Impressions of German students from 3-week ERP exchange program to USA

April 15, 2023

Impressions of German students from 3-week ERP exchange program to USA

Here are some impressions from 15 German journalism on a three-week European Recovery Program (ERP) Transatlantic fellowship with the RIAS Berlin Commission to the United States from March 17, 2023 to April 8, 2023. The 15 students, many from eastern Germany and most on their first trip to the United States, spent nine days together as a group in New York before spreading out in smaller groups of one to three to seven different university towns in the Midwest, Southwest and Mountain states: the universities of Oklahoma, Arizona, Arizona State, Southern Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Montana. The goal of the ERP program is to help connect young German journalism students with their peers in the United States and help aspiring journalists in both countries learn more about journalism training in each others’ countries. The ERP program is supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is funded by the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Economy and Energy (BMWi) Ministry.

Til Schäbitz, Leipzig University, visited University of Oklahoma

I’m sitting at the dinner table at my parents’ house. Right at this time, but last week, I was talking to the Deputy Chief of the Tulsa Police Department about gun violence and police support within the Black community. Two weeks ago, I had to explain to students at Oklahoma University that studying in Germany really is almost entirely tuition free. Exactly three weeks ago, I only had to walk across changed the street in New York from a visit in the UN to lunch with the German Consul General. All dressed up in a white suit; we were, after all, going to see a Broadway musical later. And four weeks ago, I was sitting exactly where I am sitting now – but as someone else. My time in the U.S. – filled with all imaginable encounters and conversations – has sharpened and honed me like hardly anything ever before. I learned to be truly persistent. To not be afraid of naivety and that as a good journalist you can be friends with unsavoury people without getting your hands dirty. Let’s see where I’ll be sitting in the future.

Jacqueline Albrecht, University Magdeburg-Stendal, visited Indiana University

There are no words to describe what I have experienced in the last three weeks. An intensive, eventful program packed with a wide variety of impressions. Starting in the diverse city of New York, where we visited various media outlets, had many interesting conversations and were able to get to know people and their stories. Meeting 9/11 survivor Gordon Huie is something I’ll always remember. Cultural highlights such as seeing my first Broadway show and a tour through the Jewish Quarter were also included. After a very intense and exciting 8 days, I went on to Bloomington, a liberal city in an otherwise very conservative state. Here I was able to get to know American university life, I was allowed to be part of various TV news shoots, for example, on a farm in the middle of nowhere in Indiana, and I had many conversations about topics such as the health system, gun rights, abortion and patriotism, which made me think and reflect a lot. I will never forget how students told me about their constant fear of gun violence, how, for the first time in my life, I had to spend part of the night in the basement because there was a tornado just a few kilometers away and how I visited a town that was completely destroyed by a tornado. My time at RIAS enabled me to not just to gain a lot of journalistic, cultural and personal experience. The program has also allowed me to see a side of the United States that I would never have seen on a normal tourism trip, and I am extremely grateful for that.

Linda Bachmann, Leipzig University, visited University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

One highlight follows the next – this is how my three weeks with RIAS in the USA can be described! Peering into numerous newsrooms in New York and Wisconsin (including Bloomberg, NBC, Vice, Madison Magazine and the Oshkosh Herald) was a very rewarding experience! In Oshkosh (Wisconsin) I was also able to immerse in everyday university life and report on the election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the student newspaper Advance-Titan. I not only learned a lot about journalism in the US, but also about the culture. I was able to see how diverse this large country is: New York, Madison, Oshkosh and Chicago – as different as these cities are, there was a lot to discover everywhere! I will particularly remember the numerous conversations with Americans about politics and the differences and similarities between the USA and Germany. However, social inequality and racism are also part of the USA – I also learned a lot about that in the three weeks. The RIAS program is very intense, but I wouldn’t want to miss a single appointment!

Wiebke Bolle, FreeTech – Axel Springer Academy, Berlin, visited Southern Illinois University (SIU)

After a total of three weeks in New York City, St. Louis and Carbondale, I can say that I
not only learned a lot about journalism and the media system in the United States, but also met inspiring people. Some have become friends. Thanks to RIAS Berlin Commission, I’ve seen places I wouldn’t have had access to. I’m flying back with a suitcase full of great memories, challenging conversations and a lot of food for thought.

Abel Fekade, Leipzig University, visited University of Arizona

The last three weeks have been the most eventful time of my life. Even though I have been to the US before, the RIAS Program gave me the opportunity to explore this country in all its diversity. I got to know a wonderful group of fellow students in New York City, who shared the same curiosity and open-mindedness. My personal highlights in the Big Apple were attending the Sunday service at Abyssinian Baptist Church Harlem und talking to Chivona and Hawk Newsome, the founders of Black Lives Matter New York, in the Bronx. The contrast between New York and my college station, the University of Arizona, could not have been more drastic. Not only did I find myself on the other side of the continent, but also I suddenly had to adjust to the desert-like weather in Tucson. I got the chance to visit Journalism, Communications and Photography classes and learned a lot about the American college life. I will always remember the unique time I got to experience thanks to the RIAS program.

Clara Hoheisel, University Halle-Wittenberg visited Arizona State University
The music begins with a blaring sound, the spotlight sets the scene for a crowd of angels who seem to float about ten metres above the ground on a stage gallery. With their blaring trumpet fanfare, the angel performers introduce the Easter Pageant, the Passion Play of the LDS Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints). The world’s largest annual performance of the Passion of Christ brings tens of thousands of people to Mesa, a city next to Phoenix, in the two weeks before Easter. This unique spectacle and the preceding discussion with two missionaries of the Church is my personal highlight of the 2023 ERP student programme. However, it is actually impossible to limit myself to just one highlight of the three intense weeks. In the first part of the program in New York City, we got the opportunity to visit some of the most renowned newsrooms in the US, including NBC, Bloomberg, ABC News and VICE. It was fascinating to experience first-hand how these media companies work and produce their news. I also found the off-the-record discussions with politicians and journalists enlightening and sometimes surprising, as they provided deep insights into their work and way of thinking. Especially memorable for me were the meetings with Juda Engelmayer, Harvey Weinstein’s crisis manager and 

Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey. During the subsequent station week in Phoenix at the renowned Cronkite Journalism School of Arizona State University, I learned a lot about living and studying in the desert. Particularly instructive for me was a conversation with Congressman Alberto Olivas about the impact of “snowbirds”, Arizona’s winter visitors, on demographics and election results within the state. In conclusion, I can only reiterate how immensely grateful I am for the experience that the RIAS Berlin Commission provided me. During the three weeks, I learned how important it is to approach issues with as little bias as possible and that sometimes the best stories are in the details.

Kim Kristin Loschen, intern at Nordwest newspaper, Oldenburg, visited University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Wisconsin – crossing four states, a total of three weeks on the road, collecting impressive experiences, having exciting conversations – all this was made possible for me by the RIAS program in the US. I will especially remember the view of New York City from the Empire State Building, the trip to Door County and the visit to the Capitol in Madison. I can’t remember the last time I experienced such an intense time. My journalism career can greatly benefit in the coming years from covering the Wisconsin elections, talking with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and political issues with Oshkosh Mayor Lori Palmeri. I am also grateful to have met dedicated RIAS alumni Joel Waldinger, Tyler Speicher, and Barbara Benish. Other highlights for me were visiting NBC, Bloomberg and the ARD New York studio. It was very helpful to see how American colleagues are so passionate about journalism. Participating in this transatlantic dialogue gave me a unique opportunity to better understand the political, journalistic and cultural differences between the U.S. and Germany. The RIAS program is a great opportunity to broaden one’s skills and personal horizons.

Lea Nischelwitzer, University Hagen visited Arizona State University
The three weeks of the Rias program exceeded all my expectations. In New York, we got the chance to talk to many decision-makers in the U.S. in person, to learn more about their professions and what drives them on a daily basis. And we also gained extensive insight into the American media landscape during our visits to the editorial offices of NBC, Vice and the ARD foreign studio. A highlight for me was the visit of the New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. But what I remember even more were the many personal encounters with the extremely open and outgoing Americans who gave us an insight into their lives and their view of the world. During the two weeks in Phoenix, I got to know many journalism students, actively participated in college life and met many professors and experts who told me more about the political situation in Arizona, the water supply and religious life. Thank you so much for this wonderful organization – it has enriched my life in a lasting way and has already raised my interest in transatlantic issues who can’t wait to travel to the States again.

Anna Seikel, Leipzig University visited Indiana University

The time with RIAS in the United States – my first time in this country! – has been filled to the brim with new experiences. The experience in New York City at the beginning of the program still feels impossible to summarise, one of my highlights was definitely the conversation with Chivona Newsome, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter NYC, in a black-owned brunch place in the Bronx. Our time at IU in Bloomington differed vastly from the week before but allowed us to make connections that I am sure will last long beyond our stay of two weeks and let us gain valuable insight into journalism in the US. Since Bloomington is a “blue” college town in the middle of a red state, everyone was really interested in hearing our opinions on dividing topics. The program also sparked much reflection and conversations about the fundamental differences between our seemingly similar countries – especially concerning (the lack of) gun regulation, populism and minority rights. An experience like no other!

Jana Sievers, Bielefeld University, intern at Braunschweiger Zeitung visited University of Nebraska

A visit to the UN in New York, the Midwest Journalism Conference in Minneapolis, Nebraska Public Media and a farm, somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Nebraska – these were my highlights in the three-week RIAS program, in addition to all the exciting conversations. During this time, I was able to observe not only behind the scenes what makes a good reporter, anchor – a good journalist – but what kind of mind-set I can approach journalistic work with. Especially in Lincoln, staying with a family, I learned about a piece of the reality of Midwestern Americans and, closely related to that, the unconditional drive for freedom of speech. RIAS enabled me to meet people with interesting life paths, through which not only a next door can open, but friendships can develop and ideas grow. What I take away from the Lincoln people is that the glass should always be half-full – never half-empty.

Malkam Goytom, Free University, Berlin visited University of Arizona

When I look back on the events, I am amazed at how much I experienced in three weeks. The RIAS program was an enrichment for me in many different aspects. Not only was I fascinated by the unique opportunity to exchange ideas with guest speakers from New York and thus gain information about American journalism. Also, the collection of different cultural impressions (especially: the contrast between New York and Arizona) and the exchange of political and social impressions with the students from Arizona has definitely shaped me. Finally, I can only thank everyone involved in the RIAS program for this unique opportunity. I hope that this program will continue for a long time so that future students get the chance to have the same experience.

Szuli Wendt, Free University, Berlin visited University of Oklahoma

After three unforgettable weeks in the United States, I am returning home with more experiences, knowledge and new goals for my career and in life. The time in New Yorkgave me close insight into the life of New Yorkers, its media landscape, new friendships and the dream of working abroad as a journalist in the United States someday. Conversations with experienced and successful journalists gave me the opportunity to understand the American media landscape, the work as a journalist and the differences between German and American media. But not only the media outlets, journalists and politicians we got to talk to in New York was exciting for me, also the numerous cultural options of New York City amazed me. Visiting an American university for two weeks fulfilled my dream of experiencing college life in the United States. Together with the students I was able to study Journalism at the University of Oklahoma and get to know the culture of Oklahoma. Thanks to our wonderful coordinator at the university, I even got to experience a cheerleading practice, a softball and basketball game and visited a sorority house. We also talked a lot to the students about similarities and differences in studying journalism or living in Berlin or Oklahoma. I fell in love with the open and social aspects of Americans and will try to keep that mentality as I go back to Germany. I can say the RIAS program changed my life and career as a journalist and I hope to be back in New York City as an intern soon.

Simon Wörz, University of Munich visited University of Montana

It was my first time on the other side of the Atlantic and I got to see two totally different sides of the USA through RIAS. The time in New York was super intense, filled with a flood of impressions and conversations. Then I went to Missoula for almost two weeks, to the Journalism School at the University of Montana. The contrast between NYC and Montana couldn’t have been greater – from a world metropolis to the snowy Northwest. But I learned that you can also meet conservative Americans in Manhattan and very liberal Americans in rural Montana. And how different the realities of life in one country can be.

Miriam Wüst, Leipzig University visited Indiana University

Three weeks USA – a time full of adventures, surprises and conversations I will remember for the rest of my life. Not only did RIAS make it possible for me to visit the US for the first time – because of all the opportunities from RIAS I got an insight that will forever shape my view of the US in a way a normal holiday wouldn’t have been possible to do. Most memorable for me were the conversations about gun laws right after a school shooting in Nashville, a visit to a small town in Indiana that was hit by a tornado and a meeting with a 9/11-survivor. Beyond that, it was incredibly interesting to see the differences in local journalism between Germany and the US and still how similar it is in many ways. Those stories and impressions made me appreciate the USA in a deeply profound way. Beyond that, it was incredibly interesting to see the differences in local journalism between Germany and the US and still how similar it is in many ways. Those stories and impressions made me appreciate the USA in a deeply profound way. USA – a time full of adventures, surprises and conversations I will remember for the rest of my life. Not only did RIAS make it possible for me to visit the US for the first time – because of all the opportunities from RIAS I got an insight that will forever shape my view of the US in a way a normal holiday wouldn’t have been possible to do. Most memorable for me were the conversations about gun laws right after a school shooting in Nashville, a visit to a small town in Indiana that was hit by a tornado and a meeting with a 9/11-survivor. Beyond that, it was incredibly interesting to see the differences in local journalism between Germany and the US and still how similar it is in many ways. Those stories and impressions made me appreciate the USA in a deeply profound way.

Jakob Gierth, FreeTech – Axel Springer Academy Berlin visited University of Oklahoma

The student program of the RIAS Berlin Commission brought me to the USA. Three weeks of international understanding were on the schedule. At first one week in New York, then two weeks in Norman, Oklahoma. Whether in New York or Oklahoma, I usually introduced myself three times a day to politicians, journalists, activists, contemporary witnesses or ordinary people. We met as strangers and then were either suddenly close or still distant – open or closed. Even if Americans seem at first glance open, they are, based on to my observation, only like that within the boundaries of their communities. The individual counts more in Germany. In the USA, on the other hand, it is almost impossible to live without a community. It starts at the American schools, the open-close mentality. During the three weeks I saw boundless blue skies. Traveled dead-straight roads for endless miles and experienced what it’s like when a city never sleeps. But I was also constantly part of a community without having to ask for it. Thanks to the RIAS Berlin Commission, I thought about society and community in ways I couldn’t have ever planned for.

Erik Kirschbaum, Executive Director RIAS Berlin Commission

Eight days in New York City with 15 smart, curious and open- minded German journalism students on the way up in the world may have changed their lives just a little bit. What they may not have realized is that their incredible energy, their unbridled enthusiasm and appetite to learn changed my life, too. They might have asked a lot of questions but I was at the same time tapping into their boundless energy and unbridled enthusiasm. The world will be in good hands with smart cookies like this. Thanks for the week in the Big Apple, for keeping up with a demanding pace up and down the avenues of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Stay as eager to learn and meet new people and keep an open mind and open heart about the USA.