Fellow Directories

Germany blames Trump in pursuit of Nord Stream 2 pipeline

12 hours ago

Politico's chief European correspondent Matt Karnitschnig writes interesting story on US-German tensions over Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline connecting Russia to Germany: "Berlin has become so obsessed with its distaste for Trump that it has lost sight of how it is perceived among key officials in the U.S. — the country that, for better or worse, remains by far its most important partner in both strategic terms and on trade. Most senior German officials seem to think that if they can wait out the storm until November, things will return to normal, provided that the polls are accurate and Trump loses his reelection bid. That’s almost certainly naïve."

www.politico.eu/article/germany-plays-trump-card-in-pursuit-of-russian-nord-stream-2-pipeline-dre... ... Read MoreRead Less

www.politico.eu

Blaming US president helps Berlin dodge deeper questions over Nord Stream 2 project.

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4 days ago

McGinley of WKMG-TV in Orlando running for RTNDA Chair-Elect

Allison McGinley, News Director at WKMG-TV in Orlando, Florida, is running for the position of Chair-Elect of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA board), which calls itself the world’s largest professional organization for broadcast and digital journalism. It is also RIAS’s partner (www.rtdna.org) in the United States and has been an important avenue for American fellows to take part in RIAS programs to Europe over the years.

The other candidate is David Wagner, tNews Director at KLST/KSAN in San Angelo, Texas, The RTDNA elections start on August 11 with 30-days of on-line voting that runs to September 12.

The RIAS Berlin Commission caught up with McGinley to ask her about her candidacy and the role that RIAS plays in RTNDA:

Question: Why do you want to become the RTDNA chair-elect?

McGinley: As News Director since 2015, I have led my newsroom using three bedrock tenets: empower our journalists in all positions, protect their First Amendment rights, and foster a culture designed to mentor and grow each team member. 2020 has been an incredibly trying and tragic year, but I believe these challenges are, in fact opportunities to advance our industry. I believe it is within the power of RTDNA, a renowned organization with a storied history, to support and encourage newsrooms to nurture more diversified teams and to help news leaders understand how to take measure of each individual in their organizations to ensure their viewpoints and experiences is heard. I want to be among the leaders in our industry leading the effort to protect those who fight daily to provide the facts to their community despite the vitriol and retribution they may face. And most importantly, I want to ensure that RTDNA continues to be the leader in mentoring our future generations of journalists. We have nothing left to defend if we do not teach, if we do not lead, if we do not safeguard our future.

Question: What does the RTDNA chair do?

McGinley: I could tell you what the bylaws state and which can be found on RTDNA.org, but I prefer to share with your membership and your readers what I believe to be the role of the chair. I firmly believe the chair should be the touchstone to the industry and the one who assists the exemplary RTDNA staff in maintaining the direction and purpose of the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to broadcast and digital journalism. The chair, who is in the trenches of their own newsroom day to day, helps to guide his or her peers on the board to ensure meetings and decisions are laser-focused on shared goals and experiences within the industry, protects those plans and priorities determined by the board, and then most importantly, guarantees those strategies are executed.

Question: What are the challenges facing RTDNA?

McGinley: I believe the challenges facing RTDNA are the same as those facing today’s journalist. There are pervasive funding problems creating a dearth and, in some places, even a desert of local news. For each technological innovation that enhances journalism there is another that threatens our credibility by creating fraudulent content that spreads like wildfire. But I believe the fundamental challenge we must conquer is maintaining our First Amendment rights. In recent months, we have witnessed the arrests of journalists during protests, the removal of journalists from confrontational situations, law enforcement demanding raw and unpublished images and judges concurring. We fight for and defend the First Amendment because it is the cornerstone of our democracy- our communities, our citizens, our neighbors. We cannot protect our communities if we do not fight to retain our rights to ask questions, demand answers and stand up to those who may take advantage of power.

Question: What do you bring to the table? What do you think you could do better or to improve it?

McGinley: I bring to the table my 26 years in this industry, but I also bring my compassion and my humanity. I have led my newsroom in Orlando, Florida through countless national news stories: from the horrific mass murder that took the lives of 49 of our neighbors to multiple dangerous hurricanes, and the current pandemic which has wreaked havoc on our communities and our tourism industry. We have also had many opportunities to celebrate milestones in Central Florida. I led a 3-year initiative that resulted in Florida legislators voting in a texting while driving ban. We partnered with Amazon and Google to create the first-ever livestream direct-to-mobile event at Orlando’s annual 4th of July fireworks in 2019. And just two months ago, I guided WKMG’s successful strategy to provided more than two dozen live vantage points as SpaceX and NASA, for the first time in nearly a decade, launched Americans into space from our own Central Florida backyard. Through all of those stories and many more, I believe my team would tell you my leadership is grounded in several areas from which RTDNA would benefit: solid, effectual planning for both long and short-term goals; innovation not for the sake of the gee-whiz factor but for the benefit and experience of the audience; and most importantly, a perpetual eye on the growth and professional development of every member of our team. I know I can parlay those newsroom leadership skills and characteristics into effective leadership of this revered association.

You have been the Region 13 director on the RTDNA board for 2 years. Where exactly is Region 13? What have you learned from that experience?

McGinley: Region 13 covers Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In my time as Director, I have had numerous conversations with varied groups of individuals from newsroom leaders to those who are just beginning their careers. The leading concern they express is usually focused on ethical and legal issues because as I said before protecting their First Amendment rights is routinely in the forefront of their minds. In fact, a young journalist once told me, ‘if you pay more attention to ethics than job security, positive opinion of the media and protected First Amendment rights will simply follow.’ They regularly remind me of the importance of training and continued education found in weekly webinars, robust newsletters, and more importantly, reasonably priced conferences. Journalists I speak with always make a point to emphasize the growth of and health of RTDNA as a whole. It is their hope that the organization continues to look at how partnering with other industry organizations can help to reach, support, and inspire more journalists. Once elected, I will be guided by those priorities of our members.

Question: How important is the RIAS fellowship for RTDNA?

McGinley: Journalism is a global mission and sharing our knowledge is crucial to ensuring our collective future. This is an intersection of two principles I mentioned earlier: empowerment and mentorship. Empowering inquiring journalists to learn from those who are different allows for growth in empathy and expertise.

Question: Do you think there are ways RTDNA and RIAS can deepen and strengthen their ties? Going forward, for instance, all RIAS fellows will be required to join RTDNA for at least one year. What else could we do?

McGinley: The key to any fruitful partnership is an understanding of shared priorities and goals. While the two agencies may be a world apart geographically, the goals each hold are similarly rooted in strengthening reporting skills and growing the next news leaders. An RTDNA membership is just the entry to exposing RIAS members to any of the training, ethical guidelines, and industry connections they may be interested in pursuing.

Question: Why do you think relatively few RTDNA members know about RIAS? Is there any way to fix that?

McGinley: I believe exposure could be a shared priority for both organizations. Regular messaging, especially at critical times of application, through RTDNA’s expansive network of members could be of assistance. A handshake-style social media campaign can always provide a boost. And spotlighting member trips through video and sound is always a compelling way to drive interest. Of course, college campuses are often the best driver of engagement as today’s youth are driven by experiences and creating memories.

Question: Do you think International exchanges like this are beneficial to US journalists?

McGinley: As journalist we are self-proclaimed life-long learners. What could be better than connecting inquisitive minds around the globe?

Question: You have been working as a journalist in Orlando for 26 years. Has that experience helped prepare you for the chair-elect?

McGinley: I would love for your readers to look at my website www.AllisonMcGinley.com to help them learn more about me, my experiences and my leadership foundation. As I have said many times before, not many are lucky enough to achieve their dreams in their hometown, so I have made it my mission to recognize the importance of sharing stories critical to our community, to be of service to those living here and protect the rights of our journalists to share those stories. As a News Director and as a current RTDNA Director, I know to my core we must empower our communities and their people. We must protect their stories. We must mentor those dedicated to the mission of guarding the truth. ... Read MoreRead Less

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The Unique U.S. Failure to Control the Virus

5 days ago

The Unique U.S. Failure to Control the Virus
www.nytimes.com/2020/08/06/us/united-states-failure-coronavirus.html?referringSource=articleShare ... Read MoreRead Less

www.nytimes.com

Slowing the coronavirus has been especially difficult for the United States because of its tradition of prioritizing individualism and missteps by the Trump administration.

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'It's A Disaster': German Expats Love U.S. But Not Its Handling Of Coronavirus

6 days ago

Germany is among the handful of countries considered to have coped the best with the coronavirus. Despite a recent spike in cases, it has pretty much flattened its curve. And while the country is seeing an economic slump, its unemployment rate has barely budged.

Compare that to the U.S., where millions have lost their jobs, COVID-19 is rampant, and daily life here may not seem that alluring to German expats.

www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/08/04/898546374/it-s-a-disaster-german-expats-... ... Read MoreRead Less

www.npr.org

Germany has flattened its curve, and unemployment has barely budged. Some Germans living in the U.S. are mystified by how politicized the pandemic has become here.

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6 days ago

Ullmann talks with RIAS Berlin alumni from the United States and Germany about the differences in the coronavirus crisis response in both countries. Ullmann is a member of the German parliament for the Free Democrats party and an expert on infectious disease. He also talked about German-American relations, NATO and other issues in Germany in the riveting talk. ... Read MoreRead Less

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6 days ago

RIAS Berlin Commission alumni David Wagner is one of two candidates to become the Chair-Elect of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA board), which calls itself the world’s largest professional organization for broadcast and digital journalism. It is also RIAS’s partnin the United States and has been an important avenue for American fellows to take part in RIAS programs to Europe over the years. Wagner, the News Director at KLST/KSAN in San Angelo, Texas, was a RIAS fellow in 2019 and is now running to lead RTDNA, first as Chair Elect,a sort of Deputy Chair, and the following year as Chair. He is running against Allison McGinley, the News Director at WKMG-TV in Orlando, Florida. The RTDNA elections start on August 11 with 30-days of on-line voting that runs to September 12.

Wagner recently took part in the RIAS program in 2019 and won the 2020 RIAS Media Prize together with Monica Quintero of Fox 24 News in Midland, Texas for a series of stories from the fellowship. Another former RTDNA Chair, Scott Libin of the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism, was a RIAS fellow in 2018. The RIAS Berlin Commission caught up with Wagner to ask him about his candidacy and the impact that RIAS has had on him:

Question: Why do you want to become the RTDNA chair-elect?
Wagner: For the past 4 years I have been blessed and humbled to serve as the Region 6 Director for RTDNA. Last year I was elected to the Executive Committee, and I have seen more “behind the curtain” of our association, and I feel I’m ready to be elected as the associations Chair Elect and the following two year commitment to the board and foundation. I have been passionate about journalism since I took my first job as a “one man band” reporter in 1997. Over the years I’ve always strived to have the trust of viewers by maintaining many of the same guiding principles that are in the RTDNA Code of Ethics, especially truth and accuracy above all.
Question: Do you think your 2019 fellowship with RIAS Berlin Commission may have helped you get ready for that?
Wagner: I think any experience like the 2019 Fellowship where you can grow and learn from a professional and personal experience is valuable. Meeting the other journalists that were a part of the fellowship created some lifelong personal and professional friendships.
Question: What does the RTDNA Chair do?
Wagner: The Chair of the board is the chief executive officer of the Association and presides over all meetings of the Association, including those of the Board of Directors and the executive committee, and performs such other duties as are necessarily incident to the office of Chair or as may be prescribed by the bylaws and the Board of Directors. At the annual business meeting of the Association, and at such other times as the Chair deems proper, the Chair shall speak to the members about matters and make suggestions, in the opinion of the Chair, tend to promote the welfare and increase the usefulness of the Association. The Chair also is responsible for the administration of committee activities, as prescribed in these bylaws and by the Board of Directors. And finally, the Chair is empowered to act in the name of the Association in matters not specifically outlined in the bylaws with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Question: What are the challenges facing RTDNA?
Wagner: Our industry is under attack by numerous agencies, and the people we serve daily. I believe we must withstand this barrage by speaking truth to power. For us to regain the public’s trust, our association needs to be a source of credible information that helps educate, inform and protect the values that represent the communities we live and work in.
Question: What do you bring to the table?
Wagner: I have been an award winning journalist for 23 years, but the awards are not what makes me who I am. It’s the relationships I’ve made and the stories I’ve been honored to tell viewers that I value the most! I think that what I bring to the table is a thought process most true journalist have but maybe have lost in the age of social media. I want to get the association and it’s members back to the truth and accuracy above all thought process….first and right is always the goal, but second and truthful will keep the trust of your viewers, listeners, and readers.
Question: What do you think you could do better or to improve it?
Wagner: I do not want our board to be one that will attend a meeting and vote on ideas that never come to fruition. We need to be an active board and push our association and its members to be active. I know we are all busy but if we prioritize a few minutes each day to the association and its goals…moving forward will not be such a daunting task. So I think I can come alongside my fellow board members and make this happen.
Question: You have been the Region 6 director on the RTDNA Board for 4 years. Where exactly is Region 6?
Wagner: Texas and Oklahoma
Question: What have you learned from that experience?
Wagner: I’ve learned that there are passionate journalists all over my region that want to tell stories and deliver accurate truthful information to their communities.
Question: How important is the RIAS fellowship for RTDNA?
Wagner: As I said before it is very valuable anytime you can grow and learn from a something in a professional and personal way. So with that being said I feel it’s very important to continue the partnership so future journalists get the eye opening opportunities I did this last year.
Question: Do you think there are ways RTDNA and RIAS can deepen and strengthen their ties?
Wagner: It’s sad that to me that right now that the German and American political relationship is so poor, given the long history of good relations between the two countries. If the continued partnership between RTDNA and RIAS could help that in any way…I’m all for it!
Question: Going forward, for instance, all RIAS fellows will be required to join RTDNA for at least one year. What else could we do?
Wagner: I think most recently thanks to COVID the Zoom talks that have begun have given RIAS Alum and others an opportunity to hear and see not only each other but to keep up with some of the things that are relevant to all of us as journalists and human beings.
Question: Why do you think relatively few RTDNA members know about RIAS? Is there any way to fix that?
Wagner: That’s a really good question, I do remember hearing about RIAS early on in my career, but to get time off to do the fellowship was out of the question for my news director. As far as fixing that…I think the old saying about “tooting your own horn” is applicable. The more you can get out and promote the program the better. Even if some alum could help create a promotional video, audio, or digital piece.

Question: You and Monica Quintero did a prize-winning TV series “Beyond Borders” during your RIAS fellowship. How did you guys find the time to do those stories while at the same time taking part in 3 or 4 program presentations each day

Wagner: I think Monica and I were prepared for the trip we had several discussions about ideas and stories we wanted to accomplish. We also didn’t sleep a lot…lol…we had a lot of late nights including the all night shoot we did the very last night we were in Berlin.

Question: What do you think about your RIAS experience in Germany and Brussels?
Wagner: My RIAS experience was fantastic! Being that it was my first time to travel abroad I was a little apprehensive, but pleasantly surprised about every experience of the fellowship.
Question: Did it broaden your horizons or confirm your cliches?
Wagner:
Definitely opened my eyes a lot…Hate to admit this , but I said several times while we were there to people we met I felt bad about how arrogant Americans seem to be about global issues and turn a blind eye to things that we really should be paying attention to on a global front.
Question: Some people say it changed their lives. What would you say?
Wagner: Oh definitely, in fact if you know of any openings in Germany as far as jobs I’m always open to new opportunities and it would force me to really learn German, not just rely on the limited two years I took in high school.
Question: Anything you want to add?
Wagner: No, I’ll just say thanks for the opportunity and if you are an RTDNA member, I would love to have your vote. Thanks RIAS for your time! ... Read MoreRead Less

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'They are obsessed': Why Germany has so much riding on the U.S. election

1 week ago

Interesting story on nbc.com about changing German views of the United States and the upcoming elections

www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1235092 ... Read MoreRead Less

www.nbcnews.com

"This is the most important U.S. election in the history of Germany," one former ambassador said.