Location:
Die Zeit
grasblau, Schöneberger Straße 21A, 10963 Berlin

Start your Berlin adventure by meeting your tour leads and fellow participants at INMA’s Blue Study Tour kick-off at Die Zeit. You’ll be welcomed by INMA’s Idalmy Carrera-Colucci, #use the news managing director Meinolf Ellers, and Stéphanie Barsch, independent consultant and media strategist. Together, they will set the stage for the two days ahead — outlining what to expect, offering an introduction to Germany’s fast-evolving media landscape, and connecting the dots between each stop. Grab a coffee, get to know your group, and get ready — Idalmy, Meinolf, and Stéphanie will be your guides, your bridge to the hosts, and the spark that keeps this tour moving.

Discover how Die Zeit, widely regarded as one of Germany’s most respected titles, has achieved record subscription levels and steady revenue growth, notably expanding their digital base while maintaining long-form quality. You'll leave inspired by how editorial depth, membership products, and disciplined product craft translate into durable reader relationships.

Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), originally based in Zurich, has significantly expanded their Germany business in recent years and now operates a dedicated Berlin office. What began with targeted products for the German market — especially the German homepage and newsletter — has evolved into a full-fledged local presence. An impressive growth story from digital entry point to physical office, showing how ideas turned into strategy, how teams scaled, and how NZZ built reach, subscriptions, and brand recognition in Germany.

Location:
NZZ
Charlottenstraße 42, 10117 Berlin

Location:
NZZ
Charlottenstraße 42, 10117 Berlin

Funke Medien Gruppe is one of Germany's most important regional publishers, with numerous daily newspapers and a portfolio that includes local and regional brands, magazines, and purely digital offerings. Funke's value lies in making regional journalism profitable on a large scale by sharing technology and data while preserving local brand identity and offering clear subscription options in areas outside major metropolitan cities. Get a look at how Funke balances central platforms with local editorial teams and how pricing, onboarding, churn prevention, and customer loyalty are tailored to regional target groups.

Location:
Friedrichstraße 70, 10117 Berlin

A Berlin newsroom that literally set sail: Pioneer One — and now Pioneer Two — are purpose-built media ships on the Spree, a short cruise from the government quarter. They serve as an editorial office, studio, and event space in one, designed for daily journalism, live broadcasts, and member gatherings. The model is clear and consistent: newsletter and podcast at the core (the Pioneer Briefing each morning), a paying community around it, and a production setup that switches smoothly from reporting to live audience formats. For an international audience, the value is twofold: a distinctive product philosophy (independence, membership, live proximity to politics) and a very modern infrastructure (multi-format studios on a mobile platform) that turns stories, interviews, and debates into experiences — on water.

After a long, intense day of study tour, enjoy “drinks on INMA” at Media Pioneer’s office on the river. We will be joined by Red Study Tour colleagues, too.

morningcrunch is a daily, cross-platform briefing brand focused on delivering what busy professionals need to know before the workday starts. Built around a concise morning newsletter and companion formats (podcast, Web site, and social), morningcrunch researches and curates the top stories, trends, and data points across business, politics, and technology, with clear takeaways and links for deeper reading. The team is product-driven and audience-centred, experimenting with formats, headlines, and timing to maximise habit and open rates. Their model blends editorial authority with smart packaging and distribution, supported by subscriptions and/or sponsorships, making it a useful case study in high-signal, low-friction news products. morningcrunch is also one of the few venture capital-backed media startups seeking to show that technology-supported journalism is both important and economically sustainable.

dpa is Germany’s independent national news agency with a 24/7 central newsroom and global network. Beyond the wire: IFCN/EFCSN‑certified fact‑checking, structured data products, and modern studios for broadcast, vertical video, and podcasts. Discover how dpa combines editorial excellence with cutting-edge innovation with a look at dpa’s overall mission and structure, forward-looking AI and technology projects, and their approach to developing new talent through the dpa Young Leaders programme — an initiative nurturing the next generation of media professionals. The session includes an open Q&A and a guided newsroom tour, connecting dpa’s strategic vision with their daily operations.

Location:
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)
Rudi‑Dutschke‑Straße 2, 10969 Berlin

Location:
Zimmerstraße 50, 10117 Berlin

In this presentation and extended tour, we will join Axel Springer for a deep exploration of the company’s ongoing transformation. This session focuses on the Premium-Gruppe, encompassing Politico Germany, Welt, and Business Insider Germany, and highlights how innovation, editorial excellence, and brand strength drive sustainable growth across all platforms. Participants will hear from the management team of the Premium-Gruppe offering insights into how digital video, journalism, and storytelling are evolving together at Axel Springer. In addition, the tour will feature a visit to the new Bild Test Lab — part of the tech & mobility competence centre of the Bild Group, led by Dirk General-Kuchel, editor-in-chief.

Across eight study tour stops and even more interactions with brands and companies, what did Blue Study Tour participants learn? What were the insights? This closing session led by Idalmy Carrera-Colucci, Meinolf Ellers, and Stéphanie Barsch will help point to what you should take home the next week.