"Journalism should be more than the day-to-day business"

Björn Soenens is a U.S.-correspondent and member of the foreign correspondents' community. Soenens works in New York City for VRT NWS as radio, television, and online reporter. His work for Flanders’ public radio and television service covers politics in America and his interpretations of American society for his Flemish-Belgian audience. Soenens was also the editor-in-chief of the television news department of VRT news. His radio feature “De Amerikawatcher” for Radio 1 won him the Dexia press prize. He also recently published his book “De Lengte Van Een Oceaan,” The Length of an Ocean, which tells the stories of ordinary struggling Americans, their urge to survive, and their fight against the inevitable. Soenens has covered a wide range of topics in the U.S., from politics, economic subjects, and American culture, to breaking news. He describes himself as a “roving reporter and wandering observer” of the U.S.

Soenens spoke to the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents about his complex love of America, journalism as anthropology, and how he curates timeless stories. 

It’s harder to sell Biden.

Speaking on the past four years of his career, Soenens described the turbulent nature of his coverage of America since the election of Donald Trump. “I will forever be grateful to Donald Trump because he pushed all the buttons of all the problems of America and all the tensions that were there. And through that, I could report a lot of things that in other times would not have been possible.” Although it made for an exciting journalistic experience, Soenens expressed relief for the end of a very consuming beat. On the other hand, Soenens described having more difficulty in selling stories in the era of Biden. “It is much more difficult to sell your stuff, so to speak, to the editorial newsroom because they think it’s more boring.” He expressed his distaste for conflict-focused journalism. “If there is no immediate conflict or visible conflict, people are not hooked anymore into the American news.” 

“That’s my constant struggle in journalism. I don’t want to be the man of the day.”

Soenens spoke about seeking out timeless stories and how to create a more lasting influence as a journalist. “Journalism should be more than the day-to-day business and the madness of the day.” To Soenens, this means telling more stories on the periphery of American culture and news. Soenens tells these stories through his podcast series “Bjorn in the USA.” “It can also go to subjects like food in America, what’s the history of lying in America?, what’s the history of the C.I.A. in America?” Soenens uses his one-hour podcast to create deep dives into relevant but more timeless topics to create a lasting impact on his audience. 

“American journalists could benefit from having another view on their country.”

On the topic of the differences between American journalism and Belgian journalism, Soenens described his favor towards constructive journalism. “Constructive journalism doesn’t mean you’re the positive guy, but that you do more of 360 degrees work.” To Soenens, this means taking in different opinions and perspectives, whether at home or abroad. “If you live in a society and you were brought up in a society, sometimes you don’t see the flaws anymore because it’s part of daily life. It’s part of who you are and what you’ve always known.” Soenens compared his experience as a journalist to being an anthropologist, submerging oneself into a community and observing things the people can’t see. 

On interviewing Americans as a European

Soenens described general ease when it comes to interviewing Americans as a European journalist. He described his experience on the road of asking Americans for their life story and being met with agreeance and willingness. “I love America for that. That it is so easy to speak to people and they want to be interviewed.” On the flip side, Soenens described a great difficulty working with officials and politicians. “It’s hell. When you’re a European and you contact a politician, and you don’t know somebody high up in the staff of that politician, you will not even get an answer.” His advice to European journalists coming to America is to “be patient, try again.” 

“We need to get back to our networks.”

Soenens spoke about the paradox of American individualism and his fascination with social networks between Americans. “This is America; you’re on your own. But by being on your own, you seek help through other people.” Soenens cited ‘alternative networks' and churches and the different ways Americans find their communities as his reason for wanting to continue telling American stories. “I want to show the deep side of America.”