"Continue to knock on the same doors until someone opens"
Ana Rita Guerra is the West Coast correspondent for Lusa, the largest Portuguese-language news agency in the world. She is a contributor to the economic outlet Dinheiro Vivo.
Why did you decide to work as a foreign correspondent in the US?
I had been regularly traveling to the U.S. West Coast to cover major events and increasingly felt the need to explore the American context on a deeper level and report to my readers from a different lens. It is often not possible to fully comprehend from afar the intricacies of what’s happening in America and how it affects the rest of the world.
What lessons have you learned over the years of working as a foreign correspondent?
It takes time to build a network of contacts, even if you arrive in the U.S. with a lot of experience, as was my case. Interpersonal relationships are built differently in the U.S., compared to Europe. The work ethic is different. The pace is quicker, there’s less time for leisure, and every situation can potentially be a business opportunity. On this side of the Atlantic, what happens in Europe and elsewhere is viewed with less interest and more distance than the other way around.
Which is the most important part of your work as a US-based foreign journalist?
Being able to break down the events I’m covering in a way that looks beyond the breaking news, fast-consumption cycles we’re all dogged by these days. Contributing to a more meaningful understanding of the U.S. - Europe relationship, and shining a light on the Portuguese-American community.
What do you consider to be the most challenging aspect of your job?
Getting access to sources who do not view the European news market as important, or find the Portuguese-speaking market less appealing than competing markets. Los Angeles alone has a larger population than my home country, Portugal.
What is your opinion about journalists pursuing careers as foreign correspondents? How has this experience transformed your career and personality?
It is hard, personally taxing, but immensely rewarding. You get out of your comfort zone and use your experience and tools to report on events that might otherwise be underreported or not at all. It’s a bit like bringing the best of local news to a national audience.
This experience has taught me a lot. I no longer have a newsroom to go to, I manage my own time, I work for a different timezone, and I am often tasked with decoding American events through European lens. The diversity of backgrounds and worldviews I’ve encountered is unparalleled, and that has also contributed to my personal growth. I’m simultaneously more patient and quicker on my feet.
Did your work as a foreign correspondent in the US impact the perspective you had about America?
Yes. I wasn’t ready for the cultural shock I ended up feeling. It’s quite a different thing to travel for short periods of time and actually living and reporting from the U.S. I realized how the extreme differences between states impact politics, the way of living, belief systems, and the way Americans view foreigners. There are both positive and negative aspects of the American way of life that even decades of cultural colonization have not fully exposed.
Being a foreign correspondent allows you to gain a deeper understanding of the current affairs in the United States. How do you see the US from a foreign journalist's perspective?
Once I spent a couple of years in the U.S., interviewing all sorts of people, I understood why there’s such a widespread love of the flag as a visual symbol. There’s not much else that glues the citizens of this vastly immense country. But for the flag and a broader sense of “freedom”, Americans in the midwest might not have much in common with Americans on the West Coast, and so forth. There’s a profound sense of tribalism that governs even the smallest action these days.
The impact of religion, access to healthcare, and access to affordable education are critical areas to understanding what is – and has been - going on in the country. Talking to people on the ground, listening to why they feel or vote a certain way, has been eye-opening. This great country is a fascinating social, economic, and democratic experiment.
Can you offer any advice to aspiring foreign correspondents from around the world who wish to work in the United States?
Choose the less-traveled path. You might have an easier time working in big hubs with lots of other journalists, but think about where your work will have more of an impact. Is it where all the news agencies are already reporting from? Or can you find a relevant niche and make a difference?
Have patience. Things will not happen overnight. Continue to knock on the same doors until someone opens. Be prepared to work odd hours and have a less structured work-life balance. Make connections anywhere you can. Be incorruptible.
