German students explore New York, USA political landscape on ERP program
Fifteen German students on a new German-American exchange program spent a busy nine days in New York and New Jersey learning more about the United States, especially the political, economic and social aspects of the country. The students will spend the next two weeks in smaller groups of one to three visiting American university campuses and their journalism studies departments in Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Mexico and Arizona.
Meeting New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy at his offices in Trenton was a highlight for many of the students — especially when Murphy spent the first 15 minutes of the hour-long meeting introducing himself individually to all 15 students and asking them detailed,
well-informed questions about their home universities in Germany, most of which are in the formerly Communist east. Murphy also explained how he had brought many ideas he picked up in Germany as the U.S. Ambassador in Berlin (2008-12) to his job leading New Jersey — such as the Duales Ausbildungsystem – or “dual training system” for skilled workers in Germany as well as the country’s emphasis on renewable energy and off-shore wind power plants.
The German students — 10 of whom were on their maiden voyage to the United States — had a total of 22 meetings and appointments in their nine days in New York. Another highlight was the chance to meet best-selling author Michael Cohen, who long served as ex-President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, at a breakfast meeting around the corner from his Park Avenue apartment. The students peppered Cohen with well-informed questions and the meeting lasted far longer than scheduled.
On two unforgettable visits to Harlem, the students learned more about racism and racial inequality in the United States from the co-founder of Black Lives Matter Chivone Newsome during a riveting hours’ long lunch meeting. They also learned secrets about the “Supper Club” at the famous Red Rooster restaurant found downstairs — where Madonna’s hair nearly caught on fire recently before the manager Charlies saved the day and former Senator Hillary Clinton had celebrated at a recent private party. Also in Harlem on a Sunday, the students were warmly welcomed guests at a communion service at the world-famous Abyssinian Baptist Church –thanks to an introduction from RIAS alumni Tiffany Zeno of WNBC TV.
Other highlights for the students in New York included a walking tour of the Hasidic Jewish section of Williamsburg, Brooklyn guided by Frieda Vizel, a former member of the sect, talks with German Consul General David Gill about the political environment in the United States and the image of Germany in the USA, as well as with Broadway actor Michael Fatica. They also met the New York/New Jersey director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Scott Richman to learn more about its battle against hate speech and about German culture in the United States from Goethe Institute New York director Jörg Schumacher.
Michael Lysak of Bloomberg News took the students on a two-hour tour of Bloomberg News headquarters and explained how the company started just 40 years ago by Michael Bloomberg, who also later became the mayor of New York City, as a start-up a day after he lost his job at an investment bank. Bloomberg, Lysak explained, still has an ordinary desk in the middle of the broadcasting section of the newsroom because radio remains his favorite news source.
The student journalists also had the chance to pick the brains of ARD New York correspondent Christiane Meier and ARD radio network correspondent Peter Mücke, Fox News producer Tyler Speicher, Vice News correspondent Hendrik Hinzel, New York Times The Daily senior producer Clare Toeniskoetter, WNBC TV anchor Michael Gargiulo, talk radio show host Arthur Aidala, WNBC producers Omar Atia and Tiffany Zeno. They also had the chance to watch a popular talk show by Arthur Aidala live that included a long interview with one of the students from Leipzig. The group also saw a New York Knicks basketball game, the Broadway musical “Come From Away” and took a Circle Line cruise to learn about the history of Lower Manhattan, the East River and Ellis Island.
The program is supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has been funded by the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Economy and Energy (BMWi) Ministry. There is a reciprocal program to Germany for American students studying journalism or a related field that focuses on the role of broadcast journalism and the role it played during the Cold War, especially in Berlin.
