By Ute Kaiser
The first radio broadcast from Tübingen was heard in 1950. Over the past 75 years, a lot has changed in the radio station on the Österberg due to technological developments. Sounds for radio plays, such as slamming doors, are no longer made with a special cabinet. Nowadays, sounds come from the digital sound archive. The editorial team of tuenews INTERNATIONAL learned this during a tour – led by studio manager Marcel Wagner.
What is important in seven districts
This year, all the old treasures will be handed in or given up. The Tübingen studio of the Südwestrundfunk (SWR) is moving into a brand-new building right next to the old one. From there, more than 30 journalists will continue to report via radio, television and the internet, for example for the Tagesschau app. The team provides information “about everything that happens and is important in the region,” says Wagner. The Tübingen studio is responsible for seven districts. In addition to the district of Tübingen, these include the districts of Reutlingen, Zollernalb and Freudenstadt.
Hard facts and feel-good stories
The topics covered are wide-ranging. They may be regionally relevant news items, such as the re-election of a mayor, a truck accident at a railroad crossing, or a new therapy developed at the university hospital. But the radio and TV reporters also do entertaining stories about interesting people or special places like an enclosure for tame wild boars in Meßstetten. The tuews editorial team was allowed to look over Nathalie Waldenspuhl’s shoulder as she spoke her text for the TV report in the state news program.
Something for every age group
The topics should be as diverse as the listeners and their interests. That is why the Tübingen studio offers a range of services. SWR4, for example, mostly plays oldies. Between 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., there are three minutes of regional news after every hour. Editor Anette Hübsch was on the microphone this time. The top story: a resident of a house in Reutlingen hit a man with a stick because the 33-year-old had urinated against the wall of the house. The SWR produces special formats for young people – for example, “DasDing”. It is aimed at 14- to 29-year-olds and presents new songs, interviews with stars, but also news from around the world and the regions.
Thorough research is important
All of their news items are researched and written by the journalists themselves. Important sources of information are, for example, the police and fire brigade. They are the first to be called when duty begins in the morning. The editorial team also receives countless e-mails, which they check to find important and interesting topics. Then there are the reporters. They have to be particularly good at observing and listening. “A good reporter goes out with one story and comes back with three,” said studio manager Wagner.
Quality and the four-eyes principle
“How do you check the information?” asked Lobna Alhindi. To check the facts, the radio people ask precise questions. If possible, there should be two sources for each piece of information. Sameer Ibrahim addressed the issue of social media and their credibility. According to studies, many listeners still trust radio, Wagner said, unlike social media. This is due to “the high quality standards”. Public broadcasting and television adhere to the press code and legal regulations, and ensure balanced and neutral reporting based on facts. For example, news and commentary are always strictly separated. “Your own political opinion must not play a role,” said Wagner. The four-eyes principle applies to every report or longer report. This means that “at least one other person must have read or heard it.”
Steps in the snow with sacks of flour
One of the highlights of the tour was the former radio studio with movable wall panels that could be adjusted to achieve the desired acoustics. In the past, famous actors would come here to record stories in Swabian, complete with sounds and music. Kneading movements in a flour sack in the next room sounded like footsteps in the snow, and walking movements on old tape recordings sounded like hiking on the forest floor. Even construction noise could be created in a small corner with sand, shovels or a wooden hammer. For some time now, jazz concerts have been held five times a year in the former radio studio.
The sound archive will soon be history
The “centerpiece,” as Wagner called the old radio studio, is being demolished. Apartments are to be built in place of the entire radio building. The old sound archive will soon be history as well. Among other things, tens of thousands of CDs and thousands of records are stored on shelves there. They have become redundant due to the new digital archive. These historical treasures are to be given to interested parties in exchange for a donation after the move to the neighboring building on Saturday, July 26, during an open house day.
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