Right Up Close to Those in Power
What are politicians like when the cameras and spotlights are switched off? Miriam Olbrisch reports on North Rhine-Westphalia for SPIEGEL, giving her a behind-the-scenes look at the political world. She has one clear piece of advice for aspiring journalists: No AI in the world can replace a good network.
Werksgelände: What does a typical day as SPIEGEL’s North Rhine-Westphalia correspondent look like?
Miriam Olbrisch: I cover current affairs and provide in-depth reporting from North Rhine-Westphalia, with a focus on state politics. But if something big happens somewhere, I’ll go there too. I report both for the print edition of SPIEGEL and for spiegel.de – and occasionally you can hear me on the magazine’s in-house podcasts.
What experience or skills should you bring to the job?
Curiosity. An interest in political issues. Strong writing skills. The ability to work under pressure. And unfortunately, in such a large federal state, having a driving licence – and ideally a car – is also important.
What do you find most appealing about your job?
I’m very close to the political action and often get to look behind the scenes. What are those in power like when the cameras have been packed away and the spotlights switched off? As a journalist who works primarily in writing, I can sometimes make myself almost invisible – I see that as an advantage.
Networking is key! We journalists rely on getting tips and information before they become public.
- Miriam Olbrisch
What are the biggest challenges in your job?
Time pressure. It feels like far too many things are always happening at once. You then have to prioritise ruthlessly. And sometimes, unfortunately, you make the wrong choice.
What has been your biggest flop in your career so far, and what did you learn from it?
In 2019, UniSPIEGEL was discontinued after I had headed the editorial team for three years. The decision came as a surprise to me and hit me hard. What I learnt from this is that publishing strategies can change. Those in charge look first and foremost at the figures: does a product make financial sense – or not? That says nothing about all the love an editorial team puts into a magazine. You mustn’t take such decisions personally, which I found very, very difficult at the time.
Miriam’s tips for aspiring journalists
Networking is key! We journalists rely on getting tips and information before they become public. It’s important to know the right people for this and, ideally, to build a relationship of trust with them. No AI in the world can do that!
Miriam Olbrisch
… has been working at SPIEGEL since May 2011 and has been reporting from North Rhine-Westphalia since 2021.
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