When Matthias Dubach joined Blick eleven years ago, the Swiss daily still ran two print editions daily. Today, Switzerland’s most widely read German-language news outlet operates in a radically different media landscape. “Print journalism is on its way out,” Dubach says. “Of course, we still make a newspaper every day, but it’s just the best of the website.”
The need for speed
As head of the reporter pool at Blick, Dubach has watched firsthand how digitalization has reshaped journalism from the ground up. The traditional publishing rhythms have given way to an always-on, online-first newsroom where speed, engagement, and click rates dictate success. “The job itself hasn’t changed that much, and good stories are still needed,” he says. “But they have to come much faster now.”
While Dubach remains a staunch supporter of print – and believes there is a niche market for certain print products – he’s clear-eyed about its future. Younger audiences consume news via apps and websites, rarely touching physical newspapers. Print, he acknowledges, is mostly “for the older generation.”
But speed comes with trade-offs. Balancing accuracy and timeliness is a constant challenge, especially when institutions are slow to respond. “Federations or authorities sometimes take three days to answer a request. That doesn’t work anymore.”
And yet, Dubach insists the basics of journalism remain intact: storytelling, research, and the ability to provide context still make the difference.
The social media challenge
The rise of social media has added another element to the journalist’s role. Where once the media held exclusive access to stories, today, athletes or teams communicate directly with fans via their own channels. “Sometimes they say, ‘I’m already publishing myself, why should I involve the media?’” Dubach explains. “But we tell the full picture. The club or athlete has only one part of the story.”
That added context, analysis, and depth is where traditional media still holds its ground. “People don’t want to read who won a race—they already saw that. They want the story behind it.”
How to keep the trust
Yet trust in journalism has been eroded in recent years, particularly among younger audiences who often turn to social media for news. “The media has lost importance. People don’t need us like they used to,” Dubach says. However, he still believes journalism has a vital role if it can demonstrate its value. “We have to talk about what really interests people and show that we offer more than just what’s on social media.”
Being on the ground
One of Blick’s strongest assets is its presence on the ground. While many outlets now rely on remote coverage, Dubach’s team still travels to events. “We seem to be almost the only ones in Switzerland who still do classic reporting. Being on-site is extremely important,” he says. “It is the only way to get the full story. Of course, it is more expensive, but it pays off in the long run.”
Copy cats
Original reporting comes at a cost—not just financially but also in terms of competition. “You publish a well-researched story, and the competition copies it five minutes later. Quoted, yes. But still…” he says.
Can you protect yourself against that? “Not really. Paywalls don’t stop competitors from buying access. And as for press ethics… maybe they’re slipping a bit,” Dubach concedes. “There are fewer real journalists. Some outlets build their business models around doing things as cheaply as possible. They don’t travel. They just copy.”
Relationships still matter
Despite all the changes, one thing remains stable: personal relationships. They are a journalist’s most valuable asset. “That’s our biggest advantage: we know the people,” Dubach says. “That’s why we get the stories.” But even that access has become more complicated. Press offices now filter every request. Even second-division football clubs manage interviews tightly, sometimes rewriting quotes into something entirely different. “That’s a shame,” he says. “It makes people sound boring.”
Negotiating what can and can’t be published is time-consuming. Sometimes, it leads to pulling an interview altogether. And that effort is invisible to readers. “There’s a lot more work behind a story than people think.”
The future is still bright
Still, he’s optimistic about the profession’s future, as long as journalists accept that the job has changed. “Sure, the speed is extreme now, and if you’re on-site, you’re expected to deliver at least three times as much as before. But it’s still a great job. You meet people, you travel, and you learn about new formats. It’s exciting.”
“Maybe in 10 to 15 years, we won’t make print anymore. Maybe everything will be on some super gadget in an app. But no matter how much the media landscape changes, one thing remains the same: We’ll still need professionals who know how to tell good stories. And people will still want to read them.”
