American journalists offer personal insight into their “RIAS experience” It was an honor and a privledge for the RIAS Berlin Kommission to recently welcome ten amazing American jou

I am amazed at how much I learned on the RIAS Berlin journalism exchange to Brussels and German cities of Cologne and Berlin. We were given incredible access to wonderful people inside NATO and the European Commission where we learned about the way this part of the globe interacts with member partners and those countries nearby. The geo-politics were fascinating. Although exhausted from a whirlwind of activity (this schedule is action packed!), I found all the discussions compelling and valuable. It was wonderful to learn from and about journalists in Germany and I made contacts I hope to keep. Most interesting were the visits with a Syrian refugee who escaped the war in Aleppo, the Ukrainian journalist who fled the war in her homeland waged by Russia and the Turkish politician who still fights for the rights of minority populations in Berlin. I have a better understanding and appreciation for the people, culture and history of Germany. Most of all, I am grateful for the people with whom I travelled. Erik was an incredible leader, an excellent teacher and expanded my understanding. Lastly, the connections I made with the nine journalists in our group I would not trade. We will be friends for life. I highly recommend this program.

Eye-opening, life changing, unforgettable. Insert all of your travel clichés and they all ring true of RIAS Berlin. Russia’s war in Ukraine dominated our discussions throughout two whirlwind weeks in Brussels and Berlin.
Each day was packed with a who’s-who of politicians, journalists, deal makers and diplomats. Our level of access was second to none. We had candid discussions with top officials from NATO and the EU. Their message was optimistic: Europe was more united than ever, thanks to Putin’s war. We heard heart-breaking stories directly from the people impacted most: a group of Ukrainian mothers and their children, who recently arrived to Germany. They wanted their stories to be heard and told, afraid their plight might blur into background noise.
We saw the success story of a Syrian refugee, a narrative that is largely left untold. Seven years ago, he risked his life swimming across the Mediterranean to escape war. Today, he is an IT manager who has built a new life for his family in Berlin. Through it all, I was constantly impressed by how committed Germany is to publicly funding news outlets. A business model that prioritized people – not profit – and substance – not flash. We learned in real terms why a well-informed public is a key ingredient to a healthy Democracy. Maybe that’s something the U.S. can learn from Germany.

Journalists often say that we got into this business because we like to talk to people and learn about new cultures. The RIAS Berlin program and the people I have met on this whirlwind journey encompass all the reasons why I chose journalism as a career.
The Squad: I do not think I could have asked for a better group of people to run all over Belgium and Germany with at times like the Amazing Race. We all brought a different strength and perspective to the group dynamic – Omar the navigator, Katherine the archaeologist – to name a couple. All of you left an imprint on my soul. Friends. For. Life. Without the RIAS program I never would have met so many amazing new German friends and colleagues, all of whom showed me the true meaning of warm hospitality, humanity, empathy, and international cooperation.
Last but certainly not least is the unprecedented access to institutions and officials most journalists would never have access to. Each new day brought a new extraordinary opportunity that was more meaningful than the day before. Visiting NATO (no photos!) and the EU were surreal for me. I’m still processing.
My favourite part of the trip was Cologne and talking to journalists Jörg Schönenborn, Charlotte Maihoff, and Karolina Ashion – some very big deals in Germany. They graciously set aside time in their busy days to talk with us about how Germans view the current political climate in the United States (Shönenborn), their harrowing reporting experiences as a Black woman in Russia (Maihoff), and how they maintain composure and self-care while also reporting on the atrocities in their home country of Ukraine, which they fled at the beginning of the war (Ashion). This day was really a gift to me.
The RIAS experience is invaluable. I came back to Washington D.C. a proud ambassador of the program and I will be thrilled to share my experience with other journalists and encourage them to apply.
I want to send a very special thank you to Erik Kirschbaum for leading us on this amazing trip and connecting us with so many important Europeans. And also for forcing us to mingle with RIAS alumni in Germany. Seriously, the best forced interaction I have ever experienced. Also thank you to Melissa and Christina for herding ALL the cats on this trip and every other. You two are magicians!

After two years of false starts and several waves of COVID, the RIAS 2022 June Fellowship was worth the wait. We found ourselves thrown into the middle of a historic time as European allies grappled with the war in Ukraine. The situation had turned politics on its head. The halls of NATO and EU buzzed with activity and old alliances began to wake to face the Russian threat in the East. A large number of German politicians-Greens in particular-called for a military build up, the likes of which Germany hasn’t seen in its post-World War II existence. While German leadership waffled on how to handle the defense of Europe. There we were, in the middle of it all. I don’t know if past RIAS groups got to experience the level of access and activity we did. While it felt unprecedented, it also matched an unprecedented time. The ‘background briefings’ at NATO and the EU gave insight into which direction the old alliances are moving in order to deal with Russian aggression. RIAS peppered in talks with journalists who cover these institutions to give color to the information we were given.
In Germany we saw how our European counterparts have approached this new paradigm of ‘Europe At War.’ In all RIAS Fellowships there is the interesting novelty in how German journalists do their jobs, but this was something different. We were watching them do their work as the ground shifted beneath them. Journalists from the public and private newsrooms talked about the rising challenges of covering Germany, as politicians try to find some even-ground for the war in Europe. At the same time, it was obvious the country and its journalists are still working towards a true ‘German identity.’
Around 30 years after unification, the country is still forging the new Germany. Questions of ethnicity, race, and representation continue to hum in the background. We sat down with activists and politicians who were born and raised in Germany, but still felt that a section of Germany does not accept them because of how they look. Their stories of overcoming adversity and optics were inspiring, but also disheartening. Germany, in a similar fashion to the United States, has a long way to go to forge an identity that includes all of its citizens. When I look back at RIAS June 2022, I can’t help but think we caught lightning in a bottle. We attended during a pivotal time in European and German history. We sat down with some of the most intelligent and cerebral journalists covering the new Europe. We spoke to refugees who have made their home in Germany. We did it as a highly functioning team. The group selected by the RIAS board worked like a newsroom. We leaned on each other for help and pushed each other for success. We hit our deadlines for every event-usually we showed up 5-10 minutes early.
However, unlike most newsrooms, we all got along. Each one of us fit something the group needed to succeed. The last day felt-to all of us- like the last day of camp. We came in as strangers, but we left a mark on each other. We marched across Brussels, Cologne, and Berlin in a small herd. All the while led by Erik Kirschbaum as he peppered in stories and context to the sites and stories we saw. I am terrible at networking, but I look forward to staying in touch with my RIAS 2022 Fellows because we worked on something monumental together.

What an amazing two weeks! I don’t know if there is a better way for American journalists to learn more about the historic relationship between Germany and the United States. As a journalist, the program opened my eyes to German and European politics. The access we received during our program was amazing. From visits with high level officials at the European Union, NATO and the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, tours of some of the biggest media organizations in Germany, to meeting local journalists, this was trip unlike any other. I’m looking forward to going back to my newsroom and sharing what I’ve learned. Anyone who is able should apply for this amazing fellowship. It will not disappoint.

Back in 2018, RIAS was my introduction to Europe and Germany. Four years later, the program exceeded my expectations. I spent two weeks with 9 of the most dynamic, intelligent and versatile journalists in the industry, that I now call friends. As an immigration journalist and researcher, my favorite part of the program was the incorporation of refugees and migration issues, including the tour of Syrian and Turkish neighborhoods, and talks by politicians of migrant backgrounds. From visiting the EU, to speaking with various politicians to knocking it out of the ballpark at karaoke, these 9 are truly the best the industry has to offer and I’m grateful for them and the work they do to uphold journalistic values.

My first trip to Europe was more amazing than I imagined. I learned first hand information from officials at NATO Headquarters and the European Union in Brussels. That knowledge will help shape my future stories. From visiting the German Parliament to tv studios in Cologne and Berlin, I saw how journalists covered the news and used their resources. I recommend the RIAS Berlin Commission to anyone looking to expand their worldview. There is more in this world, than your hometown.

I am thankful I was able to participate in the RIAS Berlin Commission transatlantic exchange program in June 2022. Our group’s visit to the European Union headquarters and NATO was my favorite experience during the program. I also enjoyed spending time meeting so many incredible and accomplished people along this journey, including my fellow American journalists, who became my friends. I would recommend RIAS to any journalist seeking a rigorous (and fun) professional development experience.

It would be difficult to imagine a better journalistic introduction to German and European politics and foreign policy than the RIAS Berlin program. As a group, we enjoyed unique access to high-level diplomats and politicians. Highlights included briefings at the headquarters of NATO and the European Union in Brussels that came at a pivotal time in history. Having the opportunity to discuss these momentous events with fellow journalists was equally valuable. RIAS was an incredible and unforgettable experience!

Since studying in Germany in college, I have been looking forward to returning in a professional capacity. RIAS gave me the chance to learn and grow as a journalist not only through meetings with government and agency officials, but also with journalists in Belgium and Germany, as well as within our mighty crew of US-based journalists. I am glad to join the ranks of RIAS alums in the US and Germany.

And a few words from our Executive Director about this particular program:

Despite the newfound challenges of trying to schedule meetings with NATO, EU and German newsmakers and policymakers short after a war in Europe broke out and the Covid-19 pandemic continues to mess up the best of plans, the first RIAS Berlin Commission exchange program for professional American broadcast journalists to Europe since 2019 turned out to be a tremendous success. All of a sudden, just shortly before the program began, the skies opened up and guest speakers began lining up to talk to our talented collection of senior American broadcast journalists from across the United States – Utah, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Georgia, New York, Washington DC and Los Angeles. It was one of the most ambitious RIAS programs in Germany in many years with nearly 40 appointments in 12 days but also one of the most enlightening ever.

-Erik Kirschbaum, Executive Director RIAS Berlin Commission, Berlin