training that complements traditional university education. As a journalism student, I have always believed that journalism is a profession that mostly relies on practical experience.

Additionally, the learning programme at the school takes into account the changes that have occurred in today’s media industry. Thanks to digitalisation, people can get information differently than before. It requires not only skills to compose articles but also to work with digital technologies and create multimedia materials. The school enables students to acquire these competences thanks to the practical training provided.

Concerning the German media environment, the school plays an important role for media pluralism thanks to its non-commercial radio stations, including M94.5 and max neo. These stations offer independent youth content which would otherwise be neglected in a purely commercial environment. With the help of numerous journalists and media specialists trained by the school, Germany can boast a variety of media. It is especially crucial in a democratic country where people need various sources of information.

What Should Be Viewed Critically

Nevertheless, despite the numerous advantages of this programme, there are several factors that can be viewed critically. The factor that made me think the most is the cooperation between the school and media companies. As Mediaschool Bayern is funded by industry partners and at the same time educates future media professionals, it seems obvious that the arrangement works for the mutual benefit of both sides. Students have the opportunity to gain practical experience and build professional networks, whereas companies receive a pool of well-trained young talent.

However, this system also raises some questions. Is it possible that such cooperation could result in students being guided towards career paths that are more favourable to industry requirements than to their own preferences? Moreover, as students actively participate in media productions during their education, it is reasonable to question whether their contributions are always properly recognised and rewarded. Even though I did not notice any form of exploitation during my visit, it is still an issue worth considering.

What Should Be Emphasised Positively

First of all, I would like to mention that the best quality of Mediaschool Bayern is its very practical and flexible learning program. I liked the fact that already during our visit there were some internship opportunities available, which proved the flexibility and openness of Mediaschool Bayern. It is great that the students have an opportunity to work on the production of real radio programs, television shows and digital media projects while studying at the university level. This way, students get invaluable professional experience.

Another aspect that I liked is the motivational and inclusive atmosphere. The students are given a certain amount of responsibility but at the same time they receive professional guidance and advice. Thus, such an approach provides an excellent balance that allows one to experiment and work freely without getting too much commercial pressure.

In these times of tough competition, when conventional media companies are facing a challenge from social media, it is important to invest in youth and educate them in practical ways.

Final Reflections

My visit to Mediaschool Bayern was both inspiring and thought-provoking. It is the synthesis of flexibility, practicality, and dedication to serving the community that makes it a special place among other German institutions of media education. Although problems like preserving quality and equality for all learners need to be considered carefully, the benefits certainly outweigh the disadvantages.

The field trip reinforced my belief that journalism cannot be learned solely through textbooks. Practical experience, professional mentoring, and opportunities to experiment are equally important in preparing future journalists. I left the school with a much deeper appreciation of how Germany supports and develops its next generation of media professionals. Ultimately, institutions such as Mediaschool Bayern make an important contribution not only to journalism education but also to the long-term health of Germany’s democratic media landscape, because every story is worth listening to.

All photographs were taken by the author on 16 June 2026

Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien. (n.d.). Mediaschool Bayern. https://www.blm.de

Deutscher Presserat. (2024). Pressekodex: Richtlinien für die publizistische Arbeit nach den Empfehlungen des Deutschen Presserats. https://www.presserat.de/pressekodex.html

Mediaschool Bayern. (n.d.). About us. https://www.mediaschool.bayern

M94.5. (n.d.). About M94.5. https://www.m945.de

max neo. (n.d.). About max neo. https://www.maxneo.de