Arthur F. Burns Fellowship Program 2020 Annual Report 1 Mission Chairman’S Letter
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B U Arthur F. Burns R Fellowship Program N2020 Annual Report S Arthur F. Burns Fellowship Program 2020 Annual Report 1 Mission Chairman’s Letter he Arthur F. Burns Fellowship program is an exchange of journalists between Germany and the United States/Canada, with the primary purpose of increasing public knowledge and understanding about the three countries, and the rela- tions between them, through independent mass media. A parallel goal of the program is to develop reporters who Tare interested, skilled and informed about transatlantic relations. On its 25th anniversary in 2013, the fellowship expanded s the novel coronavirus Cov- to include Canada. id-19 has spread around the Each year, the program brings together 10 reporters from each side of the Atlantic and, following a week-long orienta- globe this year, bringing much tion program in Washington, places them in newsrooms of the other country to work for two months, producing articles and Aof the world’s economy and daily life Although journalists programs for home and foreign audiences. to a halt, we’ve been forced to reex- Alumni of the Burns program constitute a strong and growing network of journalists, many of whom move into positions of amine what is considered “essential” have not always greater responsibility in the United States, Canada and Germany. The program is supported by a board comprising leaders work. Although journalists have not “ in journalism, business, diplomacy and government. been considered always been considered essential workers by the authorities, they have essential workers by proven time and again to be essen- the authorities, they tial to democracy. Facing an unprec- edented worldwide challenge and have proven time and widely varying responses by local and again to be essential federal officials, their work keeps a to democracy. much-needed spotlight on how gov- ernments are managing the crisis and the economic fallout that has resulted dreds of stories the new Burns class from it. produces each year, alumni contin- Reporters have braved the front ue to cover transatlantic affairs with Marcus W. Brauchli lines at hospitals to tell the full story greater insight and depth throughout Managing Partner, North Base Media; of what’s happening—a story that their careers. This wealth of reporting Former editor-in-chief of some governments have actively tried results in an ongoing and thoughtful The Wall Street Journal and to suppress. When protests broke dialogue among the United States, The Washington Post out for racial justice in the U.S. and Germany and Canada. worldwide after the killing of George I am proud to support this impor- Floyd, journalists again left the safety tant program that makes a vital contri- of their homes to cover the turmoil in bution to strong media and the trans- the streets. atlantic relationship. We are grateful Intelligent, thorough and deep re- to our generous donors who support porting that spans the globe—exactly our mission and make our work pos- what Burns Fellows and alumni pro- sible. The Burns Fellowship helps sup- vide—is critical for both citizens and port an essential pillar of democracy policy planners. Without high caliber and perhaps the most successful in- reporting that informs citizens and ternational alliance of our time—an holds governments accountable, de- invaluable combination. 2018 Burns Fellows at the German Embassy reception in Washington, D.C. mocracy cannot function. For more than 30 years, the Burns Sincerely, Fellowship has trained young report- ers to adopt a broader worldview, find new expert sources and delve deeper into under-reported stories that explore the web of transatlantic Marcus Brauchli Cover Photos (from top): Anna-Maria Schuck (Burns 2018) filming in Toronto; John Eligon (Burns 2018) interviewing Muhterem Aras, president of connections. In addition to the hun- the Baden-Württemberg Landtag in Stuttgart; Eliza Relman (Burns 2019) interviewing a climate activist in Berlin; Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi (Burns 2019) taking a Trabant tour of the former East Berlin for a story on how the GDR’s planned economy and its demise are remembered; Anorte Linsmayer (Burns 2019) filming at the Wende Museum in Los Angeles (photo Yann Martini). Writing and Editing: Maia Curtis; Design: Jill Gallagher The Burns Impact Highlights from the 2018 and 2019 Classes ...a transformative“ experience. Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi Associate Producer NPR’s Planet Money, Brooklyn Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi’s primary re- Manisha Krishnan porting project on his 2019 Fellow- Anna-Maria Schuck ship was on Native American hob- Pacinthe Mattar Senior Editor byism in Germany. While based at Marina Kormbaki Reporter VICE, Toronto Der Tagesspiegel Senior Producer Georgia Wells in Berlin, he trave- Correspondent, Capital Bureau ZDF (TV), Bingen led to a theme park of the Ameri- Antica Productions, Toronto Canadian journalist Manisha Reporter RND, Berlin Anna-Maria Schuck spent her 2018 Krishnan was based at Deutsche The Wall Street Journal, can wild west in eastern Bavaria, 2018 Fellow Pacinthe Mattar, pre- Fellowship at CBC in Toronto work- Welle during her 2019 Fellow- complete with a pasture of grazing Marina Kormbaki spent her 2019 viously at CBC in Toronto, did not San Francisco The Houston ing for their flagship newscast The ship. When the scandal broke North American buffalo. Burns Fellowship at expect her language abilities to be Chronicle in Texas where she re- National and their award-winning over the photos of Prime Minister 2018 Fellow Georgia Wells was able “I had traveled to Pullman City to such an asset on her Burns Fellow- ported on a wide range of issues, investigative show The Fifth Estate. Justin Trudeau in blackface, DW to broaden her perspective on her report for an upcoming episode of ship. But on day three with her host from the Texas Green Party to Aus- While she had previously studied News interviewed Manisha for home beat while working at the NPR’s Code Switch podcast about Deutsche Welle in Berlin, she found Handelsblatt tin’s homeless camping ordinance. and worked in the United States, her perspective on the issue (pic- Berlin bureau of . Germany’s long-standing fascination herself on a shoot at the Ministry A week spent reporting along the she had never been to Canada and tured above). “I write about social-media compa- with Native American culture—how of Foreign Affairs interviewing the she described it as “a new, fantastic border for her home media outlet head of the Syrian White Helmets in “As a working journalist in an increas- nies for The Wall Street Journal. At thousands of Germans spend time terrain” for her. was a particular highlight. Arabic (pictured above). ingly challenging media climate, op- home in Silicon Valley, I have a pretty each year assuming the identity of “The Burns Fellowship pushes you portunities for professional devel- good view of most of the biggest ac- particular Native peoples, and the di- “Reporting along the U.S.-Mexico “The Burns Fellowship gave me a out of your comfort zone to expand opment are hard to come by. What tion. Adventuring 5,000 miles away verse ways in which Native American border was definitely one of the most chance to be as versatile as I’ve ever new professional and personal hori- I loved about Burns was that it was from the epicenter of social media, performers and activists are engag- impressive and educational experi- been in my journalism career to date. zons. I had the time of my life working well-rounded. It wasn’t just focused however, offered me a broader per- ing with, and in some cases, actively ences of my professional life. The Working at DW in Berlin allowed with Canadian broadcast colleagues on reporting, although that was a spective on my beat. Today, Germany pushing back against those practices. cross-border reality on the ground, the me to bring my whole self to work, while reporting for the different dai- huge component, but it also gave has some of the most aggressive poli- As my reporting continued, the story bicultural essence of people’s every- and be able to use different parts ly newscasts of my German home me the chance to immerse myself in cies in the world aimed at holding so- grew into an exploration of how Ger- day life, appeared to be far away from of me and my expertise. Within my base—ZDF. I did my very first news a different culture and language. I saw cial-media companies accountable for mans and Americans see themselves the divisive public image fueled by first two weeks, I had filed for radio, story (on the legalization of cannabis) stories everywhere. By taking a pause content that is posted to their sites. and each other, how our respective political leaders. This reporting trip, TV, and online—and in three differ- for our flagship newscast heute jour- from my normal grind, I felt a lot more Many of these policies contradict leg- societies address and represent the as well as the Fellowship as a whole, ent languages—English, Arabic, and nal during my time with Burns. Back refreshed and creative when I got islation in the U.S. Working with re- atrocities and injustices of the past, made clear to me why journalism is French. It showed me just how flex- home I have now been promoted to back home and that’s carried over into porters from Germany’s top business and the ways in which race, identity, needed: showing reality the way it is.” ible and adaptable I could be, and work for this wonderful newscast. And my work.” paper, Handelsblatt, I got to learn and history are refracted through the soon I was being sought out and as- who knows: Maybe I’ll be a foreign more—and write stories about—what prism of another culture.