IfK Students Dive into Print Journalism on Excursion to Westfälischer Anzeiger

(20.04.2024) This summer semester, 16 students from the Institute for Communication Science (IfK) visited the Westfälischer Anzeiger in Hamm for a firsthand look at the print journalism industry. Text editor Holger Drechsel and editor-in-chief Michael Schlösser guided the students through the media house of the Ippen Group, providing practical insights into the workings of journalism.

The excursion began with a tour through the editorial offices and the entire media house. Westfälischer Anzeiger, a daily newspaper, not only covers local news for Hamm but also provides the broader content for other newspapers within the Ippen Group. The students were also given a tour of Radio Lippe's studio, located in the same building. Following the tour, participants engaged in a discussion with Holger Drechsel and Michael Schlösser about current relevant journalism topics.

The students discussed, among other things, the future of journalism in relation to print and online models. In this respect, Westfälischer Anzeiger takes a somewhat unconventional approach: while many other media outlets are slowly phasing out their print operations, Westfälischer Anzeiger continues to invest in its print news model, having recently built a new, state-of-the-art publishing house. Moreover, the students learned why Hamm's online presence does not believe in a paywall model, instead being one of the few regional media in Germany to entirely offer free content. Other engaging topics included the pillars of trustworthy journalistic work and the current working conditions in local journalism.

The excursion was organized as part of the voluntary supplementary activities by the Competence Centre for Media Practice. The IfK extends its gratitude to Westfälischer Anzeiger for this informative opportunity!

Contact person public relations:
Dr. Stephan Völlmicke
Telefon: +49 251 83-23006
Telefax: +49 251 83-21310 (Geschäftszimmer IfK)