The 2024 Berlin Capital Program – A German context to challenges journalists face
The Berlin Capital Program brought together journalists from across the US and their counterparts in Germany for an immersive exploration of the unique challenges they face in an ever-evolving media landscape. Hosted by Fulbright Germany, the program featured a blend of insightful meetings & discussions, site visits & tours, and networking opportunities centered on the rich historical and contemporary context of journalism in Germany.
The program kicked off with an orientation at frizzforum, site for many of the week’s encounters, located just behind the building housing taz, one of Germany’s daily newspapers. A walking tour led by former Stasi Archive spokesperson and Fulbright alumna, Dagmar Hovestädt, highlighted German memory culture at key WWII and GDR sites, culminating at the Topography of Terror Documentation Center. This set the stage for a deeper understanding of Germany’s complex history and its influence on present-day media narratives.
Melissa Eddy, a longtime New York Times correspondent and Fulbright alumna, provided an insider’s look at the current German media landscape. Participants then explored Berlin’s role as capital of Germany and as city that has influenced much of the world in many ways at the Humboldt Forum’s Berlin Global exhibition. The group considered the current state of German-Jewish-Muslim relations with the head of the award-winning Kreuzberg Initiative Against Antisemitism, followed by an intimate exchange with the Berliner Morgenpost’s editor-in-chief and podcast editor at FUNKE Media Group’s headquarters, gaining valuable insights into both opportunities and challenges encountered by media organizations in Germany.
A highlight of the week was a visit to Publix, a brand new “house of independent journalism” in Berlin’s Neukölln district, where conversations with politicians and media professionals addressed societal challenges, ranging from diversity and immigration to journalism’s role in democracy. Discussions about support for journalists in war zones or where there is no free press underscored the importance of resilience and adaptation in the field.
Another highlight was the German Fulbright Alumni Association’s first-time collaboration with Fulbright Germany for an event during one of its programs: “Fulbright feat. Journalism” presented entertaining lightning-talks by five alumnae and alumni working in media fields, and the evening’s reception allowed the participants to further engage with the event’s speakers and journalist-heavy audience.
A day trip to Leipzig provided further context beyond the “Berlin bubble” and learning about perspectives in former East Germany, where participants heard first-hand accounts about the peaceful revolution and transformation to democracy. Engaging discussions also delved into how media literacy is being taught in schools by working journalists to combat disinformation, and why recent elections in Saxony and other former eastern states are impacting the national political conversation.
The program culminated with reflections on transatlantic affairs and climate justice, featuring insights from journalists and activists on Germany's policies and youthful engagement in German society. A visit to the WELT TV studio and newsroom offered participants a glimpse into the inner workings of a major media outlet, while the opportunity to engage with activists at Fridays for Future’s Global Climate Strike provided an on-the-ground chance to cover a “news event” during the program.
The Berlin Capital Program concluded on an optimistic note with a visit to the taz Panther Foundation, whose focus on solutions & engagement journalism, international networking, and empowerment in civil society picks up where the news leaves off. We hope that the program participants return to the US with fresh insights and informed motivation to respond to challenges both unique to the US landscape and shared by their German colleagues, while continuing to foster journalistic collaboration and dialogue across the Atlantic.
