Training the next generation of journalists: Inside of Mediaschool Bayern

More than a media school

During our fieldtrip to Mediaschool Bayern in Munich, I expected to see a training facility for aspiring journalists. Instead, I discovered an organization that occupies a unique position between education, journalism, and the German media industry.

Our visit was led by Creative Producer Julius Peter, who showed us the different studios and explained how students produce content across radio, video, podcasts, social media, and livestreaming platforms. What immediately stood out was the professional environment. The facilities included a radio studio, podcast studio, TV studio, Twitch studio, and modern production equipment such as drones and GoPros. Despite being a training institution, the school operates much like a real media organization.

This observation raises an interesting question: What role does Mediaschool Bayern play in Germany’s media landscape?

A bridge between education and journalism

Founded in 1995 on the initiative of the Bavarian Media Authority (BLM), Mediaschool Bayern was created to train future media professionals through practical experience rather than classroom theory. More than 5,000 young people have completed training programs there, and many have gone on to work for major German media organizations. The school operates the non-commercial channels M94.5 in Munich and max neo in Nuremberg, where participants can publish real content for real audiences.  

What makes the institution particularly interesting is its structure. It is a public-private partnership supported by both public institutions and private media companies, including Bayerischer Rundfunk, Antenne Bayern, RTLZWEI, Seven.One Entertainment Group, and the City of Munich.  

This model allows students to gain practical experience while remaining connected to industry professionals. During our visit, Julius described the organization as a “big playground,” which accurately reflects its educational philosophy. Students are encouraged to experiment with different formats, make mistakes, and develop their own ideas.

Journalistic values in practice

One of the strongest aspects of Mediaschool Bayern is its commitment to learning journalism through practice. Students are not only trained to write articles or conduct interviews; they also learn video production, social media management, livestreaming, and podcast creation.

From our discussions, it became clear that supervisors do not simply dictate content. Instead, they guide students and help shape ideas while allowing them significant editorial freedom. This approach encourages creativity and independent thinking, both of which are essential journalistic skills.

The organization also appears to value innovation. Students can work across multiple platforms and experiment with new forms of storytelling. In an era where journalism increasingly exists on TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and podcasts, this cross-media approach seems particularly relevant.  

Potential struggles 

Despite these strengths, there are aspects that deserve critical consideration.

One issue is accessibility. During the visit, we learned that internships are unpaid. While participants gain valuable experience, unpaid internships can create barriers for students who need paid work to support themselves. This raises questions about equal access to journalism education. Opportunities in the media industry should ideally be available regardless of a student’s financial background.

Another point concerns editorial diversity. Several people described the environment as generally left-leaning. While this is not unusual in journalism education, it is important that future journalists are exposed to a wide range of perspectives. Educational institutions should encourage critical debate rather than ideological conformity.

Finally, Mediaschool Bayern benefits from close relationships with major media companies. While these partnerships create valuable career opportunities, they also raise questions about independence. The organization must continuously ensure that educational goals remain more important than industry interests.

Why Mediaschool Bayern matters

Overall, my impression of Mediaschool Bayern was highly positive. Unlike traditional university courses, it offers students the opportunity to learn by doing. Participants produce real content, work with professional equipment, and develop skills that are directly relevant to today’s media industry.

In the broader German media landscape, Mediaschool Bayern serves an important democratic function. High-quality journalism depends on well-trained journalists. By providing practical education and encouraging experimentation, the organization helps prepare the next generation of media professionals.

The visit also highlighted how journalism itself is changing. Future journalists are expected to create content not only for radio and television but also for podcasts, social media platforms, and livestreams. Mediaschool Bayern appears to understand this shift and has adapted its training accordingly.

For me, the most important takeaway was that journalism can no longer be separated from digital media production. The organization demonstrates how education and practical experience can be combined to prepare students for a rapidly evolving media environment. At the same time, questions about accessibility, diversity of perspectives, and institutional independence remain important areas for critical reflection.

Sources:

1. Florian Böhm, personal communication, April 16th 2026
2. Julius Peter, personal communication, April 16th 2026
3. Historie. Online. Mediaschool Bayern. 2026. Available at: https://www.mediaschool.bayern/map#p=21. [cit. 2026-06-28].
4. Über die MEDIASCHOOL BAYERN. Online. Mediaschool Bayern. 2026. Available at: https://www.mediaschool.bayern/map#p=1. [cit. 2026-06-28].
5. MEDIASCHOOL BAYERN. Online. Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien. 2026. Available at: https://www.blm.de/de/wir-foerdern/medienkompetenz/projekte/mediaschool_bayern.cfm. [cit. 2026-06-28].
6. Mediaschool Bayern. Online. In: Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia. San Francisco (CA): Wikimedia Foundation, 2001-. Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediaschool_Bayern. [cit. 2026-06-28].