Paula Alves da Silva is a Portuguese currently working in Washington D.C. as a foreign correspondent for TSF, and as a freelancer international multimedia journalist. With more than ten years of work experience on TV, newspapers, radio and online developing national and international multimedia news mostly on politics and conflicts worldwide. In her luggage, she brings her journalism experience as a correspondent from Spain, Italy, Iceland, England, USA, Bangladesh, and travel stories from more than thirty countries. She believes that ”informed people are not just capable of changing their world. They are capable of changing the world.”

Why did you decide to work as a foreign correspondent in the US?

I believe that in order to understand local changes we need a broader vision of the world. My interest in international news came at an early age and since then I hoped to be able to one day report on international soil. It is undeniable that the United States continues to be nowadays a crucial piece of the puzzle in the international scene, so I moved 7 years ago to DC. I was already living in the US when the opportunity arose and I proudly accepted it, aware of the responsibility that it means professionally and personally.

What lessons have you learned over the years of working as an American foreign correspondent based in Washington, DC?

First and very importantly, I learned that I need to deeply know and understand the Portuguese audience in order to be capable of writing the news that better fits their interests. Second, I understood that keeping an active network is essential to find and provide good and professionally researched information. And lastly, that I cannot report a story without effectively knowing its context.

Which is the most important part of your work as a US-based foreign journalist for the audience of your country?

I would say that what most interests them is having me as a bridge between both countries. What I mean by that is that there's an evident need for me to be clear and informative in a way that brings a precise understanding of the facts and its context so someone across the ocean can perceive what is happening. On the other hand, I believe that the crucial part of being a foreign journalist is to provide different views and perspectives, open the doors for other realities of which they are not aware.

What do you consider to be the most challenging aspect of your job as a US-based foreign correspondent?

Clearly to create a good contact list. It is undoubtedly a challenge, and it takes a long time to be able to have a list of contacts in the most diverse areas that you can reach when needed. Since the US is such a big country and having to report in various fields, creating a contact list not only requires time and networking but a deep understanding of the areas, its organizations, and the contacts that can provide the most accurate information.

As a foreign journalist, what has been the most challenging or difficult story you have covered from the US? In addition, what criteria do you use to select the stories you think are worthwhile to cover?

I have to underline two stories: the Black Lives Matter protests and the 2020 US elections. Regarding the criteria I would say that the most important ones are the location, the impact of the story and the people involved. Most often, my reporting covers the political and economic situation in the United States, including foreign policy, international relations, social movements and living conditions. Usually I tend to question: What is important for them to know? What stories can people relate to? What stories can have an impact? What is happening in the US that is also happening in Portugal?

What is the best way for a foreign journalist to become successful as a correspondent in the US?

Personally, I would say that to achieve success as a correspondent the key element is to have a perfect understanding of the country you are reporting from: its people, its political, social, and economic situation, and in the US case to know the existing differences between the 50 states. That, in my point of view, is crucial. I tend not to believe that you can tell a story without understanding its roots. And that requires time, a lot of reading, many conversations and constant observation. Additionally, in order to be an effective correspondent you need to have good contacts, and to be precise and clear in the way you portray the story.

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

Totally. Especially when it comes to the reality of the states that are less known and that I had the opportunity to visit and read about. The US is a big and complex country made of various realities and living conditions, and it is in fact hard to learn about it and understand it without actually living in the country. Also, working as a foreign correspondent gives me the 'privilege' to be in the field daily and better understand certain contexts/themes. Nowadays I realize that before coming to the US I had a very narrow and, in certain cases, skewed perspective of the country. Assuredly I have a broader and deeper understanding of the US now than I had seven years ago when I arrived in Washington D.C.

What message would you like to convey to the community of foreign correspondents in the US?

That we are not competitors. Working together can provide us with greater and more efficient tools that can better prepare us and, consequently, allow us to better inform our audience.