Printing Media never die, I hope

There is always a popular opinion saying that printing media has died, or at least will give way to digital media in the near future. There is no denying that digitalization has reshaped our reading habits and pushed traditional newspapers into a tight corner. But I still prefer the tactile, structured, and irreplaceable experience of print. Back in China, I still keep the habit of my parents, subscribing daily newspaper “Reference News”. Anyway, substantial newspaper reading cannot be replaced by digital news, can it? Printing media never die, I hope.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend because of a time crash. But I asked Zhang for some photos and read a bit about the place myself, which became a kind of “remote tour.”

At the first sight of the printing house, my impression was “alles in Ordnung”, clean, orderly, and steady. the whole place gives off a feeling of reliability. For a newspaper with such a long tradition, the assembly line almost symbolizes a quiet but continuous process of self-renewal.

As for its political orientation, it is generally recognized as center-left or liberal. In Bavaria, people sometimes jokingly describe it as the “oppositional voice” in the local political landscape. Regardless of political labels, though, it remains a strong and respected force in the German media system.

Like many newspapers worldwide, its print circulation has declined. But it is still very lively. I bought a copy last month, simply because the cover was very eye-catching, although it was a bit expensive, 4 euros and 20 cents per piece. That issue covered the dispute between China and the Netherlands about the Nexperia semiconductor company, and the reporting was quite neutral. It was worth the money. To me, this is the charm of quality print media: steady, trustworthy, and layered.

The printing house reminds me that even in the age of overwhelming digitalization, some things continue at their own pace, and keep shining in their own way.