This is how FVW Medien works during the Corona crisis

Marliese Kalthoff (CEO and Publisher): "The crisis has brought us even closer together. Interacting with the colleagues in the home office works great. Zoom and GotoMeeting are now part of everyday work. We also use these tools to 'meet' inside the house. Our first digital employee meeting was also very exciting. Even colleagues who were sitting in the garden on their day off had joined in. However, I still miss the spontaneous and creative brainstorming in the day-to-day business. A personal exchange will remain indispensable in the future." (privat)

Klaus Hildebrandt (Editor-in-Chief fvw): "Even in Corona times, a core team works in the editorial office – social distancing in our publishing house, a former factory, is no problem at all. Many colleagues are in the home office, but I prefer to work at the desk (with two screens). Some things can be better done in the editorial office than by Slack, Phone or Zoom conference. I also need a little "chat" with my colleagues from time to time. So, I'm looking forward to the time when our house is filled and full of life again. Sometimes the emptiness is a little scary and strange, especially towards the evening." (privat)

Marco Weiß (Head of Digital): "Work has been the same, but also very different. Two examples: Oliver Graue is still the colleague with the best jokes, and at the same time the whole editorial team uses now Slack as the main communication tool. Despite of the distance, you experience many colleagues in a much more personal way and setting. As a childless person, I am in a privileged situation and I am aware of it. Colleagues with children have to master real challenges." (privat)

Oliver Graue (Editor-in-Chief BizTravel): "Working from the home office is fine and almost without problems. But I not only miss the personal contact with my colleagues, but also the otherwise annoying commute between home and office. At home, I always work in the kitchen. This way, you are never far away from the necessary comfort food. Nothing has changed in my dress code, it is exactly the same as in the office: fashionable at the top, pleasantly casual underneath." (privat)

Martin Jürs (editor): "I still take the subway to work every day – with the mandatory mask. There is currently a lot of space both in public transport and in the media house – because a lot of employees and also the majority of my colleagues prefer to work in the home office. However, I am more concentrated in the office. At home a coffee break on the terrace or a chat with my wife is just too appealing. At the publishing house, quiet work is no longer a problem, given that there are only a handful of colleagues. But too quiet is not good, too. After all, the exchange with colleagues is and remains very important." (Privat)

Sabine Pracht (Editor-in-Chief fvw): "I am one of the few in the editorial team who come to the office as usual. Most of the colleagues work in the home office. We see them every morning during our Zoom conference. As much as I have gotten used to seeing the colleagues in their kitchens, living rooms or on the balcony, I am already looking forward to hopefully having them back in the office soon. There is no substitute for personal contact. This also applies to the many people in the industry with whom we only can talk via phone or video. The nice thing is: despite the crisis, there is still a lot of laughter – within our company, but also with business partners. " (Privat)

Frank-Martin Uhlemann (IT system administrator): "I find it impressive how poised and competent everyone is still working together. The crisis has formed a strong bond between each other. I work at my desk in the living room. Nothing has really changed regarding the use of digital tools and communication channels, except that we use Zoom more. My outfit? Shorts, but shaved! " (Privat)

Julia Krause (editor): "I am in the home office with a four-year-old and a two-year-old. It works, more or less. The secret to success is to turn a blind eye sometimes and to share the duties. My partner and me have established an internal shift system: everyone works a few hours at a time (behind mostly closed doors), the other takes care of the children during this time, and then we switch again. Whether home office will prevail? I think that our meetings via Slack and Zoom are now even more efficient than before, because no one wants to chat or be in a video conference longer than necessary. However, a virtual meeting does not replace the real one." (privat)

Klaus Müller (UI/UX designer): "What is most impressive for me about the current situation? That most people are nicer than usual! Communication has become better and faster thanks to Slack. Only the essentials are being discussed – no more nonsense ;-). I prefer to work in my home office in a tracksuit. And I start my working day earlier now and take shorter breaks to get outside into the sun earlier. " (Privat)

Angela Bergemann (Head of Design, TravelTalk): "Teamwork is going very well despite the distance. I had imagined that it would be more difficult! I think the team spirit has always been there, the crisis only makes it more visible. In my home office, I usually start at 9 am, take a longer lunch break that belongs to my family and then I continue. Where I sit there is a sign saying: 'Please do not disturb'. It works very well." (privat)

Charlotte Wolf (Product Manager Counter-Products): "Normally, I work at the dining table, which I converted into a nice office. But thanks to the nice weather, I also work on the terrace as often as possible and enjoy the sun. When everyone is allowed to come back to the publishing house, everyone will think I have been in quarantine by the sea ...;) I wear top shirts or a blouse and sweatpants – that's how I always look well dressed in Zoom meetings, but still feel comfortable." (privat)

Michael Krane (Head of Reports): "These are unusual times with completely new challenges for the industry. The players have to make unusual decisions that provoke diverse reactions and debates – this is an ideal environment for journalists. Our work is valued, I hear this every day. I have an office at home overlooking the garden. I usually try to start between 8 and 8.30 am. If possible, I keep to my office schedule, which means: I just take a big lunch break. Regarding my outfit I think it's the same as in the office: Smart leisure and the hair freshly blow-dried, even if it’s not well styled right now." (Privat)

Rabea Spiralke (Editor-in-Chief TravelTalk): "I think one consequence of our involuntary home office is that we value the daily dealings with our colleagues even more. Whether it's a professional exchange or a coffee in between... I miss that. At home, I converted my dining table in the living room into a desk and made my own standing desk out of a half-height cupboard – you have to get creative!" (Privat)

Dennis Conrads (Director Market Solutions): "It is astonishing that despite the distance there is a perceived closer exchange with the colleagues. Everyone pulls more together! Zoom, GoToMeeting - no matter what tools we are using, they have been working very well so far. My wife and I work in the office. If there are overlaps in appointments, I have to move into the living room…. ;-) " (Privat)

Magdalena Laßmann (editor): "Because we focus more, our publishing house has gotten much better in the crisis. I have never used Zoom and Slack before, but I am very fond of it. I work at a small desk in the bedroom, so I am almost undisturbed by the children. In the morning, I work three hours and my husband takes care of our four children. Then I take a lunch break – he cooks, I take care of the children, and when the twins take an afternoon nap, I sit down at the computer again for an hour. " (privat)

Editorial conference in times of social distancing: The editorial team of fvw on site always meets at 10 a.m. with their colleagues in the home office. (Privat)