An exciting course of study at a friendly university, lots of friends from all over the world and plenty of inspiring input: Laura Mühlenmeier (M.A. Digital Journalism) has found a new creative home at the Media University Berlin. In this interview, she tells us why she enjoys working at the Campus_Video workshop so much and what makes good journalism for her.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Media University?
When I think of the Media University, the first thing that comes to mind is the red brick building. Then there’s the small-town feeling you get when you keep seeing the same faces in the bright white corridors of the university.
Why did you choose the “M.A. Convergent Journalism” program (since winter semester 2020/21 “M.A. Digital Journalism”)? And why did you choose the Media University Berlin?
I wanted my master’s degree to combine theory and practice. My bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Bielefeld was mostly theory and methodology, a good foundation but not the practical skills that I would probably need in my career as a journalist. I was also attracted to the program because it is offered in English and combines the associated practices of journalism: print, online, radio and TV. I didn’t even know the Media University existed before. After the student advisor Verena Nüßmann gave me a tour of the hallowed halls of my current university, through the rather small building and the TV studio, I had the feeling that this is where I would see myself for the next two years.
Did you gain any work experience before or during your master’s degree that you would like to tell us about?
Before my master’s degree at the Media University, I had already worked as a freelancer at the local radio station Radio Lippe in Detmold, at the WDR Studio Bielefeld for the local news program WDR 2, and at Campus TV at the University of Bielefeld. I wanted to take all of this experience with me to the capital. In January 2020, I started working in the rbb visitor service. During a seminar as part of my master’s degree, I met cameraman Adil Bradlow, through whom I acquired many additional practical skills in broadcast journalism.
Which seminar/project have you enjoyed the most so far?
I liked Business & Politics and the Talent Campus_Video project the most. I probably like Business & Politics the most because of my interest in world politics, which we are able to discuss every week with our diverse opinions because of the wide range of countries represented in our course.
That's what makes us special as a group: we are all very different, but we are also a team. And the small courses at the Media University are particularly conducive to this.
Laura Mühlenmeier
What is it like to be a participant in the Talent Campus_Video workshop? What do you like best?
At the Talent Campus, I can incorporate my own ideas and creativity to a great extent. Here, I have the opportunity to independently implement ideas with my fellow students. Through the Talent Campus_Video, I have been able to make very special friends across all courses of study, through activities such as driving to the filming at the Foreigners‘ Registration Office in Charlottenburg at 3 a.m., filming the sunrise from Drachenberg over Berlin or through a day trip to Grünheide to Tesla. I am very grateful for that! But also for the people who launched this project in the winter semester of 2019 and gave us the opportunity to do it: Jost Listemann, Felix von Stutterheim, Sarah Kraft and Alexander Nofftz. Through our joint work and support, as well as mutual encouragement and challenge, I was able to learn and try out a lot.
What is life like in Berlin? Was it easy for you to settle in? Would you like to stay here?
I never wanted to live in Berlin. My dream was always Hamburg, in the north, by the sea. Until I decided to move to Berlin for the Media University, I had only been to Berlin twice, once to a Bruce Springsteen concert in the Olympic Stadium and once after my student exchange in 2012. I quickly found great friends with my fellow students at the Media University – exciting people from countries and cultures that I had never encountered before. And now I get butterflies in my stomach when I come back to Berlin from East Westphalia-Lippe, my home region, because I know: Berlin is my home. So yes, I would like to stay here for now.
What are your plans for the future? Do you want to become a full-time journalist?
In my future, I definitely want to work as a full-time journalist. I want to contribute to freedom of expression, democracy and diversity with my job, give people a voice. We’ll see how I implement that exactly. But preferably in the form of videos.
What advice do you have for students who decide to study at the Media University?
Bring initiative. And commitment. And a passion for communicating, a desire to try new things. The master’s program will give you many new experiences. But if you want to go further to get even more out of journalism, you need to use your own initiative.
What qualities should students in your program have?
Be open, curious, and allow for new opinions from other cultures, even if the opinion may not initially correspond to your own world view. Get out of your bubble, listen to people who don’t belong to it. We all grew up differently and are influenced by different languages, customs, educational methods and media worlds. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how important it is to treat each other with respect in every way. And that’s what journalism is all about: not reporting on your own or familiar opinions, but giving a voice to everyone.
Thank you very much for the interview. We hope you continue to enjoy your studies and the Talent Campus_Video.
