"Being a foreign correspondent in the US opens your mind to the world"

Gustau Alegret is an international broadcast journalist who works in Washington DC for the international news channel NTN24. He is the director and TV anchor for Cuestión de Poder and Club de Prensa, two daily broadcast shows that set up the daily news through live interviews. He is a member of the Foreign Press Correspondents Association and WHCA, and has won three Emmy Awards, among other professional recognitions. He is also a World Economic Forum’s Media Leader.

What are the three most important aspects of your experience in America and particularly in Washington, D.C. as an international correspondent?

It is difficult to summarize what has been, and still is, my American dream… 

Try to…

Well… living in the US and working as an international journalist in Washington opens your mind to the world—that is the most relevant aspect for me. You learn about global conflicts, news, and world stories from a privileged position. 

How?

You view geopolitics through multiple angles that help you to better understand the causes and motives behind those stories. It’s also very helpful to live your life in a town full of people from all around the world — talking and, especially, listening to others is an amazing way to learn. 

And the third one?

I would say… that you must understand the limits of US power, particularly the President’s power. The person who sits in the Oval Office has limited power. The President is controlled by Congress, laws and international geopolitics that do not allow him to simply exercise his will. And this is something that you see more clearly when you live and work in Washington.

How has working in the US as a foreign journalist changed how you see, interpret, and report the news?

Gustau Alegret in an interview with the US President, Joe Biden.

In two ways: first, you see world news and conflicts from a city where, sometimes, it seems that everyone knows everything… everyone talks about the most relevant world problems. And second, everyone has an informed opinion of almost everything. That enriches you every second, but at the same time, forces you to learn about those conflicts and problems to formulate your own opinion and express it in your conversations.

All the time?

No, all the time would be exhausting! [laughing] I also like to have a pause to do nothing, think nothing, and just relax. Finding a good balance is a challenge.

And let me also add one last thing: working in the US as a foreign journalist also changes your perspective about the US. 

In what sense?

Since I landed in this country more than 10 years ago, I’ve learned that the way America is organized, and functions, is easy –if you work hard– to make your dreams come true.  I also realized that this same system that helped me and millions more, also left millions behind: people that in European societies would be more integrated, supported, and not forgotten like many that I have seen here, even in the nation’s Capital streets. Homeless, minorities treated without the same rights as their peers, or people who struggle with addictions every day—it is quite a contrast!

As a foreign correspondent, what was your first story in the US?

I clearly remember the first story. It was back in 2007. George W. Bush was at the end of his presidency, and he made a last attempt to advance a peace agreement to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His administration held a peace conference in Annapolis in November 2007. Its goal was to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. As we know, he didn’t succeed. I had to report about the conference.

Gustau Alegret

And what was the most important story you have covered so far?

About the most relevant… well, I’m not sure if that was the most relevant, but it was a shocking experience for me: in April 2015, Baltimore Police Department officers arrested Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African American city resident. Gray's neck and spine were injured while he was in a police vehicle, and he went into a coma.

And he died… 

Yes, so, the following days, there were protests in Baltimore. They were particularly violent on the day of his funeral. I was there to cover the story, and, at some point, I found myself with my cameraman right in the middle of the protest. Police had surrounded the area but did not go in, so we were there, alone. Suddenly, a group of protesters attacked us, and pepper-sprayed us. We had to run and thank God, we ended up inside a bus where the bus driver and other Baltimore residents protected us from the group of angry protesters. After a few minutes, and once we recovered from the spray, we could leave the bus and continue reporting.

Communications are also part of your experience. How can journalism and communication be balanced in your work experience?

You are right! I worked in Spain as a journalist for years but one day I had the opportunity to serve as a communications director at the Catalan Ministry of Commerce, Tourism, and Consumer Affairs. Also, in DC, I worked as a communications consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank. These two jobs gave me the perspective from the other side—from government and from a multilateral institution focused on Latin-America. 

How? 

Well, both jobs helped me to understand what journalists need from public officials. Also, it was challenging to be honest, transparent, and trusting when I was trying to frame their stories. 

These experiences complemented my view as a reporter. I could say that today I have a better understanding of what I can expect and push to get information from that other side.

What were the most challenging aspects of your work as a foreign correspondent in the United States, and how did you overcome these challenges?

I would say two things: the first one for me is having a good grasp of English to conduct professional interviews, follow press conferences, and ask questions and follow ups with confidence. I’m not a native English speaker and every day I learn new things of this language.

The second: find your sources and build trust and confidence—this takes time, not only from your day-to-day work but months to have your own contacts. I try to dedicate some time every week to cultivate my contacts.

What was the biggest disappointment in your experience as a foreign correspondent? 

I cannot recall one specific disappointment. There are many in your day-to-day work. All of them are part of your learning process, and all of them are your daily challenge to report accurately while thinking about our audience. 

Give me an example…

A figure wrongly reported, a name mispronounced, missing asking the right question during an interview or at a press conference… All of them are part of my challenge that, at the end of every day, I try to review and learn from them to do a better job the following day. 

And your most significant success you've had?

I know that this is not what you expected when you asked me this question, but I also believe that my most significant success is working as a journalist.

Our work is part of an industry that is going through tough times. Doing what I love the most and doing it for a living –in Washington as a foreign correspondent– is my most significant success, for sure!

Would you be able to share three lessons you've learned as a foreign correspondent in the US and that you can share as advice with foreign journalists?

I don’t feel comfortable giving advice to colleagues—I try to learn from them but let me tell you something. When I have had an invitation to talk with students in my own country or anywhere, I always encourage them to pursue their dreams. This is something that is part of the American education, but not in all countries, when you are a child and you want to be… let’s say, a musician, or a professional soccer player, or a drummer… you receive from your teachers or family the motivation you need to achieve it, or at least to try to achieve it. So, my main lesson is to follow your dreams, work hard to make them come true!

Any other?

Learn languages. English is essential, of course, especially if you work in the US. If you already have it, learn another one. If there is still room to improve your English, study a little more. That would help you to be a better journalist.

Oh, and one more: read. Read what you like and read things that are not part of your ideological comfort zone. Subscribe to those newsletters that are read by people who do not think like you. See what they see, read what they read, so that you can, or at least try to, understand them. At the end, you can better explain to your readers or your audience more complete stories.