"A foreign correspondent never stops to inquire upon the country he is writing about"

Vincenzo Pascale

Vincenzo Pascale is a foreign correspondent from Italy working in the United States. He is a member of the AFC-USA (Association Foreign Press Correspondents) His extensive career has included being appointed as a U.S. correspondent for Il Messaggero di Sant’Antonio (the largest Catholic magazine in the world), working as the head of the Migrantes for the United Nations, and being awarded Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy. Pascale has published over 300 articles throughout his career covering topics ranging from immigration to religion. 

Pascale spoke to us about immigration and racial divides in the U.S., his project Sustainable Development Goals 2030 at the United Nations, and his vision for the future of southern Italy. 

What makes the experience of working as a foreign correspondent in the U.S. so special? 

On Memorial Day a few years ago, I was invited along with other foreign correspondents to visit some U.S. Navy ships harbored in NYC. During the visit, I met a member (former executive) of the AFC-USA. He mentioned the organization, and I started to attend AFC events, first live and then digital until I decided to join. My experience has been very positive. The webinars are impressive and very helpful for anyone in the world of journalism. 

What has been your journey so far as a foreign correspondent in the U.S.? 

I have had a very interesting journey. I have come to know many interesting people from every avenue of life who came to the U.S. to pursue their ambitions or expand their business ideas. Many people, scholars, in business, once in the U.S. tend to expand their network globally. I would say this has been an amazing factor and opportunity with the capacity to create a global vast network of collaboration and business. 

What differences or difficulties have you experienced while working in the U.S. compared to Italy? 

Differences: in the U.S. people are more approachable for an interview and in the majority of cases, they respond to emails. 

You’ve had such an extensive and accomplished career, from the United Nations to writing for the largest catholic magazine in the world. What work are you most proud of? 

Every step, every achievement of my career has been an amazing moment for me. It has helped to make me a better journalist. I was very proud after I published my first article (over twenty years ago) on Il Messaggero di Sant’Antonio. I was surprised with how many people read it and then knew my name without meeting me in person. The United Nations is a global institution where ideas and programs (like SDG 2030) are developed. The report about special events at the United Nations is a great professional achievement. Reporting on disability, freedom of press, and immigration are all topics on which I am proud to cover. As a result of my work in the field of journalism and cultural promotion, I was bestowed by the President of Italian Republic Sen. Giorgio Napolitano, Knight of the Order of Star of Italy. That was a moment of great pride for me and my family. 

In your interview with Nancy Pelosi published in Il Foglio you asked multiple questions about divisiveness in American politics. What are your personal thoughts about the state of the U.S. government? What has this recent transition of power revealed to you? 

The U.S is a great nation. Civil society and religious institutions are a powerful force to raise and tackle social issues at all levels. Recent social issues from Black Lives Matter to social inequality to the economic divide between urban and rural areas needs to be addressed in the near future. Prioritizing these issues is necessary in order to prevent a deeper division in American society. 

As someone with a passion for researching global migration, how do you view immigration in America? What have the recent developments in the Biden administration regarding the continuation of mass deportations revealed to you? 

The United States is a nation of immigrants. The country has been built by immigrants and by the labor exploitation of Black people. Immigration will remain always central to the U.S. social, political and economic issues. There are areas where immigration remains an unsolved issue: Rio Bravo’s area. Immigrants bring a labor force which creates wealth. It is necessary that great reform is granted in order to provide legal status to those eligible. It is too soon to give a clear statement regarding the Biden administration. The next few months will be very important in evaluating which policies the new administration will enforce with migrants. 

As head of Migrantes at the United Nations you’ve been working on organizing Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Can you give us more insight on that project and what it means to you? 

SDG 2030 is a very big and ambitious program. It takes a lot of commitment from State Members and civil society to implement it. Migrantes is very focused on several aspects of SDG 2030: education, inclusion, good health, disability, migration, reduction of inequality. Due to COVID, we organize webinars to inform the public. When Covid restrictions are reduced, we will resume in-person events in several New York City cultural institutions. 

Let’s talk about the 2021 Sele D’oro Mezzogiorno competition. The competition calls for writers to submit essays, research papers, and stories that are focused on Mediterranean issues and proposals for growth. What has been your role in the organization of this prize? What is your vision for the future of southern Italy? 

The Sele d’Oro Journalistic Prize has been around for thirty-seven years. This year I was invited to judge the jury prize. It was a great honor for me. I proposed to make the journalistic prize international, and I believe a different cultural and social narrative on local issues may offer a new perspective. As to the future of southern Italy? It seems a paradox, but to me it seems better after COVID. A lot of young southern people returned to their towns and cities to work remotely. This means there is a great increase in social and human capital bringing their professional expertise back to the South. It may represent a turning point for southern Italy. One more point is that southern Italy needs international exposure. It has to promote its best cultural institutions, museums, and everything that can appeal to an international audience for tourism, research and investments. Now may be the right moment considering also the economical support that the region is about to receive from the European Union. 

On your website you state that your research is focused on the “resilience of human beings” and their capacity to overcome difficulties through the arts and “humanitarian affairs”. On a global scale we have been going through major challenges as a species whether it be a pandemic or the rise of fascism. In your opinion, how can human expression and the arts get us through? Do you believe in a global renaissance? What would that look like to you? 

Human beings are able to overcome incredibly difficult situations. Holocaust survivors, people who faced major violence physical, structural, or cultural are a few examples. I am fascinated by the capacity of these people to spread a message of positivity and be witnesses for social justice, peace, and inclusion. Education is a key point to inform and engage young generations in defending and promoting the dignity of every human being. I do not know if we can talk of a global renaissance, but I know we need to totally rethink our relationship with nature and with those who are left behind.

What makes the experience of working as a foreign correspondent in the U.S. so special? 

A foreign correspondent never stops to inquire upon the country or events he/she is writing about. It is a daily search for interesting and important news. Working in New York City, a media person (a journalist) can see and learn social, cultural and economical trends which will spread across the globe. Despite the pandemic, New York City still remains a world leader city. 

What is the message you’d like to send to members and supporters of the AFC-USA? 

Participate, expand your network, raise questions about the world’s inequality and defend free press.