During the day, he studies at our university; in his free time, he delves deep into the past: On Instagram and TikTok, Morten Weber takes his followers on a visual journey through Hof and the Upper Franconia region. As an amateur historian, he combines historical research with short, creative storytelling—and strikes a chord. His videos are easy to watch and have been very well received. But what’s behind his interest in regional history? And how does he balance his studies with his passion? We asked him…
With microphone and camera; Photo: private;
Hello Morten, you’re studying here at Hof University of Applied Sciences—what exactly are you studying, and how did you end up in Hof?
“I’ll have to back up a bit. I’m originally from the Hanover region and applied for various programs in the media field. Ultimately, though, I chose business psychology. Hof University of Applied Sciences was appealing to me because, for one thing, it was recognized as the best university, and Hof is far from my former home. That gave me the chance to organize my life on my own. By the way, I’m currently in my fourth semester.”
Many people are drawn to larger cities for their studies. What attracted you to Hof and the region?
“I have to admit that at first I didn’t think much about Hof or Upper Franconia at all. Moving here was more of a practical decision because the right program was offered here. However, I’m now discovering more and more what makes this region special and what challenges it faces.”
How did your interest in history develop—and when did it become more than just a hobby?
“There wasn’t a classic ‘aha’ moment. But what fascinates me so much about regional history is that you can experience it directly in everyday life. When I walk past a building and know which historical figure once lived there, that’s already a small enrichment for me. Above all, though, history also offers the chance to see what’s better or worse today—for example, paved areas that have been transformed into green, livable parks.
For the most part, exploring regional history is still just a hobby for me, but the videos are now also opening up opportunities to earn money from it.”
Why did you decide to produce content specifically about Hof and Upper Franconia, and how do you stay informed as a “newcomer”?
“I had been making videos about cities and sharing them on social media for quite some time. The focus was mainly on what makes cities livable and what shapes them. Hof served as my primary filming location. Then there was one video that ended up getting quite a bit of attention and was shared over a thousand times. It was about, among other things, the origin of Hof’s name. That showed me that the people of Hof want to learn more about their city.
Lately, I’ve also been focusing more and more on other cities in Upper Franconia—such as Münchberg. This region still has so much to tell!
But these videos are only possible because I receive active support with my research. On the one hand, I rely on books and historical plaques written by historians about Hof. On the other hand, there are people from city administrations and archives who know their region very well. I’m very grateful that I can turn to such people for help.
I’m sure I’ve forgotten one or two sources.”
How do you go about researching your posts? What sources do you mainly use?
“First, I need a place to write about. I either find it myself by walking through the city with a certain curiosity, or my community or a book brings it to my attention. Once I’ve found a topic, I try to learn more about it online or through literature. It’s important to me that the sources are as reliable as possible. These can be articles on official city portals or historical plaques that are either scattered throughout the city or available in digital form online. In the past, I’ve often used information from the Hof historical plaques. They’re organized by the so-called “Langnamenverein” and can be found in a wide variety of locations throughout Hof.”
Your videos seem very well thought out: How much time goes into a typical project?
“The research and writing my script are, I think, the most time-consuming parts. I’d estimate that I need about two hours for that. Depending on how much reliable information is available on a topic, it can also go a bit faster. The recording then takes another good hour. On top of that is the trip to the location. It’s particularly important to me that I travel as eco-friendly as possible by bike or train.
Oh, and editing the video. Maybe it’s about four to five hours in total.”
Was there a story or topic that particularly surprised or moved you during your research?
“I still find Hof’s role during the opening of the border around 1989 particularly interesting. Back then, more than a hundred thousand people came to the city within three days. Just imagine that! I was also surprised by the fun fact that Thomas Gottschalk hosted his very first episode of “Wetten, dass..?” at the Freiheitshalle. And then there are places that give hope because they’ve developed in a positive way. In Bayreuth, for example, an area previously used for agriculture is currently being brought back to life with trees, as well as lizard habitats.”
How do people from the region react to your content? Do you get a lot of feedback?
“The funniest thing is that more and more people are recognizing me on the street these days. Hardly a day goes by without someone mentioning the videos to me. The feedback has been very positive, and I’m grateful for all the kind words. Recently, I was filming a video in Münchberg, and a kid in the background shouted something like, ‘I know him!’ That was pretty amusing.”
How does your degree program help you with your work—or is it more of a balance to it?
“To be honest, my studies are more of a balance right now. I don’t necessarily need them for filming the videos. However, in business psychology, we learn, among other things, what distinguishes sound research. That helps especially when it comes to scientific studies on urban psychology and climate protection—topics I’d like to explore more deeply.”
What are your next plans: Will it stay a hobby, or can you imagine turning it into something more?
“I can definitely see myself earning a little extra money on the side through the videos—for example, through collaborations with Upper Franconian cities or regional companies. My hope, though, is that I’ll be able to produce content for major media outlets like BR and then work as a staff or freelance journalist.
That would be truly wonderful!”
Thank you very much, and best of luck with that!
