Newspapers

·        Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (or FAZ) – right-leaning national paper (with regional supplement for the Rhine-Main area) that is widely read by decision makers.  Surprisingly home to intellectual debates (heard of the "Historikerstreit"?) as well as business news.

·        Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) – originally Munich based national newspaper with more liberal credentials.  Has surpassed the FAZ in readership.  More humorous in tone with audience of liberal academics.

·        Handelsblatt – business daily (partner of WSJ).  Only national publication by strong media group WAZ that has otherwise "walmartized" small regional newspaper monopolies.

·        Financial Times Deutschland (FTD) – moderately successful joint venture by the "original" Financial Times and magazine group Gruner&Jahr to establish an internationally-oriented business newspaper.  Less analytical and influential than the English sister that is perhaps the most influential newspaper in Europe.

·        Frankfurter Rundschau – staunchly social democratic newspaper, certainly left of the SZ.

·        taz – the '68 rebel of newspapers with highly satirical reporting.  An idol for many leftwingers and Greens.  Has always been teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and has always wiggled out in entertaining ways partly because of its supportive reader base.

·        Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) – leading Swiss German newspaper.  A superb and critical newspaper!  Interesting also for a foreign view on Germany and for distinctly Swiss interests (see its section on "Alpinism" or cantonal policy).  Has some English content.

·        BILD – Leaving the olymp of publishing and descending into the netherworlds, one should not forget the daily that is read by millions every day.  Less aggressive and more unifying than British tabloids, it is certainly more influential politically than US Today – and more fun to read (its journalists are often very intelligent and cynical).

Journals

·        Die Zeit – one of the flagships of articulate general journalism.  Started after the war and run by legendary journalists such as the late Countess Döhnhoff and former chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

·        Der Spiegel – first investigative magazine, founded by late doyen Rudolf Augstein.  Critical reports on all general interest issues.

·        FOCUS – started in the 90s as a rival to successful Spiegel, it has not yet reached its journalistic acclaim.  Publisher Burda is renowned more for its yellow press titles, which shows.

·        Der Stern – Gruner&Jahr's ailing flagship of a picture weekly.

·        Profil – the Austrian response to the Spiegel.

·        Manager Magazin (by Spiegel) and Capital (G&J) are monthly business journals with many insider stories.

·        Brandeins – started by journalists that were disillusioned with the incumbents, brandeins does not fit into any category.  It continues to win prizes for its astounding design.  Desgin is rivalled only by its carefully researched stories.  Check it out!

·        Eternal competitors for the number one position in women magazines are G&J's stodgy Brigitte, Springer's bitchy Allegra and slightly vulgar Amica.

Radio and TV on the internet

·        Most online radio players also list German channels.  Check out your own player (Real Audio, Windows Media Player etc.).

·        Deutsche Welle is the official information channel.  It broadcasts radio and TV and also has some internet content in German and English.

·        A comprehensive and really useful website about German content via internet can be found here.

Other internet sources

·        The German Embassy's "The Week in Germany" provides a comprehensive news overview.  Nice:  Does not assume that you are up to date with everything that is going on and explains lots of background.

· People interested in the net, digital media and entertainment may find netzwelt.de an interesting and useful online magazine.

·        Users of handheld computers love AvantGo's German channels.  AvantGo synchronizes newspaper content on your Palm etc. so you can peruse the news anytime you want.