History, both triumphant and tragic, comes alive in Berlin, Germany. Click here to see some of my favorite sites.
Tag: Europe
Thousands gather at Germany’s Brandenburg Gate to celebrate anniversary of Berlin Wall falling
On the historic night of November 9, 1989, East and West Germans danced together on top of the Berlin Wall. Hours earlier, anyone crossing the border would have been shot by GDR state security. 30 years later, a crowd of 100 thousand returned to Berlin’s historic Brandenburg Gate, which was once surrounded by the wall,…
WATCH: Historic 3D video projected on Berlin buildings
Click here to watch scenes of 1989 projected on buildings to bring history alive.
Fmr. Ambassador reflects on George HW Bush’s role in German reunification
As the world marks 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, a former diplomat is reflecting on his tenure as the first U.S. ambassador to Germany following reunification. Robert M. Kimmitt held the post from 1991 to 1993, though his ties to Europe predate his birth. Like 20 percent of Americans, Kimmitt traces…
Historical group explores, documents Cold War stories from Berlin’s underground
Escaping the surveillance and oppression of the East German government during the Cold War often came at great risk. The impressively complex and often dangerous acts of desperation are highlighted in a series of tours organized by a group of Berliners who work to explore and preserve the history of the city’s underground. The Berliner…
Understanding the Wall: How the Berlin Wall divided a nation
Three decades after the so-called ‘Peaceful Revolution’ toppled the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, people are celebrating the anniversary of its climax — the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. More time has passed since the Wall came down than the nearly three decades it stood, but painful memories associated with…
Art installation sends ‘wishes’ fluttering over post-Wall Berlin
Freely moving in the wind, independent, yet seemingly in harmony, 30-thousand ribbons dance in front of the Brandenburg Gate, Germany’s most visible symbol of unity. The vision of American artist Patrick Shearn and his studio Poetic Kinetics, a massive public art display drapes the setting for one of Germany’s biggest celebrations in years — the…
How to make the most out of a journalism fellowship
For journalists, a fellowship can provide unmatched mid-career professional development and opportunities for meaningful personal growth. Having completed fellowships with the RIAS Berlin Commission and the East-West Center, I was recently invited to share my own experiences in a panel discussion at RTDNA/SPJ’s annual ‘Excellence in Journalism’ conference. These international reporting experiences required a significant…
Reporter’s Notes: Lessons learned in Germany
As I stepped off the platform onto my train to the Frankfurt Airport, my world seemed to transform into a slow motion flood of memories. After three weeks in Germany as a fellow with the RIAS Berlin Commission, this life experience had just become my standard by which all others will be measured. Gazing out…
Why the Cologne Cathedral is Germany’s most-visited destination
The Cologne Cathedral, a symbol of Christianity’s influence through the ages, is the most-visited destination in Germany. Situated along the shores of the river Rhine, the church is also home to the shrine of the Magi, making it one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations for believers. After the remains of the Magi were transferred…
Ministry reaches English-speaking pilgrims marking 500th anniversary of Protestant Reformation
As Christians around the world mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, an English-language ministry is reaching out to the thousands of visitors making a pilgrimage to Germany. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk and professor of Bible studies at Leucorea University in Wittenberg, Germany, is said to…
WATCH: Day of German Unity 2017
Mainz, Germany was selected to host the national Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Day of German Unity) observance on October 3, 2017. Click here to watch.
Germans take to social media to create traditions for national holiday
Germans have reason to celebrate Tuesday as the country marks 27 years since East and West Germany were peacefully reunified, forming the Federal Republic of Germany. Though the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989, the task of joining two countries didn’t go into effect until nearly a year later, with the adoption of the German…
WATCH: Inside Europe’s largest cathedral
With its iconic spires, the Cologne Cathedral has the largest façade of any church in the world. Click here to take a look inside.
Europe’s largest cathedral steps up security amid international terrorism threats
Amid a wave of terror attacks abroad, steps are being taken to protect visitors to Germany’s biggest tourist destination, the Cologne Cathedral. In August, police and the City of Cologne agreed to make closures near the historic church in response to the van attack in Barcelona, Spain, which killed 13 people. According to the Cathedral’s…
Pay to pray: Understanding Germany’s church tax
A so-called church tax in Germany may be behind a steady decline in the European nation’s church membership numbers. The Pew Research Center, a non-profit, non-partisan public opinion group based in Washington, DC, cites the tax as a factor behind an exodus of Germans officially leaving their religious communities. Germany is among several European countries…
WATCH: History and transparency converge in Germany’s Bundestag building
Built in 1894, Germany’s Reichstag building now features a glass dome symbolizing transparency in government. Click here to watch a tour.
WATCH: Touring Germany by high-speed train
Planes, trains, & automobiles — I did it all to travel across Germany. Click here for the spectacular view from the Deutsche Bahn ICE train!
WATCH: The Berlin Wall — a silent witness to history
A section of the Berlin Wall still stands to illustrate the division created for decades until 1989. Click here to watch.
Post-war American radio station in Berlin lives on in trans-Atlantic exchange program
Even though history has outlived the iconic German radio station RIAS, its legacy lives on in the form of a trans-Atlantic exchange program for journalists in the United States and Germany. The program is named for the radio station RIAS, or Radio In the American Sector, which was founded by the U.S. in 1946. After…
WATCH: Inside the world’s most ‘acoustically perfect’ building
Click the video below for a look around what’s considered the world’s most acoustically advanced building.
WATCH: Touring Hamburg, Germany’s harbor
Hamburg, Germany is the country’s 2nd largest city and the 3rd biggest port in Europe. Click here for a quick tour of the harbor.
WATCH: Berlin crowd protests right-wing AfD party after 2017 parliamentary election
Click the video below to watch Lane’s report from Alexanderplatz.
WATCH: 2017 Berlin Marathon finish line
Click here to watch the final few feet of the 2017 Berlin Marathon.
WATCH: Berlin Symphonic Mob surprises shoppers
You’ve probably heard of a flash mob. What about a symphonic mob? Click here to watch.
WATCH: Germany’s Social Democratic Party holds rally on eve of 2017 federal election
Click here to watch highlights from the rally.
WATCH: Brilliant nighttime view from the Berlin TV Tower
Built in 1969, the Berlin TV Tower gives brilliant 360-degree views of Germany’s capital city. Click here to see for yourself.
WATCH: German Bundesliga’s Hertha versus Leverkusen
Click here to see Hertha Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen face off in a Bundesliga match at Berlin’s historic Olympiastadion.
WATCH: Inside the European Commission
Click here for an inside look at the European Commission and NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Fmr. Texas senator addresses N. Korea threats in first month as NATO ambassador
Kay Bailey Hutchison, the former U.S. Senator from Texas, is stepping into a new role on the international stage as tensions continue to escalate between the U.S. and North Korea. Hutchison was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, on August 15, and has spent much of her first…
Day One of my RIAS Berlin Commission fellowship
Click here to watch a report on the first day of my fellowship.
WATCH: First stops in Brussels, Belgium
Click here to see highlights from my first few hours after landing in Brussels.
KLTV anchor Lane Luckie to participate in broadcast journalist exchange abroad
I am embarking on an immersive learning opportunity that I suspect will become the standard by which all others will be measured in my life.
