Roland Welling becomes honorary professor

What is changing for Roland Welling

Roland Welling himself says: “For me, the signature is visibly changing - and the expanded sense of responsibility, coupled with pride in being part of this dedicated team at the School of Journalism and giving radio training a voice together with Oliver Günther, teaching from a practical perspective. Here at the Institute of Journalism Studies at the University of Mainz, we have a team of practitioners who are all passionate about a Master’s programme in the midst of life - with different experiences and backgrounds. The collaboration is trusting and inspiring. The basis is a very professional understanding of journalism education and the teaching of the various trades and multimedia networking.”

Working with a microphone is nothing other than learning to play a musical instrument.

Welling has held senior positions in various SWR departments for over twenty years, including as head of editorial and department. Since 2018, he has headed the SWR1RP radio station as programme director. It is precisely from such a position that he brings a comprehensive overview of the current challenges and opportunities for shaping the medium of radio to the JS at a time when the entire media landscape is changing due to new digital formats and new media players. SWR in particular is taking a radical new approach under its new directorship and the management levels of the individual programmes are consistently shaping this new positioning towards non-linear use. As a result, Roland Welling experiences the media change processes from the perspective of someone who actively shapes them and brings this knowledge and experience directly into his work with the students, which is invaluable for their professional qualification.

Working with the microphone as a life task

However, Welling has never forgotten his roots as a journalist and reporter: He began working as a freelance music editor at the regional studio of the (then still) SWF while still a student in 1988. For ten years, he worked actively in radio and television for ARD, SWF and SDR (Süddeutscher Rundfunk, merged with SWF to form SWR in 1998) as a reporter, editor, author and presenter in the areas of current affairs, entertainment, music and sport and completed a traineeship (1993/94 at SWF).

“Working with a microphone is nothing other than learning to play a musical instrument. You can only improve in quality if you practise, try out, practise, discard, practise: in order to be prepared for a performance - when it counts - and to be able to give your best. And with the confidence of the journalistic craft and the creativity of an enthusiastic passion for the world of radio.”

Ideal teacher at the journalism seminar

Overall, Roland Welling’s professional career combines his knowledge of the reporter’s trade with the overview and foresight that come from his management position, which makes him the ideal teacher for budding journalists. The feedback shows that he carries out this task with great commitment and inspires the students for the medium of radio and journalism. “My credo as a lecturer: I want to convey the joy and the energetic variety of forms of this wonderful journalistic craft “audio” in all its forms of presentation. For me, there is no right or wrong way to do this, but rather a unique path that the students can follow professionally step by step and have fun with. One group once wrote the hashtag #radioistgeil. I adopted it and share it wholeheartedly”.

We are delighted that he will be doing this for and with us for many years to come.