Imagine if PBS in the United States had a huge budget, a huge audience and could put those resources into covering the serious issues of the day. They have that luxury at Germany's "first channel," ARD. Eight million people stop what they are doing at 8 pm each day to watch the Tageshau, a 15 minute roundup of the days top stories, read by a rotating cast of presenters so that the news, not the anchor, is the star.
They don't even use a teleprompter, which gives the show even more of a time-capsule feeling. We met with representatives of ARD's radio, TV and online divisions, although there is a reluctance to devote resources to the relatively new web site and social media. The studio in Berlin deals almost exclusively with politics and the actual headquarters are in Hamburg.
Another perspective came from Brent Goff, an American who anchors a business show in English on Deutsche Welle, Germany's equivalent of the Voice of America. You can watch their news programs on a lot of cable systems in the US. Brent has enviable working conditions: two weeks on, two weeks off, six weeks of vacation and plenty of time to get extra pay by moderating business conferences, teaching at a local university and moonlighting for other stations. This discussion degenerated into the shortcomings of US media, including Barbie doll anchors and pre-conceived notions by editors who only want stories from Germany about neo-Nazis, the Holocaust and beer. Brent is clearly enjoying life in Berlin with his partner and made sure we knew where to find a competition to pick the city's prettiest Drag Queen.
One of the most enjoyable features of the RIAS program is the "blind date" with a German journlist. I was paired with Elke, who is the managing editor of the 7:30 local newscast on Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg. We met at one of her favorite restaurents, the Eiffel, on the ku-damm, West Berlin's famous shopping street. Elke feels strongly that the RIAS fellows should spend more time in the former West Berlin and after sharing this delightful evening I totally agree! She lives in an apartment carved out of a fabulous mansion and even gave us a quick look at the vintage 1925 broadcast building, complete with its one-person conveyor belt elevator.
What I envy most about the German state broadcasters, besides their generous pay and benefits, is the freedom to pursue serious news without too much regard for the ratings. Elke has visited Los Angeles to do stories on Germans in the movie business. I hope to see her the next time she's in California and thank her for a wonderful hospitality.
Imagine if PBS in the United States had a huge budget, a huge audience and could put those resources into covering the serious issues of the day. They have that luxury at Germany's "first channel," ARD. Eight million people stop what they are doing at 8 pm each day to watch the Tageshau, a 15 minute roundup of the days top stories, read by a rotating cast of presenters so that the news, not the anchor, is the star. 
They don't even use a teleprompter, which gives the show even more of a time-capsule feeling. We met with representatives of ARD's radio, TV and online divisions, although there is a reluctance to devote resources to the relatively new web site and social media. The studio in Berlin deals almost exclusively with politics and the actual headquarters are in Hamburg.
Another perspective came from Brent Goff, an American who anchors a business show in English on Deutsche Welle, Germany's equivalent of the Voice of America. You can watch their news programs on a lot of cable systems in the US. Brent has enviable working conditions: two weeks on, two weeks off, six weeks of vacation and plenty of time to get extra pay by moderating business conferences, teaching at a local university and moonlighting for other stations. This discussion degenerated into the shortcomings of US media, including Barbie doll anchors and pre-conceived notions by editors who only want stories from Germany about neo-Nazis, the Holocaust and beer. Brent is clearly enjoying life in Berlin with his partner and made sure we knew where to find a competition to pick the city's prettiest Drag Queen.
One of the most enjoyable features of the RIAS program is the "blind date" with a German journlist. I was paired with Elke, who is the managing editor of the 7:30 local newscast on Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg. We met at one of her favorite restaurents, the Eiffel, on the ku-damm, West Berlin's famous shopping street. Elke feels strongly that the RIAS fellows should spend more time in the former West Berlin and after sharing this delightful evening I totally agree! She lives in an apartment carved out of a fabulous mansion and even gave us a quick look at the vintage 1925 broadcast building, complete with its one-person conveyor belt elevator.
What I envy most about the German state broadcasters, besides their generous pay and benefits, is the freedom to pursue serious news without too much regard for the ratings. Elke has visited Los Angeles to do stories on Germans in the movie business. I hope to see her the next time she's in California and thank her for a wonderful hospitality.
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