DW-AKADEMIE | New Trainees

Alexandra Scherle (28) and Nicolas Martin (29) are two of the new Deutsche Welle trainees.

Why did you apply for the Deutsche Welle traineeship?

Alexandra Scherle

Alexandra Scherle: Primarily because Deutsche Welle is international. This makes it unique and it’s always fascinated me. I grew up in Romania in a German-Romanian family, and the Deutsche Welle traineeship gives me a special opportunity to work as a journalist in both languages.

Nicolas Martin: I applied to Deutsche Welle and nowhere else because I’m interested in international topics and because, for me, the international working environment here is important.

What are you most looking forward to during the traineeship?

Alexandra Scherle: I’m looking forward to getting very good training. I didn’t study journalism before so I’d like to really understand the theoretical part. And I’m really looking forward to being with DW-TV in Berlin because I’m not very familiar with television.

Nicolas Martin: The part I’m really looking forward to is the training at the DW studio in Brussels. And I’d like to be accepted to be part of a DW-AKADEMIE workshop in Latin America.

What do you think a journalist working for Deutsche Welle needs to do especially well?

Alexandra Scherle: Having integrity is most important because for me, Deutsche Welle has high credibility. Integrity, along with professionalism and quality, can set you apart from other media.

Nicolas Martin

Nicolas Martin: I think DW journalists have to be trustworthy because, through the media, they represent Germany to the outside world. Most importantly, though, is that they’re open to other cultures and are tolerant of other people. They also need to let go a bit of the German way of looking at things and be able to understand other people’s perspectives.

Many countries have international broadcasters like Deutsche Welle. How important do you think international broadcasters are these days?

Alexandra Scherle: They’re very important, especially when they broadcast to countries where democracy and freedom of the press cannot be not taken for granted. I grew up in Romania under a dictatorship and I know what it means not to have free media and to have to rely on other countries’ international broadcasters.

Nicolas Martin: I also think international broadcasters are important. Sure, they’re driven by a country’s own interests, but I also attended a DW-AKADEMIE media development workshop in Bonn, and there was no sense of indoctrination when Germany’s democracy and freedom of the press were portrayed. That’s why I fully support Deutsche Welle.

Deutsche Welle wants to convey a picture of Germany. What aspects would you emphasize?

Alexandra Scherle: That’s a difficult question – for me, Germany is so many things. But I’d say it’s credible, competent and cosmopolitan.

Nicolas Martin: I think it’s important to show that Germany is much more colourful than people who are still attached to old stereotypes think. And that yes, Germany is a country with Goethe, Schiller and other great thinkers, but that there are many new and interesting things currently happening on the cultural scene.