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The RIAS Berlin Commission – founded 1992 in recognition of the merits of RIAS Berlin (Radio in the American Sector) as a “free voice of the free world” from 1946 to 1993

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RIAS BERLIN KOMMISSION is in Bryan-College Station, TX.

22 hours ago

Brussels based DPA journalist, Ivana Drmic won't soon forget the culmination of her three-week RIAS Berlin Commission Exchange Program from NYC to Washington, D.C. ending in Bryan-College Station, Texas in March. Ivana quickly learned the tremendous impact on a town that is filled with 70,000 college students and 300,000 people. The college football stadium holds 100,000 people, which is much larger than the biggest soccer stadium in all of Germany. She was hosted by RIAS alum Adrienne DeMoss, the Assistant News Director at KBTK-TV. She spent her days shadowing reporters covering important topics in Texas that also impacted communities across the state, nation, and globe. The topic of migration was felt deeply from the first day to the final leg of Ivana's RIAS journey."I met dedicated, hospitable journalists covering stories ranging from the high number of incarcerated veterans, some of whom are even on death row, to the overlooked Native American community facing multiple disappearances. I got the chance to follow meteorologists who continuously raise awareness about climate change – which appears to be a regular battle against those believing climate change is a hoax. I saw first-hand what impact a college can have on a town."A one day trip to Eagle Pass, Texas mid-week, revealed an unexpected, eye opening trip to the U.S. Mexico border for Ivana with RIAS Alum Yami Virgin of KABB-TV Fox 29 of San Antonio along with fellow RIAS journalists Madleen König and Sarah Möller."As I came face to face with that infamous border wall, we sat down with migrants who were sharing their terrifying journey to the United States. Their reasons and dreams of a better life on the other side hit me deep and left a lasting impression that I won’t be forgetting. We visited Mission Border Hope, an about 30-people-strong organization helping those crossing the border, supplying food, clothes, showers and a place to rest. One woman, 31-weeks-pregnant, told us she started her journey from Venezuela on February first with her husband. Once they crossed the Rio Grande, the day before, she was separated from him. "Memories that will last a lifetime for Ivana, spending time with incredible people in Texas and also visiting the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. ... Read MoreRead Less

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RIAS BERLIN KOMMISSION

3 days ago

Our alumni chapters in Germany surprised former RIAS Berlin Commission Executive Director Erik Kirschbaum with a get together to celebrate 8 years of leadership. During Kirschbaum’s 8 year tenure he:⭐️ led over 500 journalists, building transatlantic relationships between both countries ⭐️ started an alumni program in 2019 with American journalists in Berlin to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall ⭐️ led alumni programs for American journalists in 2021 in Berlin for the German elections and mostly recently a program in Cologne and Munich in 2023 ⭐️ led alumni programs for German journalists in 2021 in NYC, in 2022 in DC and Pennsylvania and most recently in 2023 in Los Angeles ⭐️ started a student program supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany, funded by the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi) Thank you to Erik Kirschbaum for strengthening our alumni network, keeping the RIAS spirit alive and for teaching us to mingle! ... Read MoreRead Less

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RIAS BERLIN KOMMISSION

1 week ago

This week we travel to the Midwest where RIAS fellow Jana Hennig spent her station week. During her weeklong visit, Jana visited multiple newsrooms including KMOV-TV, KSDK - 5 On Your Side, KTVI FOX 2 and St. Louis Public Radio. Thank you to RIAS alumni Deion Broxton, Suzie Herman and John Pertzborn for hosting Jana. And thank you to Jonathan Ahl, Fred Ehrlich and Brian Moline for introducing her to the world of public media at St. Louis Public Radio. Jana’s busy itinerary included accompanying Deion during his reporting, visiting the Gateway Arch with Suzie and joining John on the morning show at Fox 2. She also attended a STLPR event with NPR Political Correspondent Sarah McCammon, talking about her new book, The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church. The action-packed week even included ice cream! Jana made her on-air debut on Fox 2 with John Pertzborn during the segment on Blue Bell’s new ice cream flavor, Gooey butter cake! Jana’s verdict: Really good, it’s very good, very creamy. Blue Bell if you need someone to professionally taste your ice cream, we have someone in mind! Check out the clip here: fox2now.com/video/blue-bell-ice-creams-newest-flavor-gooey-butter-cake/9529206/ Hennig is the third German RIAS fellow to spend time in newsrooms in St. Louis. Tune in later this week for more station week adventures! ... Read MoreRead Less

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RIAS BERLIN KOMMISSION

2 weeks ago

Howdy, Y'all!As they say, Everything's bigger and better in Texas and German journalist Raphael Jung, a news editor for the ARD Morgenmagazin now understands the phrase first hand. The Spring 2024 RIAS fellow spent his station week in Tyler at KLTV with its streaming program East Texas Now. During his week-long visit in March, Jung experienced the innovative ways technology is embedded into the enhanced digital news gathering process at KLTV, learning from meetings with a dozen different journalists in the newsroom. The action-packed week was organized by RIAS Alum and KLTV anchor/reporter Lane Luckie. Raphael's schedule included political discussions with Mayor Don Warren, attending a County Commissioners Court meeting, touring a Christian Spanish-Language radio station and a stop at the American Freedom Museum in Bullard."I'm curious how the experiences I made during the program will impact my further reporting and my career as a journalist and I look forward to applying that knowledge acquired. At the moment, the only thing I know is that I really want to visit the U.S. again soon. This time, I'm very sure, it won't take another 15 years” he said. Jung was KLTV's ninth German RIAS fellow to spend time in their newsroom since 2017. Jung and nine other German RIAS fellows spent two weeks in Washington, D.C. and New York City before parting ways to experience television stations and news organizations in Texas, Florida, Missouri, Illinois and South Dakota. ... Read MoreRead Less

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RIAS BERLIN KOMMISSION

2 weeks ago

Kicking off showcasing our station weeks with RIAS fellow Janna Linke and her visit to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. RIAS alumni Kevin King and Sam Wright introduced Janna to their news operation at Dakota News Now. Janna also visited Mount Rushmore, spoke to students at Augustana University and visited Startup Sioux Falls. “We may not be Silicon Valley, but we are Silicon Prairie!“ That’s what the President of Startup Sioux Falls said to me and something that really stayed in my mind. I encountered this pride and confidence in many places there. Sioux Falls is the biggest city in South Dakota with only 200.000 inhabitants and it’s the place for my station week. I really enjoyed my time here in the so called “Flyover State“, because it’s much more than people inthe rest of the US or even the world think it is. —said Janna Linke, RTL/NTV Cologne After the March program, German journalists spend one week visiting newsrooms across the country. This year our fellows traveled to Texas, Florida, Missouri, Illinois and South Dakota. We will be sharing their experiences in the coming weeks! ... Read MoreRead Less

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