DW Volos in Washington: Stories from afar
Chui-Hui Lin
What are your main tasks in DW's Washington bureau?
My tasks include doing vox pops on the latest news as a reporter and as a videographer, pitching stories. I'm also the author of a story about a Chinese MAGA activist.
What has surprised you the most since you started the internship?
The fact that so many people support Trump, and that they deeply believe in some conspiracies. Also, the newsroom is so fast paced and that was a good surprise for me.
What has been your most intense moment?
I’ve had a really great time doing reports on the ground, especially when I can use my background expertise. Colleagues in our Washington bureau are all very supportive.
My most intense moment so far was when I was assigned to cover a story about a group of Vietnamese Buddhist monks who walked 3,700 km across the United States. I was asked to do a PTC [speaking directly into the camera] and the team quickly needed the script so the videographer could edit and deliver it immediately. With my team, we completed everything in just three hours – a very tight deadline. I’ve learned a lot from that experience: it was my first time on TV, and it was a great example of strong teamwork.
Which hands-on skills have you learned so far?
To be really fast in getting ready to go out to film something. And to do vox pops on almost any topic.
Which projects will you be working on over the next few weeks?
I’m currently working on a story about a Chinese MAGA woman. Through her story, I want to understand why more Asian Americans are turning to the political right. I'm the reporter and am preparing the script; the videographer will do the video editing. Team work!
What's on your bucket list before leaving?
Seeing all my good friends and family in the USA. They are mostly based in California, so I already took the chance when I was in San Francisco to meet almost all of them.
Chiara Bachels
What are your main tasks in DW's Washington bureau?
From day one, Chi-Hui and I were involved in the daily tasks of a foreign bureau. We travel to where the news are, produce longer and shorter pieces for all our platforms and sometimes just go out to get vox pops on a certain event or topic. Besides daily tasks, we also get to do stories we’re passionate about – I’ll finish mine by the end of my stay here at the end of February.
What has surprised you the most since you started this internship?
How unpredictable every day is. When you wake up, you often don’t know what will happen that day, if you might have to travel or if the press conference you’re going to will reveal anything relevant. You have to be flexible and ready to deliver at any time of the day. But that goes along with how refreshingly little time you spend at your desk.
What has been your most intense moment so far?
Going to Minneapolis to report on civil resistance against ICE. It wasn’t just intense because we had to do pieces to camera at 25 degrees below celsius and my mouth could hardly move. It was also interesting to work in such a tense environment with potential threats everywhere, and threats that ICE also poses to journalists. Two Italian colleagues told us how they were harshly stopped in their car and intimidated, despite showing press identification.
Which hands-on skills have you learned so far?
I've become way more comfortable with everything we've learned during the journalism traineeship so far. I now know how to be live on camera, approach people and spontaneously do vox pops, and I’ve improved in terms of filming. Overall, I’m more confident in everything I do.
Which projects are you working on over the next few weeks?
It depends on my reporter’s luck, but I’m looking into the identity of ICE agents and would love to speak to some, as many of them are immigrants themselves.
What is on your bucket list before leaving?
I'm still hoping to catch Trump landing in his helicopter behind the White House. I also haven’t been to the Capitol. And maybe even visit Florida, if a story should take me there!
