1996

U.S. Meeting of RIAS Fellows 1996
Los Angeles, October 10/11

Over 50 U.S. alumni and representatives from American partner universities, as well as 24 German journalists from the 1996 fall programs and additional guests attended the workshops of the first meeting of Fellows of the RIAS BERLIN COMMISSION for former U.S. program participants.

The first workshop, on October 10, updated the U.S. journalists with the latest economic and political developments in Germany, with emphasis on the planned cuts in social spending. Guest speaker was Gert Adomeit, representative of German Industry and Trade, Washington. The panel consisted of Susanne Gelhard (ZDF), Jürgen Osterhage (MDR) and Jost Bösenberg (ORB).

The second workshop, on October 11, provided the opportunity to compare many aspects of German and American TV. The panelists Pam Benson (CNN), William Skane (CBS), Wolfgang Aigner (BR), and Andreas Pawlouschek (ARD) discussed the differences and similarities of both country’s TV systems before an audience of about 100 journalists. Both workshops were chaired by Robert L. Earle, chairman of the RIAS BERLIN COMMISSION.

A well attended reception hosted by RIAS, Missouri University and RTNDA introduced the exchange programs to a wider public and provided the German-American icing on the “Alumni Reunion Cake”. Special thanks to Missouri University for preparing and cohosting this reception at the L.A. Bonaventure Hotel.