Reading is an elementary competence that we acquire at an early school age. It is also a complex process that does not only mean the ability to understand the content in the context of a text, but also that we can insert that particular content into the further understanding of the world. Thus, reading is the competence of learning, recognition, and accessing knowledge, which we continuously use and develop. We do not only learn in an institutionalized system, but digital technology enables us to use unique ways of acquiring information. Together with other basic competencies, reading is an indispensable part of our cultural, social, and professional communication as well as our free-time activities. However, do we understand everything? The question is whether we can orient ourselves amongst the news, events, and educational topics in various media types. Understanding presupposes that the content read is sensible, credible, and valuable for us and being in a manner of communication that is clear. Beyond the introduction of competencies connected to reading, the article focuses on journalistic texts, where we examine reading competencies through the presentation of news factors in several German texts.