Training to become an editor: On the hunt for good stories every day

Created: 09/28/2022, 16:55

By: Jannis Gogolin

Interviews, reports, exciting insights: journalism is a career goal for many people.

Editors are trained at the Münchner Merkur.

© Antonio Guillen Fernández/panthermedia

Journalism is an exciting career field.

Two volunteers talk about their everyday work, the fascination and what applicants should bring with them.

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – you are where things are moving.

They phone and talk to people - always looking for a story worth telling.

And when they're not on the road, they sit in the editorial office and write.

Elena Royer and Dominik Stallein are trainees - editors in training - and both work in the local editorial offices of the Münchner Merkur, Royer at the Tölzer Kurier, Stallein at the Isar-Loisachboten/Geretsrieder Merkur.

Training to become an editor: On the hunt for good stories every day

Life in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen "is not based on my private schedule," says Stallein.

The two trainees can therefore not give a general answer as to what a classic working day at the newspaper looks like.

When something newsworthy happens, "we have to be ready," either on the spot, on the phone, or in front of the computer.

This can be exhausting and requires a high degree of flexibility.

On the other hand, that is exactly what makes the job so appealing.

"Always noticing when something happens, always knowing what's going on, and telling others about it is perhaps the best part of our job," says Stallein.

And if there's nothing on his pad in the morning, "I'll be on the phone until I find a story."

That's why he jokingly describes himself as a "full-time Ratschkathl".

A pen and pad are still the most important tools for a journalist.

Our volunteers Elena Royer (Tölzer Kurier) and Dominik Stallein (Isar-Loisachbote/Geretsrieder Merkur) also use it to do research.

© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss

Career aspirations as a journalist: Two volunteers report on the daily hunt for good stories

Whether in person, on the phone or by e-mail: "Contact with the people behind the stories" is an essential part of the work.

For a good article you always have to know where something is happening, be it an exciting event, a smoldering political discussion or the opening of a new business.

“In the beginning I had to bring myself to call and ask strangers,” Elena Royer recalls.

But because that is so important for the work, she quickly shed her initial inhibitions.

"We have to be curious and genuinely interested in people and their stories," emphasizes Stallein.

You can read all the news from Wolfratshausen here.

Royer reveals a tip for people who are interested in a traineeship: read a lot – preferably a daily newspaper.

"A feel for language and good sentences will definitely get you ahead."

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In Stallein's and Royer's circle of friends there are many of their own age who do not have their own newspaper subscription.

The circulation of most newspapers has declined in recent years.

Royer and Stallein are therefore not worried about the future viability of their jobs.

On the contrary: Right now is a "super exciting time," says Stallein.

Volunteers gain insights into the various departments and editorial departments of a newspaper - including the digital news world, for example.

"Thanks to the additional online offer, our texts now reach many more people than before," explains Stallein.

Royer sees it as a privilege to be involved in this change.

Her colleague agrees - and believes in the future of the newspaper: "I'll do the devil to sing a farewell to the newspaper now."

By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Wolfratshausen-Geretsried newsletter.

Apprenticeship at the Munich Merkur: In two years to the dream job of newspaper editor

According to Elena Royer, those interested in the two-year training course have to be prepared for one thing: “Some evenings you spend in a city council meeting.

Or you're on Sunday duty while the weather is beautiful outside.” But that's the price of always being there when something happens.

Are you interested in an apprenticeship at Münchner Merkur?

Here you will find all information about the application