Journalists from Germany get glimpse of USA on RIAS fellowship
From Washington DC to New York as a group and then on individual journeys to 10 smaller TV and radio markets across the Midwest, South, and far West — a group of 11 mid-career journalists from Germany spent three weeks learning more about politics, media, business, culture and life in the United States in October. The journalists from public and commercial TV and radio stations across Germany and from six different ethnic backgrounds had the chance to take a deep dive into the United States with up to five meetings per day with journalists, politicians, think tank policy experts, Jewish community leaders, Broadway musical stars, a 9/11 survivor and first rescuer and even Donald Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen.
They had an eye-opening experience learning more about the polarized state of politics in the United States, meeting with voices from both conservative and progressive sides of the spectrum in Washington and New York. They also had the chance to get a birds-eye perspective during their third and final week at “station weeks” across the United States — Milwaukee, Detroit, Chicago, San Antonio, Atlanta, Boston, Sioux Falls South Dakota, Salt Lake City, Tyler Texas, Bend Oregon.
There at their stations the Germans met local politicians, local journalists, local farmers and local people to learn more about the issues and problems facing Americans far away from the East Coast. They had the chance to learn more about how American journalists do their jobs by watching over their shoulders during their shifts or going out on assignments with their American hosts. Some had the chance to go on air on their local radio and TV stations to talk about issues in Germany for the American audiences. Some also got a chance to drive to the US-Mexico border and south of the border with their US hosts to learn more about the migration issue that is becoming more and more of a political hot potato in the United States.
The RIAS Berlin Commission runs two such programs to the United States each year with about 10 German journalists and two similar programs to Germany and Brussels each year with about 10 American journalists. Beyond that, there is one program each March for 15 German students to the USA and one program each June for 15 American students to Germany. Also, RIAS operates two alumni programs each year for up to 30 RIAS alumni in each other’s respective countries. Please write to info@darkseagreen-dog-940501.hostingersite.com for more information.
