Newsroom/Programs & exchange·July 7, 2021·2 min read

RIAS alumni program planned for Berlin in September

Tom Brokaw talks to the November 2019 American alumni group in Berlin about his great 1989 scoop — covering the fall of the Berlin Wall for NBC as it happened

The RIAS Berlin Commission is planning a one-week alumni program for up to 30 Americans from September 20 to 27 and invites all former RIAS participants to take part.

The program is timed to coincide with the German federal election on September 26 and there will be a number of meetings with politicians, think tanks and attending German campaign rallies.

Former RIAS Executive Director Rainer Hasters shares a laugh with RIAS alumni Lee Anderson of KTVZ in Bend, Oregon in Berlin at the November 2019 alumni meeting.

Following the great success of the November 2019 alumni program in Berlin timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary and celebrations relating to the fall of the Berlin Wall during which many of the American alumni were able to report on events to their home stations, RIAS alumni participants are welcome and encouraged to report on the German election for their outlets in the United States to come to Berlin to network with colleagues and associates.

There will about two appointments per day, allowing ample time for networking with U.S. and German journalists who have taken part in programs over the last three decades. German alumni are also welcome to take part in the one-week long program designed to keep the spirit of RIAS alive nearly 30 years after the Cold War’s “Free Voice of the Free World” went off the air.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy talks to a group of RIAS journalists from Germany at his offices in Trenton, New Jersey in October 2019. Murphy was the honorary chairman of RIAS Berlin Commission while serving as U.S. ambassador to Germany.

If you are interested in taking part, please write to the leader of the New York alumni chapter Michael Gargiulo (michaelg4ny@gmail.com) or to info@darkseagreen-dog-940501.hostingersite.com or kirschbaum@darkseagreen-dog-940501.hostingersite.com for further information

Michael Gargiulo will be coordinating the program from the United States.

As in the past, RIAS will be covering hotel and breakfast costs, a week’s pass on the Berlin subway/bus network and many group dinners during the week while participants will have to cover their own airfare.

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