"Go deeper and find your niche in journalism"

Ediz Tiyansan is a foreign correspondent based in Los Angeles. He has previously lived in the Middle East for 9 years, covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Arab Spring, and the civil wars in Libya and Syria. Since 2017, he’s been based in the United States, covering the White House, immigration, environment, and trade, while frequently traveling to cover stories in Latin America. He speaks fluent Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, and varying levels of German, Hebrew, and Chinese. Aside from languages and story-telling, he also has a passion for exploring food and music in different corners of the world.

 You worked as a correspondent from Turkey, Israel, Washington DC, and now Los Angeles. What did it take to adjust to all these different environments and countries? In what ways did it impact your personal and professional life? 

It certainly had a tremendous impact, as the reasons behind taking these posts, or the consequences thereof, had major implications on my personal and professional life. My first major TV News gig —and the longest— was based in Israel and Palestine. I spent 7 years in that region, learning both languages, connecting with both nations, and understanding the conflict to the best of my ability. It was rewarding in so many ways to be able translate the sophisticated socio-political nature of a deeply rooted conflict to the outside world. On the other hand, living through several uprisings and three wars in Gaza can eventually wear you out, because the more you connect with the place, the more personal it can get. 

My next post in Turkey kept me in war zones, as I was regularly crossing the border into Syria to cover the civil war there for two years. Aside from all the risks involved, these assignments tend to be headline stories with frequent breaking news, requiring a reporter's consistent focus on the story and it could come as a sacrifice on one’s personal / social life. That was one of the reasons why I chose to make the move to the US, but I must admit my mother’s persistent nagging about having a workplace not surrounded by so many guns and explosives may have also played a role. 

Ediz Tiyansan interviewing the former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

When I first arrived in Washington, DC, it was former President Trump’s first year in office, and some of my colleagues were teasing me saying I’m drawn to conflicts wherever they may be. Jokes aside, covering the White House and the State Department was quite new to me, but I realized soon enough the Trump administration turned out to be uncharted territory not just for foreign correspondents, but also for many local reporters. It was, however, easy to get used to living in DC — a pretty landscape with a vibrant social scene, and interesting people from all occupations. My move to Los Angeles came with a new title as a Latin America Correspondent — which I really enjoyed, especially in 2018 which was the election year in most countries across South America. Now I’m not on the road as much anymore, partially thanks to the pandemic. I’m mostly covering Southern California, looking at a variety of subjects including social justice issues, climate, technology, immigration, etc. A better work-life balance also allows me to take advantage of the beach often...

Being a foreign correspondent, how does reporting in Washington DC compare to Los Angeles?

It almost feels like two different countries, each with a different pace of life. By virtue of being the capital, Washington DC is the heart of all the politics, diplomacy, international organizations, lobbying, you name it. It’s a crucial hub and spending time there can be useful regardless of your field, but it’s a bubble: You realize quickly that sometimes it can be hard to even find a local with so many people hailing from outside for a limited term/contract, and there’s a lot of circulation of people. I guess, Los Angeles also draws a lot of people from outside, but here I get to explore various aspects of living in America: The city is so big and its demographics so diverse that one can travel to a different part of the city every day and cover a myriad of stories. In that sense, being in Los Angeles feels more like I’m in the field. Often, my colleagues in Washington DC report on decisions taken by the White House and bills passed in the Congress, and over here I report on how it translates to people’s lives.

In your view, what does it take to be a foreign correspondent in America? How do you define success in your work as a foreign correspondent? 

I think, especially in this era, it’s all about context. And we have two major responsibilities as foreign correspondents. One is providing that American context to the outside world: We need to put in that additional effort to make sure those cultural differences are translated in our story telling, so that even those who’ve never been to the US can better understand the whys and how’s. For instance, covering stories on gun laws and explaining the sanctity of second amendment in America is one of those stories that requires a little more cultural/historic reference than just facts. Secondly, I’m a big supporter of bringing in our “foreign perspective” into some of these stories as well. We bring a wealth of experiences and skills from our respective countries, and instead of being dominated by the national media, we could, and we should push for that additional perspective that will give the story a deeper and global understanding. In other words, I think it’s particularly important to avoid regurgitating the same coverage that’s put out by American national media, and instead use our international background as a leverage to take the story further, and ask that additional question, and explore that additional angle. 

Tell us about a story you covered and how it taught you a valuable lesson. 

I’ve taken several trips to many parts of California, and each time, I noticed my assumptions about the state, and my preconceptions about its people, were proven wrong. It’s through extensive travel that I learned about the extent of factors that influence people’s opinions and values in such drastic ways that it becomes too simplistic to label them just as “liberal” or “conservative.” The United States has always been diverse, with each of its fifty states unique in so many ways, and within each state communities can be quite different from one another, not just ethnically, but also culturally, economically, and politically. Especially in this era of increased political tensions and social justice movements, I find it fascinating that there can be so many divisions in so many different communities. And I think, it’s crucial for us journalists to go beyond reading, and travel more across the country to really understand its dynamics.

For a foreign journalist employed in the United States, what are the most difficult obstacles to overcome to succeed? 

Sometimes, I’m surprised by the amount of public skepticism, and at times even hatred, felt towards the media. I’m afraid the whole concept of “fake news” is starting to really take hold among a certain part of the population, and unfortunately some of the corporate-run networks (both on the left and right) seem to be accomplices in this process. Talking to some of my colleagues, I realized I’m not the only one who’s surprised to see so much propaganda in the news coverage of some of the most well-known networks and unfortunately, it is that obvious political agenda that alienates the public, who then no longer trusts the national news media. And I see its consequences in the field, where many people want to know the reporter’s opinion before even giving an interview. And they only want to speak to networks that represent their way of thinking. And for those of us doing this as a public service, talking to people from all levels of society is getting increasingly difficult. In some cases, I was surprised to see the level of hatred against the media, even towards a foreign correspondent. This is a dangerous trend that makes our jobs increasingly more difficult, and it can take a toll on journalism overall.

Did your work as a foreign correspondent in the US impact the perspective you had about America? 

I think it’s a given for any foreign correspondent; the answer would be yes. We are following the national news and local developments where we live over the course of years, and that eventually shapes our view of this nation, its people, subcultures, and more. My experience is full of ironies, because I have a lot of admiration that goes together with a lot of disappointment. I find it fascinating that in so many fields America still has the ideas, the creativity, and the resources to lead the world into the future. But at the same time, noticing that it doesn’t even have the most basic safety net for its people is shocking to me, especially looking at poverty, homelessness, crime rates, racial injustices, mental illnesses, and lack of access to basic healthcare… The scale of some of these problems have led me to focus more on the social justice stories in recent years.

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? 

I see a proud nation that has revolutionized the world for decades not just in geopolitics, but in entertainment, culture, and innovation. But it’s reached a point of self-reflection, where it’s trying to come to terms with some of its shortcomings. Especially the pandemic has played a crucial role in showing America some of its starkest contrasts. And I see this as an important juncture, not just in reconciling with its own domestic differences, but also in reaffirming its relationship with the outside world. In more concrete terms, President Biden has promised unity to Americans, and told the world “America is back,” and he still has a lot to show on both fronts.

Can you offer any advice to aspiring foreign correspondents from around the world who wish to work in the United States? 

Go deeper and find your niche: Sometimes it’s important to step away from the national debate and go deeper on a specific subject. I personally find that some of the specialized journalists are the ones, who produce the most interesting and ground-breaking stories. It is true that many of us are versatile reporters, covering any current affairs that come our way. But I think it’s important to decide on your favorite subject: Is it technology? Climate? Economy? Or something a lot more niche, like indigenous people’s affairs? And once you find out your passion, it becomes a lot easier to find the time and energy to do extensive reading, meet relevant people, and uncover stories that haven’t even been covered in the national media yet.