Studying journalism in a dynamic and diverse city like Berlin: for Lisa Frising, a student of the M.A. in Digital Journalism (renamed, before winter semester 2020: M.A. Convergent Journalism), there is currently hardly anything more enriching. In the interview, she reveals why she chose to study at the Media University Berlin, which courses she particularly likes, and why she definitely wants to continue living and working in Berlin in the near future.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Media University?
First of all, I think of all the practical experience I gained during my two-year master’s program. I met and became friends with some incredible people from all over the world. Especially in journalism, it is crucial to learn from other cultures in order to understand today’s world in all its diversity and facets.
Have you already gained any work experience that you would like to tell us about?
During my entire bachelor’s degree, I mostly used the semester breaks and summer vacations to gain practical experience and thus find out what my professional future might look like. Since I’m originally from Luxembourg, I worked in various areas of journalism in my home country, for example at our national newspaper and at the radio station. Back in Berlin, I worked as an intern at Deutsche Welle, but unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic cut my internship short.
Which seminar/project did you like best so far?
My two favorite seminars were definitely Business/Politics with Prof. Dr. Markus Ziener and Narrativity/Dramaturgy. Business/Politics helped me a lot to better understand international socio-political contexts. And since I am very interested in film, I also liked the fact that I could try out being a producer/camerawoman in the dramaturgy class. We also took part in several media congresses to gain practical experience with the camera and work with real customers on site.
What was it like to take part in the Talent Campus_Video workshop? What did you like best?
It was such an honor to be a part of this workshop. My passion for film was sparked in my childhood, when I would recreate Tony Hawk skateboarding videos or trashy TV shows with my cousins. I always loved playing around with my old VHS camera, trying out different angles and telling my own story visually. Of course, what I liked best about the video workshop was that we had the freedom to cover our own topics and pursue individual projects. In the end, we even produced our own TV show, which was great fun.
How do you experience life in Berlin? Was it easy for you to settle in? Do you want to stay here?
To be honest, I can’t imagine a better city to live in Germany. Berlin has a very unique rhythm. When I first moved to the German capital, I was overwhelmed. There is so much going on. I have never lived in such an ethnically and religiously diverse place before, which tells of historical adventures at every corner of the city. Every type of person you can imagine lives here. You can dress and look however you want, and there is still a great sense of acceptance for people who want to be different. What initially confused me, however, is what eventually made me fall in love with the city: Berlin is progressive, open-minded, diverse and inexpensive. Since I am originally from Luxembourg, a very small country where the last bus takes you home at around 8 p.m., I definitely want to stay.
What are your plans for the future? Do you want to become a full-time journalist?
Ideally, I would like to work as a film producer in the near future. It is not my goal to become the next Spielberg or Tarantino to get my own star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, but dreams can come true if you work hard enough for them. My dream job would be to be part of a small production company somewhere in the world that produces its own documentaries – highlighting issues or inequalities through the lens of a camera. My second option would be to work as a video journalist for a few smaller news outlets.
What advice do you have for students who decide to study in Germany/at the Media University?
If you have decided to study in Germany, it is a good idea to prepare for this experience in small steps. Be proactive: you only learn by trying things out, even if you make a mistake in the process. You may want to start researching before you arrive, using websites such as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Goethe-Institut and the Media University’s student advisory service. Keep your cool when it comes to finding an apartment or a room. The housing market is extremely saturated at the moment, so don’t lose hope after your 20th apartment viewing. Last but not least: try to learn some German. Of course, the language is not easy, and especially in Berlin you don’t actually need German to survive, but believe me, a few words of German will make your everyday life among grumpy locals a lot easier.
In my opinion, there are core qualities that every “good” journalist should possess, such as: integrity, critical thinking, accuracy, fairness, ethical standards, objectivity and a strong hunger for knowledge.
Lisa Frising
What qualities should students in your degree program have?
In my opinion, there are core qualities that every “good” journalist should possess, such as: integrity, critical thinking, accuracy, fairness, ethical standards, objectivity and a strong hunger for knowledge. For this master’s program, I think it’s essential to have good writing skills, curiosity, reliability for working in teams, courage to approach people or topics, and of course solid communication skills. As a new applicant, you should definitely be open-minded, inquisitive, eager to discuss, and curious. Oh, and don’t forget to stay true to yourself, that helps a lot too.
Thank you for the interview and good luck for the future.
