Lindau's New Press: Column Dedicated to Quality Journalism Over Quantity of Clicks
In the heart of Lindau, a new journalistic venture named Kolumna is making waves. Founded by Ronja Straub and Julia Baumann-Scheyer, two former members of the Lindau local team at the Swabian Newspaper, Kolumna aims to bring a fresh, multi-voiced, and transparent perspective to the region.
One of Kolumna's primary challenges is reaching a broader audience, particularly young people. To address this, the team has embarked on a mission to engage with people directly, setting up pop-up editorial offices in various neighbourhoods and engaging in conversations that matter.
Kolumna's main product is a daily newsletter, which provides an overview of local events, constructive news with solutions, and positive reporting. The newsletter features several sections, including brief news, good news, a community survey, "Where are they now?", and in-depth research. A free version of the newsletter is available, with more detailed articles accessible only to paying subscribers.
The newsletter's core themes are rooted in the survey results, which reveal a desire for a comprehensive portrayal of the Lindau region. To ensure this, Kolumna regularly involves readers in community surveys via the newsletter and researches together with the community.
Kolumna had a strong start with a successful crowdfunding campaign, gaining 700 subscribers, providing a proof-of-concept and demonstrating the demand for their product. The venture also seeks funding from sources like the Media Forward Fund.
In addition to the newsletter, Kolumna operates a podcast dedicated to stories from the Lindau region, which has been running since early February 2025. The founders have also carefully selected and placed ads in the newsletter, podcast, and Instagram, ensuring they do not detract from the editorial content.
The founders' decision to place ads was not taken lightly. It stemmed from a need to sustain the business, with Kolumna's current business model relying on a subscription and advertising model. Despite this, the team remains committed to maintaining a subdued and carefully curated advertising approach.
Kolumna's emergence was sparked by dissatisfaction with working conditions in traditional local journalism. The founders saw an opportunity to create a platform that fosters community journalism, acting as a forum for discussing current topics in both the digital space and at local events.
Choosing Lindau as the location was strategic, given the city's many engaged multipliers and the founders' known names and good local network. Kolumna's commitment to community journalism has been a significant aspect since its inception, aiming to create a space for open dialogue and active participation.
The Bethe-Stiftung, a foundation interested in supporting innovative journalistic projects, has shown interest in Kolumna. As Kolumna continues to grow and evolve, it remains dedicated to its mission of reaching a broader audience, particularly young people, and providing comprehensive, multi-voiced, and locally-oriented reporting.
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