Redaktionsschluss

Redaktionsschluss is a German term that denotes the moment when a newsroom stops accepting new content for a given edition or program and proceeds to layout, editing, and printing. It marks the boundary between content acquisition and production and is used across newspapers, magazines, newsletters, radio and television, as well as many online publications that follow a fixed publishing cycle.

The exact time of the redaktionsschluss varies by outlet, edition, and platform. In daily newspapers there are often a morning closing time for the next day’s paper, with additional deadlines for online updates. Material submitted after the deadline may be moved to the next issue or posted online as a late update rather than included in the printed edition. Production crews work from a timetable that coordinates reporting, verification, headline writing, page layout, and transmission to printing or CMS.

In broadcasting, the term refers to the final approval and scheduling of scripts and inserts before transmission. For both print and broadcast, the redaktionsschluss is shaped by practical constraints such as printing capacity, lead times, distribution schedules, and legal or ethical standards to ensure accuracy and avoid libel or errors.

Some outlets maintain more flexible policies, particularly online platforms, offering continuous updates or post-deadline additions. Understanding a newsroom’s redaktionsschluss requires consulting internal guidelines or the edition’s masthead, since times and rules differ among organizations and may change with special editions or breaking news situations.