Arthur F. Burns Fellowship Program 2018 Annual Report Arthur F. Burns Fellowship Program 2018 Annual Report 1 Mission Chairman’s Letter he Arthur F. Burns Fellowship pro- gram is an exchange of journalists between Germany and the United TStates/Canada, with the primary pur- he Arthur F. Burns Fellowship Germany and Canada to counter-balance pose of increasing public knowledge and celebrated its 30th anniversary in misinformation, and educates reporters to understanding about the three countries, 2017. It also marked a tumultuous strengthen the media against distrust and Tyear in transatlantic relations. The U.S.- attacks. While diplomatic relations are and the relations between them, through independent mass media. A parallel goal German partnership has been one of the strained, Burns Fellows rise to the chal- of the program is to develop reporters who strongest and most stable in global affairs lenge—producing hundreds of thought- are interested, skilled and informed about since World War II. It surprised even ful, in-depth news pieces every year that transatlantic relations. On its 25th anni- seasoned experts how quickly it deterio- inform citizens and elevate public dis- versary in 2013, the fellowship expanded rated over the past year—from questions course on critical issues. to include Canada. about the U.S. commitment to NATO to This valuable program enriches the Each year, the program brings together talk of trade wars. The Trump administra- journalists who participate, their readers 10 reporters from each side of the Atlan- tic and, following a week-long orientation tion took more than a year to appoint an and audience, and the broader transatlan- program in Washington, places them in ambassador to Germany and Chancellor tic dialogue. It’s an outstanding program newsrooms of the other country to work Merkel declared after the G7 meetings in that makes an important contribution to- for two months, producing articles and May 2017, “The times in which we could ward preserving the historic transatlantic programs for home and foreign audiences. completely depend on others are, to a bond. I’m proud to be associated with this Alumni of the Burns program consti- 2017 Burns Fellows with Dr. Frank Freiling and Ambassador Peter Wittig at the German certain extent, over. I’ve experienced that program and look forward to many more tute a strong and growing network of jour- Embassy reception in Washington, D.C. in the last few days. We Europeans truly years of its success. nalists, many of whom move into positions have to take our fate into our own hands.” Sincerely, of greater responsibility in the United Marcus W. Brauchli The Burns Fellowship mission has nev- States, Canada and Germany. The pro- Managing Partner, North Base Media; er been more vital. Each year the program gram is supported by a board comprised of Former editor-in-chief of works to increase public knowledge and leaders in journalism, business, diplomacy The Wall Street Journal and understanding about the United States, Marcus Brauchli and government. The Washington Post years “The Burns Fellowship mission has never been more vital.” Cover Photos (clockwise from top): Oliver Bilger (Burns 2017) interviewing an actor who gives historic tours of Philadelphia; Mareike Aden (Burns 2016) reporting on a Trump protest in Miami; Steven Norton (Burns 2016) interviewing people at a TTIP demonstration in Berlin; Stefanie Dodt (Burns 2017) interviewing a Hurricane Harvey survivor whose home was destroyed; Max Muth (Burns 2017), at top left, facebooking live for The New Orleans Advocate on a rescue mission in Katy, Texas, after Hurricane Harvey (Photo credit: Travis Spradling/The Advocate). Writing and Editing: Maia Curtis; Design: Jill Gallagher Arthur F. Burns Fellowship Program 2018 Annual Report 3 The Burns Impact ‘Emissaries of a Transatlantic Perspective’ upporting journalists has a unique impact—a journalism fellowship not only benefits the participant, Maggie Penman (Burns 2017) interviews FDP politician Sbut thousands of readers and viewers as Sebastian Kluckert in Berlin well. By raising just one reporter’s quality of work, the effect is extensive—educating “The best work I did happened whenever I em- citizens and voters and informing high- braced my role as an American abroad in Ger- level discussions between corporations, many, rather than trying to shake it. A piece policymakers and diplomats. In addition, I wrote about the violence in Charlottesville the Burns Fellowship’s influence extends to both sides of the Atlantic, as fellows from my vantage in Berlin garnered hun- produce stories for both their host and dreds of thousands of page-views on NPR.org, home news outlets. and was one of the most popular articles that Each year, 20-24 fellows are selected month. So my next bit of advice to new fellows: through a rigorous recruitment and ap- lean in to the perspective that you bring as an plication process. Fellows represent a wide outsider. You might see things in a new way.” Left to right: Dana Heide (Burns 2016), reporting on Google; Yvonne Müther (Burns 2016) reporting on police education and the police academy in Dallas; Kajetan Dyrlich (Burns 2017) reporting in Houston. range of media outlets, from smaller re- —Maggie Penman (Burns 2017), Contrib- gional newspapers such as the Arkansas uting Reporter, National Public Radio, Wash- Democrat-Gazette and the Heilbronner German election, and they each had inter- tive Unit and formerly the senior producer Dana Heide (Burns 2016), a correspond- approximately 250 stories. And their sto- ington, DC; Hosted by: DPA International Stimme, to large national dailies like The esting cultural parallels back to the U.S.” for The National. “Just as importantly, he ent for Handelsblatt, chose to work at The ries cover a vast range of topics, includ- Desk, Berlin Wall Street Journal and Süddeutsche Zeiting, “It was a great time to be in Germany,” was willing to share his thoughts and expe- Wall Street Journal in San Francisco to fo- ing comparing the bikeability of Denver and major broadcasters such as CNBC, wrote Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, an as- riences, especially with our relatively inex- cus her reporting on the tech industry. to Munich, Daimler’s investment in its “Thanks to the Burns Fellowship, I not only CBC and Bayerischer Rundfunk. Fellows sistant editor at Foreign Policy magazine. perienced associate producers at the time.” “My goal was to learn about the Silicon Tuscaloosa plant to expand production learned what it means to work as a correspond- are placed at host news organizations for “The federal elections were on September The 2016 class performed similar roles Valley culture. And I did. I took my time of electric cars, Cuban life in Miami, how two months, where they produce stories 24, right around the end of the fellowship, in the lead up to the U.S. election. Claire to really get to know it, allowed myself to Germany is handling its refugee influx, ent and prove myself to my newsroom, but un- for both their home and host media. so editors back home were interested in all Williams, a business reporter for the Ar- meet more people than was probably nec- Prime Minister Trudeau’s use of social expectedly I got to know a very cool city and a Each fellow makes an important con- kinds of Germany stories. And I’m an in- kansas Democrat-Gazette at the time of her essary for my stories in the end, and trav- media, and a comparison of Germany’s progressive country. Toronto is fabulous—a tribution on both sides of the Atlantic ternational politics reporter so it was like 2016 fellowship, was hosted by Süddeutsche elled to the Valley frequently. I ended up historic memorials versus those in the kind of relaxed New York, with fantastic res- to the quality of international news. The being in a candy shop. I got to write tons Zeitung in Munich. writing two bigger reports for Handelsb- United States after the neo-Nazi rally in taurants, hip bars, and a beach right in the city. 2017 class started their fellowships as the of election-related pieces and in the days “I discovered that my colleagues at SZ latt around that topic and a few other sto- Charlottesville. But what impressed me deeply, especially in German national election was heating up. right around the election, I got more TV and Germans in general were interested in ries, one for example about the method of Fellows appreciate the valuable boost light of the move to the right and the growing U.S. and Canadian fellows were able to and radio requests than I knew what to do talking about the election, and even more using data to predict crime. I also wrote a the program provides their career. As they hostility toward foreigners in Germany, is how provide their home media with in-depth with.” interested when they found out that I’m weekly column for Handelsblatt Online— learn and grow, many get promoted or re- this country deals with its immigrants, how coverage that they could not have done On the other side of the ocean, Ger- living and working in Arkansas,” she wrote. a good way to make use of all the informa- ceive coveted correspondent positions af- naturally the social life of multiple nationali- from their desks back home or even on a man fellows were able to help their host “It turned out my niche at SZ was being the tion that would not make it into a bigger ter their fellowships. But their readers and ties functions. Toronto is one of the most mul- short reporting trip. media cover the German elections, bring- expert in non-coastal elite America.” article but was also very interesting.” audience are the true beneficiaries of the ticultural cities in the world, more than half of “I found some interesting voices to ing their unique perspective to stories and While Claire helped her host make Oluwakemi Aladesuyi (Burns 2016), program—gaining deep insights into the the population was not born in Canada, more highlight outside of my original plans,” editorial advice on coverage.