Media School Bayern: Learning Through Experience

Our trip to the Media School Bayern was insightful into a different approach in teaching students how to produce media. They use a more hands on approach which is not typical when media is being taught; typically, it is mainly theories that are taught or how to write an article or do research but rarely do they teach how to use cameras, microphones and editing tools. They had very good facilities, they had a full functioning TV set, radio station, podcast studio and a room full of cameras and other bits of equipment. They also give people leadership opportunities by leading their morning meetings and delegating jobs to the other people at the meeting. This is great experience for students because they are never given any leadership roles in any other media experience. Students are often bottom of the media food chain so to get this experience of leadership is very important. Also providing payment to people who work a certain number of hours is a good system especially in a city as expensive as Munich. This system is made to benefit young journalists and wanting them to be able to not only tell a compelling story but also be able to produce, cut and edit the story themselves. Even if they do not end up editing or producing their work they can at least work better in their team when they know the work the others must do. I felt that everyone was very passionate about what they were doing and I also felt that everyone who was teaching was very passionate about giving their students a well round education in the media. While it is an incredible place for people to learn journalistic skills it is limited in its intake since it only really works in German apart from a few exceptions where pieces are in English. Considering that Munich is a very international city I think there is opportunity for them to expand the languages that they operate in and they will find an audience.

Photo of podcast equipment