However they do not replace personal qualities, like the ability to think analytically, curiosity, or the ability to present information with the right words. "It's not having the idea, but knowing how to express it - that's journalism", said the Austrian Karl Kraus. "Someone, who has discovered his passion in journalism, will find a way to become a journalist!", says Ingrid Kolb, chief of the "Henri Nannen school", a special school for journalists in Hamburg, Germany. Every 18 months this school trains 36 "new-generation journalists", who are selected from more than 2,000 applicants. "Of course, a special school for journalists is a very good start into the occupation, but the new generation cannot come exclusively from there. A good internship in an editorship is probably also an excellent way" She recommends: enter early, do not relent, offer stories to the local newspapers again and again, if necessary also about less exciting topics like the fifth hand ball league. "Someone who wants to become a journalist has catch the attention of the editor-in-chief". Editors-in-chief want to be impressed. "He who can't get past the doorman or in any case only writes some letters doesn't have good prospects." Siegbert R. (name changed by editorship), from Soest in Westphalia, had a similar view: "for me it was very clear that I want to go to the newspaper. At 19 I first wrote articles about a farmer and the agrarian reform. For that I sat at my desk for two days. Today that would take 15 minutes. However writing two days was worthwhile:

The report was printed almost unchanged. The article was her ticket into the journalism: Siegbert took a practical course at the editorship of the newspaper "Werler Anzeiger". Later she studied political science. In his holidays he worked regularly for different newspapers, including the German-speaking magazine "Aufbau" in New York. Today he is 28 and since one year has been an intern at the "Soester Anzeiger". However it's not easy to get the opportunity to complete one of the desired internships. Hardly a newspaper takes interns without formal study and practical professional experiences. Journalism-schools organise strict accommodation-tests of several days. Altogether there are no more than 2,700 "trainee-jobs" in press (print), broadcast or agencies, estimates the German journalists' federation in Bonn. In the nine German journalism-schools, which are usually sponsored by publishing houses, only 300 places are available. At 14 German universities journalism is offered as major or minor- subject for some hundred students. At six further universities journalism and communication sciences are in the curriculum. However, even he who has completed his journalism education, isn't an editor yet. Many editorships engage - depending upon requirement - free coworkers instead of employing editors formally. Many in the vocation therefore remain independent. Of the approximately 56,000 journalists in Germany about 11,000 operate as freelancers, and this number is rising. The Federal Institution for work estimates the job market for journalists altogether very positively. But a journalism degree is no guarantee for success in the occupation - Talented specialists from outside the field may also have great success in journalism. For example Stefan Aust, a farmer's son, terminated his study of sociology at the age of 20, in order to write for the magazine "konkret" and the erotic-magazine "St.Pauli Nachrichten". In 1970 he went to the "Norddeutscher Rundfunk" (TV-station, Germany), In 1988 he created the political magazine "Spiegel" and now is editor-in-chief of the same magazine.