Between 1953 and 1962 the Katholische Filmwerk in Rottenburg near Stuttgart produced over 100 episodes of "Zeitschau", changing its name to "Spiegel der Zeit" from episode 26 onwards. The monthly newsreel was the Catholic equivalent of the secular newsreels „Blick in die Welt" and „Der Augenzeuge".

In the beginning, the format was influenced by the Catholic media work of the post-war period and had set itself the goal of influencing the society of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) via an audiovisual medium. Like the secular newsreels, the Catholic newsreel was shown as a supporting programme for cinema films, but unlike these, it was mainly shown in community halls or Catholic travelling cinemas. "Zeitschau"/"Spiegel der Zeit" was consequently aimed at a predominantly Catholic audience, initially only in the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, but from the mid-1950s onwards also in the archbishoprics of Munich and Paderborn as well as the diocese of Augsburg.

In 10 to 15-minute editions, "Zeitschau"/"Spiegel der Zeit" provided information about events within the church as well as national and international current affairs in the areas of politics, society, culture and sport. The focus of the reporting was on topics such as pilgrimages and processions (e.g. the atonement pilgrimage with Konrad Adenauer and Kurt Georg Kiesinger in 1960), church celebrations and events (e.g. the Eucharistic World Congress in Munich in 1960), church social work in the FRG or missionary work in developing countries and the establishment of Catholic settlements abroad. Using the footage from newsreels, "Zeitschau"/"Spiegel der Zeit" often linked global political and church topics, such as the Pope's peace messages with reports on current political conflicts.

In addition to the newsreels „Der Augenzeuge" and „Blick in die Welt" the Catholic monthly newsreel offers an additional view from a church perspective on the events of the 1950s and early 1960s.