Local editorial office prepares to break new records

In the vibrant city of Gelsenkirchen, Germany, a new local medium has emerged, bringing fresh perspectives and engaging discussions to the community. SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen officially opened its doors in late June 2025, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in the city's cultural landscape.

The brainchild of editor-in-chief, Tobias Hauswurz, who was appointed in January 2025, SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen was founded in 2024. The team's search for a centrally located, affordable storefront led them to a side street in the city center, where they transformed a former travel agency into a café. Renovation work commenced in February 2025, with the city management providing assistance in securing a location that was not publicly advertised.

The first event at SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen took place just a week after opening, focusing on power abuse and violence in sports. Around twenty guests attended, including representatives from sports clubs, marking the beginning of a series of events aimed at increasing visibility in the city.

Tobias Hauswurz has shared several lessons learned while founding SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen. These include the importance of finding a local gatekeeper, planning resources realistically, starting small and gradually improving, planning the tech stack early, and having a clear concept from the start. The team also identified multipliers in Gelsenkirchen's city life, such as youth associations, churches, and the economic initiative, to help spread the word about SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen.

Offline campaigns were launched in April 2025 to raise awareness about the new medium. As a result, over 550 people have subscribed to SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen's newsletters, demonstrating a strong interest in the platform. The team is now working on making the newsletter a "fully developed product."

In a bid to engage the community further, SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen plans to organize an event at the café every week. One such event will be covering the municipal election in Gelsenkirchen on September 14, 2025. Unlike traditional political reporting, SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen will focus on voters rather than politics, using the project "Your Voice, Your Topics" for election reporting.

To facilitate contact with various groups in the city, a communications consultant who is well-networked in the city society was hired as a "door opener." This strategic move has helped SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen establish itself as a local medium, attracting mostly new people to its events, according to Tobias Hauswurz.

After one year, the SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen pilot project will be evaluated. With its commitment to engaging the community, providing thought-provoking events, and fostering open discussions, SPOTLIGHT Gelsenkirchen is poised to make a significant impact in the city's cultural and political landscape.