Have you ever turned the TV on and came across a journalist from your country streaming news from somewhere else? Well, that is a branch of journalism called Foreign Correspondent.
Going live bringing information from different parts of the world, reporting the tragedy of wars and conflicts, having close contact with different cultures, infamous people and endless stories are a piece of what immersing a career into this area feels like.
But, to understand better the work routine of a person who one day can be talking to the president of the United States and, the other, covering up stadium concerts, we will have a chat with two Brazilian Foreign Correspondents: Ariel Palacios and Vandrey Pereira.
THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU BUILD
Ariel Palacios was a History lover and dreamed of being an archeologist. However, his parents advised him to change paths, given that the conditions to be an archaeologist in Brazil back in the 80s were little. For a while, he planned on studying History, but decided to hear his parents once again, as being a historian could possibly imply being a teacher. Shifting to study journalism instead, he could still focus on the history that happens in daily life, and make some money more securely.
In 1991, fascinated by the Brazilian journalist Pedro Bial’s work on covering the downfall of the Soviet Union, got a sentence stuck in his heart: “my eyes never get tired of seeing history”. From then on, Ariel knew he would at least try to be a correspondent.
The Brazilian coverage of Argentina’s news was weak back in the 90s, so Palacios shot his shot by offering himself as a freelancer for Estadão. Traveling 1.682km, settling in a new country and chasing the dream to unite communication with an eternal seek for good stories and a rich past, the young journalist began the chapter that has now lasted for over 30 years.
Gradually, Ariel was hired by GloboNews and now has his full work routine focused on broadcasting relevant news from Buenos Aires to Brazil. “I am permanently connected. {…} The correspondents that are by themselves in their towns manage alone. From early in the morning till the evening, seeing what might happen the next day, along the week. {…} I work from home, great from a logistic point of view.”
Not only is his dedication crucial, also is the support from his family. “How many times we are having dinner, and I say: ‘oh, something happened, i gotta go live!”. Dinner is interrupted, my wife grabs my tie and vest, my daughter turns the spotlights on. So, family is very integrated in all of this.”
Difficulties, of course, are inevitable. For Ariel, communication policies are the bigger issue. In Argentina, there aren’t public programs to ease the access to government information. There is a great lack of institutional transparency, which hardens the journalist’s task to get to some information.
A SIMILAR PATH FOR A DIFFERENT DREAM
Vandrey Pereira never wanted to work on television. What moved him towards communication was to be a radio broadcaster. But, as he says, “nothing is eternal” and when the opportunity arose for him to be a reporter and host of a local news program in Santa Catarina, he took it. Surprising even himself, the journalist never left TV anymore.
Seeking new experiences and the wish to grant his daughter a better life, Vandrey and his wife decided to move abroad, to the United States. Already feeling deeply unsatisfied with his career back in Brazil, he tried to keep his contract as their international employee with TV Globo, the broadcaster he then worked for. However, they were categorical, frustrating the journalist with a non-negotiable “no”.
The general journalism-director told him that his idea to move away and still work for them was not going to happen, they did not want that. Having no other choice and deciding not to stress, Vandrey fired himself before going to the USA.
Life, whatsoever, with its funny ways of working, gave him a bright opportunity when least expected. Right at his first week in the USA, he didn’t wait for chances to come to him. Quickly, he went after what he knew well how to do: spread information.
His first appearance was covering Donald Trump’s rally in 2016, as a freelancer. Vandrey, now working for Record TV, says being a correspondent has a revitalizing journey. “It’s a very big adrenaline rush. You don’t know what you will find, what difficulties you will face to get to the place. It’s a really big challenge, but it’s very cool. And I think that’s the great fun of being a journalist, looking for the story, building it.”
When he is not in loco, that is, at the exact place headlines are happening, he is receiving news from standard broadcasters, such as CNN, and writing from home. He collects images from news agencies (CNN, AP, BBC, Reuters) and publishes articles daily. Many times it’s an inescapable remote work, the computer being Vandrey’s only company. However, even though the adrenalin rush may not be constant, the unknownness of the future is already exciting enough. It is all worth it.
IT DEPENDS ON YOU!
After seeing how two different people, with divergent dreams but one goal in common, had to face in order to achieve the opportunities they aimed for, one conclusion can be made: you chart your own path.
In this life, we have this spoiled feeling of wanting opportunities to fall right on our laps. But doors can’t open itselves alone. It takes a lot of courage and desire to get up and hold on tight to that doorknob, go further even when terrified, knowing that bravery isn’t absence of fear, but deciding to speed ahead even when scared to death.
Following our hearts is not an easy task. But when we feel a call in our souls, ignoring is worse than simply trying. Afterall, the worst that can happen is for it not to work out the way we had planned. And, you know, life has its mysterious ways of turning it all well in the end. It just likes to add a little spice to test our resilience.
Both of these journalists had to get out of their comfort zone and make it happen. They faced rejection, fears, challenges. But not giving up is what has crowned their names as references in the area.
And, if they did, you can do it too.
TIPS FROM THE SPECIALISTS
Even though you will face this race by yourself, our interviewees selected a few tips to lighten the process towards your dream. The voice of experience may guide you.
For Ariel Palacios, studying as many languages as possible, reading a lot about the countries you might wanna cover and also from those you don’t have clear intentions, but could be possibly relevant in your trajectory, are essentials for this journey. Prepare your mind to work throughout all journalistic areas: politics, culture, sports, economy. Multitasking is the key.
“It is necessary to go fully open, because politics, economy, society, culture and habits are different. {…} It is needful to have this flex into thinking that the reactions and behaviors of countries in the region can be very different.”
Ariel Palacios
To the author and journalist, knowing as much as you can is what will allow yourself to run from the cliches, the comfortable, cozy thing that requires almost zero effort. And it is necessary to make an effort to be able to explain the region’s politics well. This will be your differential.
For Vandrey Pereira, the journalistic market hardly sends random professionals to foreign destinations. So being at the place you would like to cover is a good way to start because, this way, you invert the logic. Showing that you are interested, that you have the linguistic and intellectual skills are proactive steps to become what you dream of.
The market is completely different nowadays and it is necessary to think outside the box in order to guarantee your space. We tend to think only in the big, but we gotta start somewhere and small affiliates are spread over many towns needing people.
“I think people need to start thinking in a more global way, begin to understand the relations between countries. We are living a very different moment in the world. {…} Understanding international relations and following their unroll. {…} And if you master these relations, specializing in this area, you stand out.”
Vandrey Pereira
For the journalist, the key is to focus on what interests you the most. It is quite impossible to be a specialist on the entire planet, but by learning languages and knowing deeply the roots of specific areas, you are on your way.
Last but not least, remember: our work is always being seen by someone. They might be unknown at some point, but maybe they are who can possibly bring opportunities in the future. And for this reason, we should do good work wherever we are because life changing chances can come from everywhere. We build our own career.
—————————————————————–
The article below was edited by Eloá Costa.
Liked this type of content? Check out Her Campus Cásper Líbero for more!