FEATURED STORIES

Former Polish President: Keep the Door Open to Russia
By Daryl Lindsey (Burns 2001)

It's rare to meet a former president and major world figure, even as a journalist. But close to 120 Burns alumni were treated to riesling, tender veal filets and 45 minutes with a man who not only served for a decade as president, but also as an important architect of European unity and trans-Atlantic ties. Former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski joined the alumni in the light-bathed, glass-enclosed atrium of Deutsche Bank's Berlin office on May 15.

During his two terms as the president of Poland from 1995 to 2005, Kwaśniewski steered his country toward NATO and the European Union. Few have greater insights on trans-Atlantic, European and Polish-German relations than Kwa?niewski, and he shared his historical insights on these issues and predictions for the future.

Former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski spoke to 120 Burns Alumni May 15.

On recent disputes between Poland and neighboring Germany, he noted that seamless relations will take time, just as they will with Russia. Before the fall of the Iron Curtain, he said, Poland had only three neighbors: the Soviet Union, East Germany and Czechoslovakia. But in the space of less than two decades, it has had to establish ties with seven new nations.

“In 1999, for the first time in 100 years, we were working together with Germany in the same alliance,” Kwaśniewski told the audience. “Even if we sometimes have difficulties, the pillars of our relationship are strong.” The former president said he had been "proud of these achievements.”

The challenge for these institutions now is to redefine themselves in a 21st century that sees no common enemy. Kwaśniewski said there are still myriad opportunities for trans-Atlantic and European cooperation. One: working together to address the challenges of globalization that is shifting from the Atlantic (Europe and the United States) to the Pacific (Asia). Another:  cooperating to face the worldwide threat of terrorism and regional conflicts throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe.

In Kwaśniewski's view, there is a role to be played by Russia in most of the challenges facing the EU and NATO. Russia’s reemergence as a global player figured heavily in his speech. He said the country is still looking for its place within global structures. Members of the trans-Atlantic alliance must be open to closer cooperation with Moscow, an important player. At a time when US presidential candidate John McCain is calling to have Russia removed from the G-8, Kwaśniewski said we should consider offering to make Moscow a full partner in trans-Atlantic structures. Not immediately, of course, but at some time in the distant future. “That could be a final point,” he said. “It is necessary to keep the doors open to Ukraine, Belarus and Russia."

But arguably the most interesting remarks came when Kwaśniewski opened the floor to questions from Burns alums. David Schraven (2001) of Die Welt asked: How will the new pipeline being built between Russia and Germany shift the balance of power?

Attending the Berlin dinner were (from left): Tobias Trevisan, IJP trustee and CEO of FAZ, Burns Alumna and Internationale Journalisten-Programme (IJP) Director Martina John, former Ambassador Fridjof von Nordenskjoeld and editor-in-chief of Deutsche Welle Radio Miodrag Soric, also an IJP director.

Addressing tensions between Poland and Germany over the pipeline, Kwaśniewski explained, “Please understand, we were very afraid of the pipeline, coming as it did just after the Orange Revolution. We felt it was a political decision because Russia was not happy about what happened in the Ukraine.” Though Kwaśniewski said he enjoyed good relations with then-chancellor Gerhard Schröder, the two never discussed the pipeline. “It was a real weakness that the chancellor and I didn't speak about it,” he said. “That was not my mistake.” However, he said it would be easier for Poland and Germany to speak openly about the project now.

For many Europeans, especially in the wake of the recent debate over the Washington-led plan to construct a missile shield with missiles stationed in Eastern Europe, it has often seemed as though Poland has given its relations with the US a higher priority than those with the EU. Those relations, Kwaśniewski explained, are historical and rooted in the fact that 11 million people of Polish descent live in the US and that the country gave the Polish opposition greater support in fighting against Communism during the Solidarity movement than was often the case with Western European countries.

But Kwaśniewski argued that Poland’s ties with Europe have been equally important and that its membership in NATO and the European Union has helped to cement its role in trans-Atlantic as well as European relations.

Wulf Schmiese (1995) of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung probed Kwaśniewski for his thoughts on comments made by US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, splitting Europe between the “Old Europe” and the “New Europe.” Poland, of course, famously split from Germany, France and a number of Western European countries by supporting Bush's plans to invade Iraq and ultimately sending troops.

Still, Kwaśniewski said he was against the divisive label. “We were against that description,” he said. “We have a 1,000-year history. How can you say Poland isn't Old Europe?”

When asked by Gerold Büchner (1991) of the Berliner Zeitung if he would be interested in becoming the EU's first president in 2009, Kwaśniewski demurred, saying, “I have no special aspirations, but I am available.”

The evening also offered some lighter moments, like when Kwaśniewski said he had known his successor as president, the controversial Lech Kaczyński, longer than his own wife. He also made clear which of the two he felt more comfortable with. When Kaczyński became president, Kwaśniewski quipped, the first piece of advice the outgoing president gave was this: “Please destroy nothing.”

Daryl Lindsey is the editor of SPIEGEL ONLINE's English Web site.

Reports on Immigration, War and Elections Win Burns and Kennan Awards

From left to right: Burns Alumnus James Hagengruber, Former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Burns Trustee Sabine Christiansen, Karsten Voigt, Burns Alumnus Jacob Heilbrunn.

Three Burns alumni won the 2007 Burns and Kennan Commentary Awards on May 15. The award-winning stories tackle: life on the Texas-Mexico border; twins’ quest to become marines in Iraq; and analysis of the U.S. Presidential elections.

Michael Weissenborn (Burns 1996) worked as foreign editor at Stuttgarter Zeitung until he took a sabbatical last year to move to El Paso, TX. He won the German Burns Award for his "Texas Privat,” a 20-part series published throughout the fall and winter of 2007. Weissenborn covered multiple topics, including U.S.-Mexican border issues, U.S. citizens’ right to bear arms, and Indian reservations. The personal essays invoked in-depth political analysis of U.S. society, its traditions and challenges.

James Hagengruber (right) received the honor for his article on two twins' quest to join the U.S. marines.

James Hagengruber (Burns 2002), who was laid off by the Spokesman (Spokane, Wash.) Review at the end of last year, won the U.S. Burns Award for “Boom! Du bist tot! (Boom! You are dead!),” published in German by Süddeutsche Zeitung on November 6, after the original English version ran in the Spokesman Review. Hagengruber’s story covers 19-year-old twins from Idaho on their way to become U.S. Marines. The award jury noted that the reporting project had “excellent and nowadays rarely practiced in-depth research, which shows that–contrary to general trends and public and media opinion–young Americans can be so fascinated with the Iraq War that they want to participate personally.” Despite the tile, the story is based on a sensible portrait of two young Americans facing a difficult decision. Hagengruber has meanwhile expanded on his coverage of the twins, joining their unit as an embedded reporter in Kuwait and Iraq this spring.

The two 2,000-Euro prizes were awarded by Germany’s Foreign Minister. Hagengruber received his honor at the annual Burns Alumni dinner and lecture on May 15 in Berlin, while Weissenborn will be honored by German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth at his Washington residence on July 23.

Honorary mentions were received by a German and American 2007 Burns fellow, who both won for stories published as part of their fellowship last year. Christian Rüttger, Berlin-based editor for Reuters, was lauded for his story “The Long Haul,” published in the Anchorage Daily News on October 14, and Tanya Schevitz, reporter with the San Francisco Chronicle, for her series titled “Eine Amerikanerin im Allgäu (An American in the Allgäu),” published weekly in August and September by Allgäuer Zeitung.

Rüttger’s article addressed the dangers and temptations for truck drivers along the 414-mile-long Dalton Highway through the Alaskan tundra. Schevitz’s nine-part series tackled episodes and impressions gained as a single mother, big-city girl and passionate driver in the rural, pre-alpine lands of southwestern Bavaria. Both authors stimulated intensive debates through letters to the editor and emails to the reporters. The communication with the Burns fellows was especially interesting, as both were foreign to their host country and could speak openly about regional traditions and taboos.

Jacob Heilbrunn (right) was awarded for his commentary on the U.S. election campaign.

The 2,000-Euro George F. Kennan Commentary Award went to U.S. journalist and Burns alumnus Jacob Heilbrunn (1994). As White House correspondent for National Interest magazine Heilbrunn won for his story “Ami, go home,” published in the magazine of Süddeutschen Zeitung on December 7.

The jury noted that Heilbrunn managed to write a “very sophisticated analysis of the U.S. election campaign, which highlights the specifics of this year's race for the White House and includes some surprising insights. The author explains how a hapless U.S. President rejuvenated American liberals and their cause—which had become more and more discredited until President Bush rekindled their enthusiasm. Heilbrunn compares Bush to Al Gore, who–almost simultaneously to Bush’s fall in public opinion polls–gained public prestige.”

The jury also pointed out the fine work of illustrator Christoph Niemann, whose prominent drawings of annual vignettes of the Bush era contributed significantly to the appeal of the presentation for this commentary story.

The jury for both awards was composed of journalists Sabine Christiansen (ARD), Dr. Christoph von Marschall (Tagesspiegel), Claus Strunz (Bild am Sonntag), Florian Illies (Die Zeit/Monopol) and Dominik Wichmann (Süddeutsche Zeitung), as well as Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling (ZDF) and Martina Nibbeling-Wriessnig (Foreign Ministry of Germany).

The Launch of a Transatlantic Adventure
By Carter Dougherty (Burns 1998)

Some of the 2008 Burns fellows at the Alumni Dinner in Berlin in May (from left): Jan-Hendrik Becker, Markus Balser, Achim Wendler, Peter Müller and Georg Kern.

The pagoda-like structure in the courtyard of the Westin hotel was the setting for the April 2008 conference of Burns fellow candidates in Berlin, and it was a nice respite from the hustle and bustle that is the corner of Friedrichstrasse and Unter den Linden. But give Frank-Dieter Freiling, the faithful steward of the Burns program for many years, due credit. He made things interesting on the inside.

The subjects ranged from the 2008 presidential election in the United States—the number one topic—to climate change, and international issues.

Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle made time during a short trip to Berlin to speak to the Burns Selection Committee.

“Barack Obama is the Tiger Woods of American politics,” said former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Daschle had squeezed in no fewer than 28 appointments into his 48 hours in Berlin. His last meeting was with the prospective Burns fellows. The South Dakotan, an Obama adviser, touted climate change as the area in which the Democratic presidential candidate—a celebrity in Germany as well—would make change felt in Europe.

Michael Arthur, the British ambassador to Germany, called for freer trade, less regulation in Europe and better transatlantic relations. He also addressed whether the United Kingdom could have friends across the ocean and the channel.

“We want both,” Michael Arthur said. “There is no need to choose between Paris and Washington.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, by all accounts, has introduced an element of great amity into European-American relations. Prone to quiet diplomacy rather than fiery campaign speeches, Merkel has managed to soar above the storms that have raged since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. And Merkel (how often do you hear this these days?) actually likes the United States.

“When she says ‘I'm happy to be here,’” said Hans-Ulrich Klose, a Social Democratic member of the German parliament who spoke in Berlin, “it sounds like she really is.”

The agenda for this short conference was packed, but allowed the 2008 finalists to learn more about the fellowship and for Burns alumni to reconnect during a grand reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador William Timken at his Berlin residence. At the end of the conference, the selection committee made its choice of 2008 fellows.

For those lucky few selected as Burns Fellows, this weekend was just the beginning of their transatlantic adventure.

The Arthur F. Burns Fellowship News is published four times a year by the International Center for Journalists.

Burns Program Staff:

Frank-Dieter Freiling, Director, IJP
Mario Scherhaufer, Program Director, ICFJ
Maia Curtis, ICFJ Consultant
Michelle Mathew, Program Officer, ICFJ

Named in honor of the late former U.S. ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany and former Federal Reserve Board chairman, the Arthur F. Burns Fellowship Program fosters greater understanding of German–U.S. relations among future leaders of the news media.

The Burns program was established in 1988 in Germany by the Internationale Journalisten-Programme (formerly the Initiative Jugendpresse) and was originally designed for young German journalists. In 1990, the fellowship expanded to include American journalists, making it a true exchange.

Each year 20 outstanding journalists from the United States and Germany are awarded an opportunity to report from and travel in each other’s countries. The program offers 10 young print and broadcast journalists from each country the opportunity to share professional expertise with their colleagues across the Atlantic while working as “foreign correspondents” for their hometown news organizations.

Fellows work as part-time staff members at host newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations. In addition to covering local news, fellows report on events for their employers back home, while learning more about
their host country and its media.

This competitive program is open to U.S. and German journalists who are employed by a newspaper, news magazine, broadcast station or news agency, and to freelancers. Applicants must have demonstrated journalistic talent and a strong interest in U.S.–European affairs. German language proficiency is not required, but is encouraged.

The Burns Fellowship program
is administered jointly by:

June 2008 | Vol. 17, No. 2

Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling

Dear Friends,

Once again a new class is gearing up for their Burns Fellowship this summer and I ask all of you to welcome them in August and September with open arms. Please make them feel at home, both in their host cities and host media outlets.

The Arthur F. Burns Dinner in Berlin has become a fixture in the annual schedule for Burns alumni. The event was made possible once again by the generosity of Deutsche Bank and the chairman of IJP´s German board of trustees, Tessen von Heydebreck. On May 15 former Polish President Aleksander Kwa?niewski explained his country´s position toward the transatlantic dialogue and the challenges facing the Eastern border of NATO and EU.

The Coordinator for German-American Cooperation in the Foreign Office, Karsten Voigt, on behalf of the Foreign Minister announced the winners of the 2007 Arthur F. Burns Awards and the George F Kennan Commentary Award to much applause at the dinner (see below). Watching the winners´ proud faces and the ornamented award documents, not to forget the checks coming with it, should be an incentive for all of you to apply for the Burns Awards 2008 to be handed out next year.

One last request: many of you have still not registered with the new Burns alumni portal, which we have especially created for you. Since this is a closed circuit only for alums with many practical tools, information, access to the alum address database and much more, you have to sign in. Go to www.burnsalumni.org. And do register now!

I am looking forward to a great summer before the heat of the U.S. Presidential elections kicks in this autumn and send my best wishes to the new fellows and the nearly 400 alumni scattered in 17 countries all over the world.

Yours,

Frank-Dieter Freiling

1989
Annette Dittert  will start as ARD bureau chief in London on August 1.

1990
Karl Doemens will start his new job as the Berlin bureau chief of the Frankfurt daily, Frankfurter Rundschau August 1.

1991
Angela Elis is working on her second book. Her first book, Typisch Ossi, Typisch Wessi, was published in 2005.

1996
Thomas Atkins has moved to Dubai to become the Reuters Gulf Region bureau chief. Kristina zur Muehlen is the anchor of the week-daily science format Nano.

1998
Stefan Kruecken is the Editor-at-large for GQ. His audio book, Orkanfahrt, told by German actor Otto Sander, follows the print version that has already sold over 20,000 copies. Volker Weidermann has recently published a book entitled, Das Buch der verbrannten Buecher.

2000
Jens Eberl was married in a week-long celebration this past May in Istanbul.

2001
Arne Delfs is the new Editor German Politics and Economics at the Financial Times Deutschland in Berlin. Andreas Tzortzis moved to London to begin working for Tyler Brule's creative agency and the monthly magazine Monocle. 

2002
Naomi Kresge is in Berlin this year on a Fulbright US Young Journalists fellowship. Kerstin Kohlenberg was nominated for the Henri-Nannen-Preis award for her article in Die Zeit entitled, "Von oben geht's nach oben." 

2003
Andrew Curry is in Berlin as a Fulbright US Young Journalists fellow.

2004
Ulf Meyer will begin his new job as a professor at Kansas State University in August 2008. Eva Busse is reporting for the World Desk at Financial Times in London.

2005
Helen Fessenden will work as managing editor for the PM edition of Congress Daily, at the National Journal Group. Robert Kiendl will start his new job as a correspondent for ARD radio in Washington, D.C., in July 2008, where he will cover the presidential election.

2007
Alison Hawkes has continued free-lancing for Deutsche Welle out of Bonn, where she stayed after her Burns fellowship last year.

2008 Fellows' Orientation Washington, D.C.
July 22-27, 2008.

2008 Fellows' Reception
at the residence of German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth's Residence
July 23, 2008

2009 Application Deadlines
German Applicants: February 1
U.S. Applicants: March 1
Apply Now (U.S.)
Apply Now (German)

Click here to log into the Alumni Portal. To register, please fill out this short form.

2008 German fellows:

(Host media in parenthesis)

Susanne Amann
Editor, Spiegel Online, Hamburg
(San Francisco Chronicle)
Markus Balser
Editor, Süddeutsche Zeitung
Munich (The Wall Street Journal)
Jan-Hendrik Becker
Anchor/Producer, NDR (TV), Berlin (CBS News, New York, NY)
Mario Kaiser
Reporter,Der Spiegel, Berlin (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)
Georg Kern
Editor, Magdeburger Volksstimme,Magdeburg (Seattle Times)
Fabian Löhe
Editor, Focus Online, Munich (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Peter Müller
Deputy Head, Welt am Sonntag/Die Welt, Berlin (Chicago Tribune)
Marion Schmidt
Editor,Financial Times Deutschland, Hamburg (The Boston Globe)
Achim Wendler
Editor, Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR 5 Radio), Munich (Chicago Public Radio WBEZ-FM)
Martin Wolf
Editor,Der Spiegel, Hamburg (Los Angeles Daily News)

2008 U.S. Fellows:

(Host media in parenthesis)

Tony Ganzer
Morning Edition Producer, KJZZ 91.5 FM, Tempe, AZ (Deutsche Welle Radio English Service, Bonn)
Michael Giglio
Staff Writer,Sporting News Yearbook (American City), Charlotte, NC (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)
Deborah Kolben
Freelance Writer, Brooklyn, NY (TBA)
Holly Pickett
Freelance Photojournalist, Cairo, Egypt (Süddeutsche Zeitung / jetzt.de, Munich)
Ira Porter
Reporter, The (Newcastle, Del.) News Journal,Philadelphia, PA (Spiegel Online, Berlin)
Crystal Reid
Business Reporter,Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck, ND (Associated Press, Berlin)
Elizabeth Sprague
Researcher, CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, New York, NY (Deutsche Welle TV, Berlin)
Irene Trullinger
Editor, NBC News, New York, NY (Reuters TV, Berlin)
Sarah Wildman
Freelance Writer, Washington, DC (Financial Times Deutschland, Berlin)
Alisha Wyman
Reporter,The Union Democrat, Sonoma, CA (Der Tagesspiegel, Berlin)

U.S. Trustees

Patron: Klaus Scharioth
German Ambassador to the United States
Joyce Barnathan
President, International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)
Elizabeth Becker
Contributor to the International Herald Tribune and German Marshall Fellow
The Honorable J.D. Bindenagel
Vice President, Community, Government & International Relations, DePaul University
Kurt Bock
Chairman and CEO, BASF USA
Marcus W. Brauchli
Consultant, News Corporation
The Honorable Richard Burt
Senior Advisor, McLarty and Associates (Honorary Chairman)
Dr. Martin Bussmann
Mannheim LLC
David W. Detjen
Partner, Alston & Bird, LLP
Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling
Director, Internationale Journalisten-Programme (IJP)
Ronald Frohne
President and CEO,
GWFF USA, Inc.
James F. Hoge, Jr.
Editor, Foreign Affairs (Honorary Chairman)
Mary Jacobus
CEO, The New York Times Regional Media Group
The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger
Chairman, Kissinger Associates
The Honorable Frank E. Loy
Former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs (Chairman)
Senator Richard G. Lugar
United States Senator (R-Ind.)
Wolfgang Pordzik
Executive Vice President, Corporate Public Policy, DHL Americas
Stanford S. Warshawsky
Chairman, Bismarck Capital, LLC
Garrick Utley
President, Levin Institute, SUNY
Legal Advisor:
Phillip C. Zane
Attorney at Law, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz

German Trustees

Patron: William R. Timken, Jr.
U.S. Ambassador to Germany
Erik Bettermann
Director-General, Deutsche Welle
Prof. Dr. Reinhard Bettzuege
German Ambassador to Brussels
Dr. Martin Blessing
CEO, Commerzbank AG
Maria Böhmer
State Minister, Member of Parliament, CDU/CSU
Tom Buhrow
Anchorman, ARD
Sabine Christiansen
Journalist, TV21 Media
Dr. Mathias Döpfner
CEO, Axel-Springer AG
Thomas Ellerbeck
Chairman, Vodafone Foundation Gernot Erler
State Minister, Foreign Office
Leonhard F. Fischer
Partner, RHJI Swiss Management
Emilio Galli-Zugaro
Head Group Communications, Allianz Group
Tessen von Heydebreck
Chairman, Deutsche Bank Foundation (Chairman)
Luc Jochimsen
Member of Parliament, Die Linke
Lars G. Josefsson
President and CEO, Vattenfall
Hans-Werner Kilz
Editor-in-Chief, Süddeutsche Zeitung
Dr. Torsten-Jörn Klein
Board member, Gruner + Jahr AG
Carsten Maschmeyer
Chairman, AWD Holding
Bascha Mika
Editor-in-Chief, Die Tageszeitung
Kerstin Müller
Former State Minister, Member of Parliament, Buendnis 90/Die Grünen
Prof. Markus Schächter
Director-General, ZDF German TV
Helmut Schäfer
Former Minister of State (Honorary Chairman)
Monika Schaller
Executive Director, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Friede Springer
Publisher, Axel Springer AG
Franz Thönnes
State Secretary and Member of Parliament, Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD)
Tobias Trevisan
CEO, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
George Weidenfeld
Former CEO, Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Dr. Guido Westerwelle
Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP)
Ulrich Wilhelm
Government Spokesman

The Arthur F. Burns Board of Trustees in the United States and Germany acknowledges with gratitude the support of the following organizations and individuals who have made the 2008 Arthur F. Burns program possible.

Sponsors in the U.S.
Alston & Bird, LLC
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC
BASF
The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation
Continental Airlines
Deloitte & Touche
DHL
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
GWFF USA, Inc.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The Ladenburg Foundation

Individual Contributions
John and Gina Despres
David Detjen
The Hon. Frank E. Loy
Stanford S. Warshawsky

Sponsors in Germany
Allianz AG
Auswärtiges Amt.
Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend
Deutsche Bank AG
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Gruner+Jahr AG
Ruhrgas AG
Siemens AG