Roderick Macleod Sheds Light on the Joys and Complexities of Being a Foreign Journalist

A multi-skilled video producer and journalist, Roderick Macleod is a Senior Producer at BBC News who has previously summed up his work in very simple terms: “Produce. Shoot. Design. Edit. Repeat.” A native South African with experience working for news outlets in the Johannesburg and Cape Town areas, he has much to say about how South Africans perceive the United States and Americans at large. While he observes that people in his native country “do have a dim view of American politics, especially their foreign policy,” he continues to approach his work with a sense of curiosity and wonder, traits that have served him well as he’s navigated the complex labyrinth of the U.S.

Roderick Macleod

It is easy for American journalists to forget that their foreign-born colleagues often operate with fewer resources and that their transition to life in the U.S. is often a difficult one. There is so much for them to navigate, especially in a country with a media environment as saturated as this one, where they ae “constantly inundated by breaking news events.” Still, Macleod encourages his fellow foreign journalists not to sacrifice their identities or overlook the unique insights and contributions they can offer as more impartial observers.

Above all, Macleod offers acute observations about his life and work in the United States—a marked difference from his time in South Africa and the United Kingdom. It’s that razor-sharp eye that’s the heart of this interview, which was my privilege to publish in my capacity as Editorial Supervisor on behalf of the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the United States.

How do people in your home country perceive the United States and Americans? 

Like any relationship – that’s complicated! America is so massively diverse and complex, so the answer obviously depends on who you ask and what parts of America being referred to. Broadly, in my home country South Africa, I would say the tenants of liberal democracy, and the institutions built on them, such as free elections, open press and protection of civil liberties are emulated and admired.

However, I would say people in South Africa do have a dim view of American politics, especially their foreign policy. Locally they can’t understand why, in such an advanced economy, issues such as the racial injustices, gun violence, cost of medical care, etc. persist and can’t be easily and amicably resolved. South Africans often feel Americans are frustratingly ignorant to international issues and intricacies, especially in Africa. Currently the feeling is the country is being lumped into derogatory perceptions and interpretations of an alternate and competing world order. These have been amplified by perceptions (and often misreporting) of membership in BRICS and stances on the Russia-Ukraine war.

This has not been helped by recent unproven accusations by the U.S. Ambassador claiming SA was providing arms to Russia. South Africans do want to beat their own path on the international stage, but we do monitor the U.S. closely, and often feel helpless to perceptions and their consequences, often facing fears of the economic impact of becoming a proxy pariah state in a new cold conflict between the U.S. and China and Russia. Having said that, at least in the city where I’m from, people are still primarily influenced by American culture and consumerism. I remember anecdotally when Strarbucks and KrispyKreme came to Joburg, the queues were around the block for weeks. Our fast food, flashy cars, fashion, music, comedians, and TV shows are all dominated by or mimic American products. It’s an interesting dichotomy.

Macleod reporting from Somalia.

I also work for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and have lived and worked in the U.K., so I am very privy to their perspectives on America, which I would say is conducted with far more familiarity and integration. They see and report on America as a distant mirror of themselves, like the strange distant relative that looks and acts a lot like them, but is far more eccentric and secretly makes them feel better about our own historical habits and contemporary complexities.

How would you describe your impressions and observations of the United States?

That each of the states (or at least regions) really do basically function as their own countries, complete with unique heritage, historical interpretations, cultural complexities, and, most confusingly, rules and laws. This does mean that each then progresses and regresses in their own unique way. Currently it does seem they are moving further and further apart on so many levels, and hold increasing animosity towards each other. I remember filming in North Carolina once, and being followed, harassed, and called a “Yankee” because my rental car number plate was from New York. Needless to say, when the assailants heard my accent, they didn’t quite know how to respond and promptly departed.  I am however often reminded by locals and colleagues, who have been here far longer, that this is nothing new and America as a whole has always prevailed.

Why were you specifically chosen to work in the United States instead of another country?

Mostly luck and good timing—with a scattering of skills, contacts and a proclivity to say yes to everything. Working for a large international broadcaster I was lucky enough to have worked with colleagues who ended up in the U.S. bureau and was then recommended for a role here. I luckily then happened to have a unique set of skills that matched well with an opening, and have managed to grow and develop my career here since.

Among the stories you have covered in the United States, which do you consider the most significant and why? 

I was very fortunate to work on two documentaries about religion and politics in the U.S.—topics not recommended for dinner conversations—but a journalist’s delight in a country like the U.S.

Christianity and its centrality to the formation of the U.S. and its framing of political and civic life are often misunderstood and under reported—especially from an impartial perspective. The first documentary looked broadly at varying interpretations and influences of Christianity and its impacts on political campaigns, and the second was a deeper dive into Christian nationalism and rising right-wing Christian fundamentalism. Being able to research, interpret and experience how deeply religion influences the country—it was eye-opening, personally and professionally. Our work got a lot of intriguing feedback from international audiences, but also, encouragingly, U.S. viewers shared how it revealed and crystalized so many points of view that they knew somewhat about but felt hadn’t been reported on with nuance or objectivity. I do think being a foreign correspondent, and working for such an impartial international broadcaster, helped us achieve that well in the documentaries.

Macleod working on an assignment in Kenya.

What challenges did you face when starting your work in the United States?

When working in news and covering the U.S. you are constantly inundated by breaking news events, and at first it was very overwhelming and intimidating. Trying to feed the insatiable and unending appetite (from audience and editors) for U.S, content, most especially when it has anything “Trump” attached to it. By contrast, working in Africa for so many years, I often had to fight to get meaningful content on air, so it was jarring to need to be constantly filling airtime. This was challenging, firstly, in learning how to pace myself, and to also understand what news required my concerted and concentrated energy and effort. I was so excited and eager when I got here, but years in and with growing family commitments, I’ve learnt to focus my efforts and attention.

When a big story hits, it means a lot of travel, late nights and tons of demands, especially when we have fewer resources than local networks, so as foreign correspondents it takes some learning to know not to kill ourselves on every daily news event. However, I’m thankful that the BBC has supportive teams and understanding leadership, and we are given the breadth to focus on what’s important, plus the time to fact-check sufficiently—and of course it does help to have so many great resources from organizations such as AFPC-USA.

How has your experience working in the United States shaped and influenced your career?

I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to report on, and to be at the forefront of, so many historic moments and events—so many of my relatives and friends are still astounded and impressed when I share photos and reports from my coverage at the White House or Pentagon during major international events. It has been interesting being a foreigner having to explain America to the British, while also appealing to American audience, but also not alienating international viewers while being conscious of local viewers.

If that seems complicated, it’s because it is! But it has all taught me that focusing on compelling stories and prioritizing good storytelling is what’s important in news no matter where you are. Being a good journalist means being a good conduit for information, and often outsider perspective and insight can only help to achieve that.

What are some key insights or observations you gained about American society and its political landscape during your time reporting in the country?

It’s probably general knowledge by now, but it has become increasingly obvious how traditional news media’s reach, relevance and influence here is in rapid decline. More and more people I meet are openly skeptical, if not outrightly hostile towards, news outlets, coupled with younger generations not consuming their news on linear outlets like cable TV—if at all.

Some newer outlets seem to be pivoting and innovating, but increasingly entire alternate and non-conventional media ecosystems are developing and thrive, and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for not just traditional outlets, but also impartial journalism.

Did you find any significant variations in media practices or journalistic norms between your home country and the United States?

Macleod at the White House.

Most of the deepest, most insightful and in-depth reporting in the U.S. comes from local news outlets. And there are so many good ones—a local legal or reporter in most, if not all, counties or small towns has the privilege and resources to spend hours conducting interviews and researching stories. Unfortunately, in South Africa and many other countries, this is not as possible, which is obviously a shame, because a lot of important stories that directly impact communities are missed.

What advice would you give to aspiring foreign correspondents looking to work in the United States or other foreign countries?

It can be intimidating and overwhelming covering a foreign patch, especially one as sophisticated as the U.S,, but I’d say don’t underplay your insight or your perspective on a local story. The U.S. is so saturated with news content and outlets that it can be difficult not to try to swim with the stream, but I would say, and where your broadcaster allows, try not to emulate or be like American broadcasters. Use your unique experiences, background and insights to find and tell new and compelling stories in meaningful ways. Sometimes local broadcasters can become complicit to good stories because they find them trivial or obvious, but for a foreign audience they are massively insightful and compelling. Finding those stories can be shaped by your unique interests and backgrounds, and often you can have a leg up because I find being foreign can open people up to talking to you as they often don’t trust broadcasters they see as hostile to their perspectives.

Authenticity can be lacking in the U.S., but I think foreign media are well placed to tell heartfelt stories from often underrepresented communities. Also, make as many local contacts as possible, as soon as possible. Americans love to talk, and can often be suckers for an accent, so chat to people on planes, at the gym, at the coffee shop—you never know who has a story to share.