Cross-Border Stories: Independent Journalism from Abroad
Whether in a prison in Ecuador, on a lake in Mexico or deep in the Bolivian Amazon, freelance foreign correspondent Bastian Kaiser travels to places in Latin America that few others get to see. There, he gains firsthand insight into people’s lives and the challenges of getting their stories published in German media. After all, this job requires more than curiosity and an open mind – it also takes business savvy and a great deal of flexibility.
Werksgelände: What does a freelance foreign correspondent actually do?
Bastian Kaiser: That depends on how you choose to approach the job. Some people live abroad permanently and work for one or more main clients. I currently have my base in Germany and regularly set off on research trips from here. My favourite part is being out in the field: capturing scenes, talking to people on the ground, whether in a prison in Ecuador, on a lake in Mexico or in the Bolivian Amazon. To be honest, though, that’s only a small part of my work. Much more time goes into preparation, finding story ideas and research, as well as bookkeeping and all the other things that come with being self-employed. I also work as a journalism trainer and coach, and appear as a speaker or panellist. The best thing about it, and perhaps also the most daunting, is that there’s hardly any routine.
What experience or skills should you bring to the job?
Above all, curiosity and an open mind are important. Flexibility and the ability to cope with frustration also help, because things rarely go according to plan. You should also be aware of your own position: Where am I coming from, and what expectations do I bring to my work? We all have assumptions and prejudices. What matters is recognising them, questioning them and being able to live with contradictions. For example, it can be true both that Bogotá has a large and visible queer community and that Colombia is one of the most dangerous countries in the region for queer people. Both aspects belong in my reporting. The rest comes down to journalistic skills: thorough research, a good nose for stories and as broad a skill set as possible in writing, audio, video and social media. Language skills are a huge advantage; otherwise, you remain at a distance and have to rely more heavily on third parties. When it comes to gaining international experience, I’d recommend taking things step by step: nobody has to start reporting from abroad overnight. Studying abroad, exchange programmes and scholarships are good ways to get started.
We all have assumptions and prejudices. What matters is recognising them, questioning them and being able to live with contradictions.
- Bastian Kaiser
What do you find most appealing about your job?
What appeals to me most is the proximity and immediacy: being right where things are happening rather than reporting from behind a desk. I consider it a great privilege that people let me into their lives. Many of the people I speak to have experienced discrimination and violence, or are under threat, and have every reason to distrust the outside world. Yet they often open up to me despite not knowing me. That’s not something I take for granted, especially in places where, for example, organised crime terrorises people and the state is unable to protect them. The job also forces me to keep broadening my horizons and questioning myself.
What are the biggest challenges in your job?
The variety I love so much about this job also has a downside: it’s difficult to plan. Assignments depend on the availability of the people I interview, editorial budgets and, not least, whatever else is happening in the world. Many stories are considered „too far away“ by German media outlets. That’s understandable, because there’s fierce competition for space among important stories. Every international investigation is therefore also a business decision: how can I make it financially viable, for example by adapting the story for several media outlets? And what can I rely on when an investigation comes to nothing? That’s why I need a second source of income. At the moment, mine mainly comes from training and coaching assignments.
Logistics and safety present further challenges. I sort out my visa well in advance, plan my journeys carefully and look after myself, especially in dangerous or emotionally demanding situations. As a freelance journalist, I’m often travelling alone, so I take particular care and need a local network to help me assess situations. Exchanging ideas with colleagues is very important to me. I also find it helpful to write down my experiences and reflect on them to make sense of what I’ve been through.
What has been your biggest flop in your career so far, and what did you learn from it?
I once spent weeks researching the race for raw materials in Ecuador, spent days on the edge of a copper mine and accompanied Indigenous people who were fighting the mining project. The story was fascinating and had a profound personal impact on me. But even while I was working on it, I realised that the story was too big for me to investigate all its different aspects on my own, and that establishing a clear connection to Germany would be difficult. In the end, hardly any editorial teams were interested.
What I learned is that I now assess much earlier whether a story has enough substance to work, narrow down the topic more carefully and speak to editors before setting off. Then there are the smaller setbacks that happen all the time when reporting from abroad: people I’m interviewing and camera operators have cancelled on me at the last minute time and time again. But something often comes up on location that I would never have planned for. It reminds me that there’s usually another way forward. I’m still working on keeping my cool, though.
Bastian’s tips for aspiring journalists
I’m not a fan of checklists to work through. In journalism, there are many different paths to the same goal. So I’ll share only what has worked for me: try things out and follow your interests and strengths. Build a network early on and stay in touch with people. That also means making your presence felt on social media and showcasing your stories and research. I’ve noticed that traditional media outlets are more likely to close foreign bureaux than open new ones. Building a strong personal brand makes you less dependent on individual clients.
Bastian Kaiser
… works as a freelance journalist specialising in Latin America.
Share this article via: