Brent Martin reflects on journalist exchange program

I had an incredible opportunity to travel to Europe this summer as part of a journalist exchange program. The trip’s primary focus was on Germany, though it also included a stop in Brussels, Belgium where the European Union and NATO have their headquarters. I flew into Berlin, Germany Saturday morning, June 9th, and returned to Missouri Sunday, June 24th.

I traveled during the two weeks with ten other journalists from throughout the country; and I mean throughout the country. We had an assignment editor from CNN in Los Angeles, a freelance television producer from New York, a radio news director from Chicago as well as an assignment editor from Anchorage, Alaska, a television producer from Lansing, Michigan, a television news director from Toledo, Ohio and an associate television producer from Atlanta, Georgia. Of course, there was a managing editor from Jefferson City, Missouri tagging along as well. I got to tag along after Missourinet News Director Bob Priddy had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Bob had gone on the exchange program before and was anxious to return. When he decided it wouldn’t work, he asked that I go in his place. The people in charge accepted the switch.

The exchange is run by the RIAS Berlin Commission in conjunction with the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation. RIAS stands for Radio In the American Sector, which was the radio station operated in West Germany during the Cold War, broadcasting music, news and commentary which, of course, anyone in East Berlin could hear with radios placed in strategic positions so as not to be detected! The Cold War ended shortly after the Wall came down in Berlin and RIAS took on new duties, such as the journalist exchange program, designed to promote greater understanding between the two countries.

It has done just that for me. I had never traveled to Europe before and actually knew little about Germany other than bits and pieces I had picked up here and there from rather indiscriminate reading. I have always had a real interest in World War II and the Cold War, but that can provide a distorted view of German history. Many on the trip knew much more. One of my fellow travelers, a Ph. D. candidate at Indianan University in Bloomington, spoke German quite well and knew much about German history. A journalism professor from a small, private college in Seattle, Washington also had a breadth of knowledge that made me envious.

A trip like this sparks many thoughts, some I am still contemplating. Lessons taught during the two weeks will reverberate throughout my life. The thing that struck me throughout the trip was that there was much to learn, much to observe and much to absorb. We spent a week in Berlin, and then traveled across Germany to Erfurt and Cologne, finally reaching Brussels at the conclusion of the two weeks. Over the next few days, I will relate some of the lessons learned and share a bit from this very fulfilling experience.