My first article for The Tennessean was published a few weeks ago. The headline read: "German reporter on his first Tennessee State Fair visit in Wilson County: 'Overwhelmed.'" It was one of the most entertaining assignments I have had as a journalist in years. And even better: Afterward, several colleagues told me they enjoyed reading the story. I trust it wasn't just Southern politeness.
The piece was about my visit to the Wilson County Fair in Lebanon -- my very first state fair experience. While I am somewhat familiar with the United States, many things felt new and exciting: the eclectic mix of rides, the agricultural shows, the multitude of competitions, and of course, the endless varieties of deep-fried food.
My colleagues said they appreciated the article because it showed a familiar event -- one nearly every American grows up with -- through a new lens. Was it the most hard-hitting piece of journalism in my career? Probably not. But it did highlight something important: the value of shifting your viewpoint.
The story about the fair reminded me why I'm with The Tennessean in the first place: to see things from a different angle. My name is Tobias Heimbach, and I am taking part in the Arthur F. Burns Fellowship. It is a program that each year sends 10 German journalists to work in the United States and Canada, while 10 North American journalists spend time in Germany. I'll be with The Tennessean for two months, while also continuing my work for my home publication, Stuttgarter Zeitung, a regional newspaper.
Back in Germany, I usually cover national politics, focusing on defense, energy and housing policy. I've been on assignments in Ukraine and Iraq. Now, as a temporary correspondent in the U.S., my role is to explain to German readers what's happening here.
One topic that I am particularly interested in is political polarization. It is one of the biggest challenges societies face on both sides of the Atlantic. Nowadays people don't just disagree on opinions. They can't even agree on facts anymore. When people stop sharing a common perspective on facts, society fractures. And we have seen recently that people in power want to make certain facts go away if they don't like them. This is a particular challenge for journalists because our goal is informing our readers, so they can make smart decisions as individuals, consumers and citizens.
It's a tremendous challenge, and I don't have the solution. But I do believe that stepping outside your own point of view can help. Changing perspective is valuable -- not just for journalists.