...is the FREE trip to Europe offered by the RIAS/RTNDF German-American journalist exchange. This program grew out of the money set aside for American radio broadcasts in Berlin during the Cold War. When the wall came down, the welcome mat went out for American broadcasters to visit Germany for two weeks, all expenses paid. German broadcasters come to the US for a month and I hosted Germans at USC for several years. So, Rainer Hasters graciously invited me to join the exchange in 2001. I made some lifelong friends like RTNDA board member Bob Priddy of Missouri public radio. The tour deepened my understanding of US-European relations and every year I try to make it to the reunion, which always features an outstanding speaker or two.
This year it was a double feature. Here's Rainer, introducing Miguel Marquez of ABC News and Debby Block of Voice of America. They talked about the realities of reporting from Iraq. 
I had breakfast with some fascinating Germans, LA-based freelance reporter Kerstin Zilm Dunn, Deputy Consul General Dietmar Bock and a RIAS board member who recalled the day American troops brought press freedom to his newly liberated town after World War II, encouraging him to start a high school paper.
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