Prizes and Awards

German contribution:

“Und tot bist du” | Joseph Wirnshofer

Süddeutsche Zeitung, November 23, 2023

The prize for the best German-language contribution was awarded to the editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Joseph Wirnshofer, for his article “Und tot bist du” (‘And you are dead’), published in the SZ on November 23, 2023. Reports on gun violence are sadly part of everyday journalistic life in the USA. Josef Wirnshofer’s reportage from Philadelphia is anything but ordinary, however as it describes the vicious spiral of poverty, drugs and weapons with extraordinary intensity – using the example of the young woman Roz Pichardo, who has had to cope with three murders and suicides in her family in her life. Yet, she has not given up hope and is committed to saving her city with an extraordinary project. A tale of empathetic closeness and depressing harshness.

North American contribution:

„A Tale of Two Germanies”  | Allison Meakem
ForeignPolicy.com, October 1, 2023

The jury has decided to award the prize for the best North-American contribution to the US journalist Allison Meakem, Associate Editor at the monthly magazine Foreign Policy, for the article: “A Tale of Two Germanies”, published on ForeignPolicy.com on October 1, 2023. Under the impression of the war in Gaza, Germany is currently struggling with its culture of remembrance. Its unwavering loyalty to Israel is being questioned by some social groups, especially by man of the younger generation. History is a living process, even this question is being revisited. Allison Meakem could not have known all of this when she wrote “A Tale of Two Germanies”. But in her essay on the inner-German East-West conflict, Meakem traces the ruptures in the German culture of remembrance and notices how the historical self-conception is being renegotiated. Meakem delves deep into German debates and combines them into a thought-provoking text.

The jury would like to honorably mention the editor of The New Republic, Ali Breland, for his article ‘Surviving Germany’s Neo-Nazi Resurgence’, published in the magazine on April 26, 2023.

German contribution:

“Star Track” | Christoph Farkas

ZEIT CAMPUS, November 22, 2022
ZEIT ONLINE, December 16, 2022

This year, the prize for the best German-language contribution will be awarded to the editor of the weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT, Christoph Farkas for his piece “Star Track”, published on November 22, 2022 in the print magazine Zeit Campus and on December 16 on Zeit Online. Farkas introduces the protagonists of his story as if he had simply taken the reader along to the meeting. That is how the reader gets to know Jack Sweeney, the nerd who programmed the Twitter bot @ElonJet and uses it to track Elon Musk’s air travel. The jury awards Christoph Farkas for this story, which is so wonderfully American-non-Trumpian. This contribution also shows that Farkas has used his Burns Fellowship to tell stories from the USA which recall the land of opportunity.

The jury would like to honorably mention ZEIT correspondent Kerstin Kohlenberg for her article “Das Gesetz der Spaltung” (‘The Law of Division’), published on October 20, 2022, which deals with the relevance of the American Constitution a few weeks before the 2022 Congressional elections.

North American contribution:

“They translated Hamilton into German. Was it easy? Nein” | Michael Paulson
The New York Times, September 14, 2022

The jury has decided to award the prize for the best North American contribution to the theatre critic of the New York Times, Michael Paulson, for his contribution „They translated Hamilton into German. Was it easy? Nein”.

The jury would also like to honorably mention Andrew Curry, freelance US correspondent in Berlin, for his article, published on December 2, 2022 in Science magazine: “Meeting the ancestors”, which deals with insights of DNA findings at a medieval cemetery for today’s Jewish community.

German contribution:

“Der Sturm auf das Kapitol war erst der Anfang” | Ibrahim Naber
Welt am Sonntag

„Die Angreifer auf das Kapitol“ |  Jonas Schreijäg

ARD / NDR, December 14, 2021

The award for the best German-language contribution in 2021 goes in equal parts to the chief reporter of the German daily newspaper Welt/Welt am Sonntag, Ibrahim Naber, and to Jonas Schreijäg, reporter for the public broadcaster NDR/ARD. The award honors the joint project, researched and produced during their fellowship in 2021, published on January 2, 2022 as a four-page cover story in Welt am Sonntag, titled “Der Sturm auf das Kapitol war erst der Anfang” (‘The storming of the Capitol was just the beginning’), as well as a 30-minute TV documentary, titled “Die Angreifer auf das Kapitol” (‘The attackers on the Capitol’), broadcast via the ARD media library from December 14, 2021 as well as linear on the same day on the German TV channels NDR and Phoenix. The storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021 marks a dark spot on US democratic history. The two authors tell the story of why the defendants of this attack represent heores of freedom for many Americans. Sober in tone, straightforward in storytelling, gritty and rich in imagery, the view of an America nestled in the madness against the Washington elite after the end of Trump’s presidency becomes visible. Naber and Schreijäg rely primarily on the oppressive effect of conversations with ringleaders of the Capitol stormers as well as Trump supporters in Montana. The result is an impressive cross-media political documentary, that was judged as particularly worthy of an award.

The jury would also like to honorably mention the foreign policy editor of the Swiss daily newspaper “Blick”, Fabienne Kinzelmann, who, during her fellowship in Washington D.C., brought political topics to the rather less politically interested readership of a tabloid media in a remarkably sensitive and impressive way. This was done through a weekly newsletter on blick.ch, which, supplemented by visual material and statistics, focuses on the US president, his politics, the daily topics of the US capital, but also terror, equal marriage rights and Donald Trump’s political games. The same applies to a comprehensive analysis and presentation of 9/11, which Fabienne Kinzelmann also presented on blick.ch on its 20th anniversary, accompanied with strong images and text.

The jury decided to not award a North American entry for 2021

German contribution:
Weekly newsletter on US coverage | Fabian Reinbold
T-Online

This year, the prize for the best German-language contribution will be awarded to Fabian Reinbold, until recently the Washington correspondent for t-online. In a year marked by extensive U.S. reporting, the award honours Reinbold’s Friday newsletter, which he has been producing since 2018 and which reached its top form in the 2020 election year. All German correspondents in the U.S. struggle with two major challenges: Getting access to U.S. leaders and standing out from the endless stream of other commentaries and assessments. Reinbold has succeeded in both areas in an exemplary manner: He has won over fascinating sources with commitment and perserverance, and he has consistently found his own angles and perspectives that could not be read anywhere else. Thus, he has gained a loyal and steadily growing fan base. A current subscriber list of 38,000 speaks for itself.

The jury decided not to award a North American entry for 2020.

German contribution:

„Der Weg ins Weiße Haus – eine Antwort auf die Frage, warum Donald Trump 2020 wieder zum Präsidenten der USA gewählt werden könnte“
Gianna Niewel & Lisa Schnell
Süddeutsche Zeitung, November 2, 2019

North American contribution:

„Germany vs Big Tech – How Europe’s economic powerhouse is leading the global fight for digital privacy”  | Josh O’Kane
The Globe and Mail, January 18, 2020

This year, the prize for the best German-language contribution was awarded to two Süddeutsche Zeitung editors from the Burns 2019 class, Gianna Niewel and Lisa Schnell for their jointly researched and written contribution to “Buch Zwei” (‘Book Two’) of the SZ on November 2, 2019. The article was titled “Der Weg ins Weiße Haus – eine Antwort auf die Frage, warum Donald Trump 2020 wieder zum Präsidenten der USA gewählt werden könnte (‘The Road to the White House – an answer to the question why Donald Trump could be re-elected as President of the United States in 2020’).

The jury awarded honorable mentions to two other outstanding submissions. The first went to Stefanie Dodt (Burns 2017), a freelance TV correspondent in New York, for her research and analysis of the blood plasma trade. Her story, “Bluthandel – Dollar gegen Gesundheit” (‘Blood Trade – dollars for health’), was broadcast on October 7 on ARD. It was also co-published as “Pharmaceutical companies are luring Mexicans across the U.S. border to donate blood plasma” by ProPublica on October 4, 2019.

The second honorable mention went to Simon Schütz (Burns 2017), executive editor for politics and economics at Bild, who focused on the homeless in Las Vegas by taking a close look behind the facade of the American Dream and observing life in the tunnel worlds beneath the casinos. The remarkable and unexpected report “Sie behandeln uns wie eine Seuche” (‘They treat us like an epidemic’) appeared in Bild and on Bild Plus on November 12, 2019.

The jury awarded this year’s prize for the best North American contribution to Josh O’Kane (Burns 2019), the technology reporter for the Globe and Mail in Toronto, for his article “Germany vs. Big Tech – How Europe’s economic powerhouse is leading the global fight for digital privacy.” The article was published on January 18, 2020, and was researched during his Burns Fellowship in Berlin last fall.

German contributions:

„Die Lüge“ | Christian Schweppe
Die Welt, March 11, 2018

„Detective Scarcella“ | Christian Schweppe
Die Welt, December 16, 2018

In 2018, the prize for the best German-language contribution was awarded to Christian Schweppe (Burns 2018) of Die Welt for two contributions, both published in the Welt am Sonntag. “Die Lüge” (‘The Lie’), published on March 11, 2018 was about the murder of Seth Rich and the resulting brutal war of disinformation. Another article titled “Detective Scarcella”, published on December 16, explored the dubious investigations of a New York detective that led to the imprisonment of 14 innocent people. Schweppe is a meticulous investigator who analyzes major social trends in seemingly incidental events. He takes the time and distance to dispassionately explore these individual tragedies and how they reflect broader divisions in U.S. society.

North American contribution:

„The big hole in Germany’s Nazi reckoning: the colonial history” | John Eligon
New York Times, September 11, 2018

The prize for the best North American contribution went to The New York Times’ national correspondent John Eligon (Burns 2018) for his article “The Big Hole in Germany’s Nazi Reckoning? Its Colonial History” published on September 11, 2018. It is well known how comprehensively and publicly Germany has dealt with Nazi crimes. However, the German Empire’s crimes in African colonies are much less illuminated, despite the fact that colonizers’ ideological views on expansion and race later helped to inspire Nazi officials. Eligon links these historic threads and dives deep into the topic of colonial rule in this well-researched piece. He also uses personal stories to convey the current impact of honoring former colonial rulers in the Berlin cityscape.

The jury also would like to commend two other outstanding submissions. U.S. correspondent Katja Ridderbusch (Burns 1999) was lauded for her Deutschlandfunk feature “Der Amerikanische Patient” (‘The American Patient’) about the state of health care in American society. The feature was broadcast in five parts between August and October 2018 and was co-financed through an IJP Holbrooke Grant.

The second submission commended by the jury was Peter Onneken’s (Burns 2007) feature “I love Trump – warum die Amerikaner ihren Präsidenten lieben” (‘I love Trump – why Americans love their president’). The 45-minute long documentary was broadcast on WDR on November 7, 2018, and takes a closer look at the American citizens and regions that voted for Trump two years ago.

German contribution: 
“Sag die Wahrheit” | Roman Deiniger
Süddeutsche Zeitung, April 22, 2017

This year’s Arthur F. Burns Award for the best German contribution was awarded to Roman Deininger, editor at Süddeutsche Zeitung, for his report “Sag die Wahrheit” (‘Tell the truth’), published on April 22, 2017. With great finesse for language, timing and research, Deininger drew attention to a particularly difficult aspect of Trump’s government work — how to deal with science. The journalist trenchantly illuminated Trump’s ignorance of scientific experts in general and climate experts in particular. The article is a reading pleasure from start to finish.

North American contribution: 
“Can Unions stop the Far Right?” | Vauhini Vara
The Atlantic, November 27, 2017

The prize for the 2017 best North American contribution, also worth 2,000 Euro, went to Vauhini Varafor her essay “Can Unions Stop the Far Right?,” published in The Atlanticon Nov. 27, 2017. Vara, who works as a freelance journalist in Colorado, illuminated the political landscape right before the German federal elections in September 2017 in a remarkable way. Taking the central findings from the U.S. election campaign—how Trump won the Rust Belt in 2016 — Vara looked for a German equivalent and investigated the question: What role will the trade unions in Germany, especially the Ruhr region, play? In this outstanding piece of journalism, Vara combines insights into trade unions with profound social analysis.

The jury also praised Martin Schlak’s contribution “Drei Minuten” (‘Three Minutes’), published in GEO. In his story, Schlak, along with Vivian Pasquet and two photographers, provided a rarely seen snapshot of emotional tension and personal drama along the Mexican-American border fence, where the U.S. opens the door twice a year for a few moments for brief family reunions. Schlak approached his protagonists with sensitivity on both sides of the fence and provided insight into personal stories that are rarely taken into account in view of the great political debate over national security.

The jury also gave an honorable mention to Roman Pletter, deputy head of the economics desk at Zeit, for his contribution “Die Mächstigste Schule der Welt” (‘The most powerful school in the world’), published on May 18, 2017. His report chronicles a group of economists who earned their doctorates at MIT forty years ago and subsequently led countries, central banks and international organizations, all guided by an idea and a school of thought. Pletter’s remarkable research was guided by one question: What if this one idea is wrong?

German contribution:

“Zerschlagen” | Nora Gantenbrink
Stern Crime, April 1, 2016

“The American Dream/Brief an meine Tochter” | Kerstin Kohlenberg
Die Zeit, Dezember 8, 2016

The 2016 Arthur F. Burns Award for the best German contribution was awarded to two winners this year.

Nora Gantenbrink, editor at Stern, was awarded for her report “Zerschlagen,” published in Stern Crime on April 1, 2016. Nora Gantenbrink writes with remarkable density and also ease about a typical American subject: the struggle of man versus man, in this case with a tragic ending. Her report on the tragedy of a New York boxing match from 1983 is told with flashbacks and new insights into the inner-life of two men, whose encounter in the ring brought death to one and anguish to the other.

Kerstin Kohlenberg, U.S. correspondent of Die Zeit in New York, was also awarded for her contribution “The American Dream / Brief an meine Tochter,” published in Die Zeit on Dec. 8, 2016 and published on Zeit Online on Dec. 22, 2016. The election of Donald Trump challenges the view of the United States for many friends of America. In a letter to her six-year-old daughter, Kerstin Kohlenberg explains why Trump’s election makes her cry and why she still loves the United States. In an often touching way, Kohlenberg describes the conflict that this U.S. election brought to many Germans. The text convinces not least with its emotional power.

The jury also praised Barbara Leidl, editor at Bayrischer Rundfunk and former U.S. correspondent, for her important feature “Unschuldig hinter Gittern,” broadcast on Bayern 2 on June 10, 2016. She deals with the difficult problem of thousands of likely innocent people who are imprisoned in the United States because they could not afford a defender, a false confession was forced, or they were not old enough or experienced enough to understand their case.

The jury decided not to award a prize for the best North American contribution this year, as the USA in particular seemed more inwardly focused in 2016.

However, the jury gave an honorable mention to Canadian reporter Dylan Robertson. In his article, “As Germany moves to right wrongs of anti-gay policies, Canada lacks plan” which was published at theglobeandmail.com on October 12, 2016, he draws parallels between the German policy of reparation for persecuted people and Canadian judicial policy.

Andrew Curry, who lives in Berlin as a freelance correspondent, was also praised for his contribution to the November edition of Rouleur Magazin about the fate of four members of the Syrian national cycling team, who want to continue cycling in German exile. “The road from Damascus” describes their journey in an impressive way.

German contribution: 
“Amerika sperrt seine Kinder weg” | Marie-Astrid Langer
NZZ, December 18, 2015

The Arthur F. Burns Award 2015 for the best German contribution was awarded to Marie-Astrid Langer, the foreign editor at the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, for her article, “Amerika sperrt seine Kinder weg [America Incarcerates Her Children],” published on Dec. 18, 2015. The jury reflected on whether Americans are really like former Europeans, who just drive larger cars and own larger refrigerators. But Langer’s article reveals that Europeans observing the United States are not looking in a mirror. She lays out what makes the United States the way it is, but without condescension, judgement or indictment, and she steers clear of anti-American sentiment. She presents the facts, leaving readers to form their own opinion. Langer makes the reader reflect on a system of law without the death penalty, without life-long “life” sentences, and makes one ponder issues of guilt, repentance, punishment, justice and eternity. The subtext of Langer’s article is the ancient human question of whether a society should follow the old testament of an eye for an eye, or the new testament’s message of forgiveness.

The jury gave an honorable mention to Antje Windmann, an editor at Der Spiegel, for her report titled “Der amerikanische Albtraum [The American Nightmare],” which she wrote with Clemens Höges. The article appeared in the magazine edition 15/15.

The jury decided not to award a North American contribution this year.

German contribution: 
“Die Wanderarbeiterin” | Markus Feldenkirchen
Der Spiegel, December 8, 2014

The Arthur F. Burns Award 2014 for the best German contribution went to Markus Feldenkirchen, the Washington correspondent of Der Spiegelmagazine for his article “Die Wanderarbeiter,” published in the 50/2014 edition. It describes the life of a young American girl of Portuguese descent who becomes worn out by the low wages and hard work in the American fast food industry and finally dies of exhaustion. Feldenkirchen empathizes with the desperate situation of an exploited class, and holds President Barack Obama partially responsible. According to his critique, social politics have turned the American dream on its head: One starts at the top, drudges day and night, and ends up at the bottom—from the middle class to dishwashing. It is an important piece that shines light on a troublesome aspect in the United States. Feldenkirchen was also a Burns award winner in 2002.

North American contribution:
“Off the Wall” | Andrew Curry
National Geographic Traveller, November 2014

The jury awarded the 2,000 Euro prize for an American contribution to Andrew Curry. He was recognized for his piece “Off the Wall,” published in the magazine National Geographic Travelerin November 2014. With great attention to detail and thoughtful prose, he takes the reader on a stroll through four districts of Berlin. The result is a visually stirring tribute to the diversity and vitality of Berlin’s district culture, presented by an outside observer.

The jury also gave a special commendation to Rick Noack, a journalist from Dresden, who was a Burns Fellow at The Washington Post last summer. In only two months, he published a total of 87 articles in his host paper and online, as well as commentaries on a wide range of national and international topics. In almost 30 years of the Burns Fellowship, he set a record. At the age of 19 and 20, Noack was not accepted as a finalist in the Burns Fellowship since he was too young, but at the age of 21, he finally claimed his spot and truly did not disappoint.

German contribution: 
“Sie nannten ihn Ente” | Amrai Coen
Die Zeit, October 17, 2013

The 2,000-Euro prize for the best German contribution went to Amrai Coen (Burns 2013), editor at the weekly Die Zeit. Her feature story “Sie nannten ihn Ente (They called him Duck),” was published on October 17, 2013. The author accomplished a rare feat of art: through painstaking observation, detailed description and clever narrative arrangement, Coen used sports reporting to create a political text about homophobia in omni-present macho societies. Her portrait of featherweight boxer Orlando Cruz of Puerto Rico – the first boxer who publicly admitted his homosexuality – allows readers to fight alongside Cruz, share his suffering – and loss.

North American contribution: 
“William Suess throught he was an American, until the day he was deported” | Mike Giglio
Buzzfeed.com, October 2013

The jury awarded the award for the best American contribution this year to Mike Giglio (alumnus 2008), for “William Suess thought he was an American, until the day he was deported,” published in October 2013 at Buzzfeed.com. The story is the result of five years of research that began during his time as Burns Fellows at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, followed by several follow-on research trips to Germany. Giglio tells the story of a man who was born German but raised in Missouri, a U.S. soldier and convicted criminal offender who was unexpectedly deported at the age of 49 due to stricter U.S. immigration laws. It’s a story of a man arriving at deportation camp in Germany, an entirely unknown land, but the land of his birth.

Two other German journalists received honorable mentions by the jury: Havertz Rieke, editor of taz – die tageszeitung, tackled the attempts by the U.S. president to force stricter laws onto the gun lobby after the massacre in Newton, Mass. She documented the failure of these efforts and the search for causes during six weeks of research in Obama’s hometown of Chicago – in form of a remarkable five-part series titled ‘The Power of Guns,’ published in late July and early August 2013.

Max Holscher, volunteer at the Hessisch-Niedersächsischen Allgemeinen, spent two months in 2013 at the Miami Herald, where – in addition to writing numerous articles – he introduced readers to unique features of everyday life in the United State through his weekly column ‘News from the Miami Herald.’ In his column, Holscher wrote about meetings and discussions, sometimes ironic, always informative, sometimes thoughtful, always entertaining and amusing to the reader.

German contribution: 
“Die Lebensaufgabe” | Johannes Gerner
taz Wochenende, September 1, 2012

The 2,000 Euro prize for the best German contribution went to Johannes Gernert (Burns 2012), an editor at Tageszeitung. During his Burns Fellowship with the Oakland Tribune last year, Gernert wrote a variety of reports and features, especially for the taz Sunday supplement. In “Die Lebensaufgabe” (The Life Challenge),” published on Sept. 1, 2012, he describes the painstaking battle of an activist against the export of European anesthesia drugs into the United States, where they are used for the execution of death row inmates. Two other remarkable entries include “Der Junge unterm Feigenbaum (The Boy under the Fig Tree),” a story about America’s most famous sperm donor, published on Oct. 20, 2012; and “Die Stadt, die nicht mehr kann (The City That Can No More),” on the events that led to the bankruptcy of the city of Stockton, Calif., published on Sept. 22, 2012. Each of Gernert’s articles compel readers with meticulous research, as well as dramatic and captivating language. Gernert masterfully builds tension and surprises readers with unexpected twists that keep them reading to the end. Ruth Reichstein and Heike Haarhoff also contributed to the winning entry.

Another German reporter, Tobias Peter (Burns 2012), an editor at Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, received an honorable mention for his tenacious, in-depth reporting on the issues and background related to the U.S. elections, especially given his limited resources working for a regional newspaper. In addition to multiple excellent commentary stories, Peter wrote a seven-part series titled “U.S.-Wahlkampf (U.S. Campaign)” that focused on issues such as the economy, health, wealth, religion and conflict, etc., during the final week of the campaign from Oct. 29 through Nov. 5, 2012.

The jury decided not to award a prize to a U.S. Burns alumnus or alumna this year.

However, two U.S. alumni received honorary mentions. Bruce Falconer (Burns 2012) was honored for his article “Eviction Noticed,” published in the winter issue of The American Scholar. He used the example of ‘Kunsthaus Tacheles,’ an art colony that squatted in an old building for the past two decades, to show the effects of gentrification in what was formerly East Berlin. Last year’s Burns award winner Aaron Wiener (Burns 2010) was honored for “Made in the Shade,” a comprehensive account on how Germany lost its once leading role in the global market of solar panel manufacturing to China. The story ran in the July 9 edition of Foreign Policy.

German contribution
“Der Fall Iron” | Gordon Repinski
taz Wochenende, November 5, 2011

The Arthur F. Burns Award 2011 for the best German contribution went to the Tageszeitung’s Berlin bureau chief Gordon Repinski (Burns 2011) for ‘Der Fall Irons (The Irons Case),’ published in sonntaz on November 5, 2011. The story is about the short, high-octane life of surfing legend Andy Irons who, unable to handle his early stardom and the glamour of the surfer scene, died of a drug-induced heart attack at age 32. Repinski spent part of his Burns Fellowship last year in San Diego exploring the dark side of a ‘much too cool world, in which the party must never end.’

North American contribution: 
“How Germany phased out nuclear power, only to get mugged by reality” | Aaron Wiener
The New Republic, October 31, 2011

Aaron Wiener (Burns 2010) won the best American contribution for ‘How Germany phased out nuclear power, only to get mugged by reality,’ published in The New Republic on October 31, 2011. Protecting the environment is not just a matter of politics in Germany, but also often a matter of faith. Environmental protection has become standard public policy over the past 30 years in the German Republic. But Wiener describes the unexpected and dramatic consequences of the abrupt change in energy policy by Chancellor Angela Merkel and the errors of all the parties involved – from the nuclear energy lobby to the environmental protection movement. His article is non-polemic and highly informative.

Two German journalists and one American received honorary mentions. Justus Bender (Burns 2010) was honored for his article ‘Mr. President, es wird ein leichter Tag (Mr. President, it will be an easy day),’ a remarkable portrait of the lives and impressions of the Florida second graders who were meeting with President George W. Bush ten years ago when the airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center towers. The article was published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on September 4, 2011. Stephan Seiler (Burns 2010) was honored for ‘Liebe zum Abgewöhnen (Weaning off love),’ his moving story about evangelical Christians in Texas who try to ‘heal’ homosexual and bisexual youth through prayer under the motto ‘pray away the gay.’ His story ran in a special October edition of Max.

U.S. journalist Anton Troianovski (Burns 2011), a reporter at The Wall Street Journal, received an honorary mention for his amusing and informative story titled ‘Germans face off in hairy debate over whisker do´s and don´ts,’ published on September 23, 2011. The story is about a rift within the German community of competitive beard enthusiasts. The well researched short story about bearded men and the intricacies of their club, the Association of German Beard Clubs, offers a wonderful insight into a very German cultural phenomenon.

German contribution
“Dämonen im Kopf’ | Cordula Meyer
Spiegel, March 22, 2010

Cordula Meyer (Burns 1998), Washington correspondent for Der Spiegel, won the German Burns Award 2010 for her article ‘Dämonen im Kopf (Battling the Inner Demons of War),’ published on March 22, 2010. In her article, she writes about the life of U.S. army medic Joseph Dwyer, who became an iconic symbol of an American war hero when he rescued a four-year-old Iraqi boy in the midst of a battle. In her powerful article, Meyer recounts the drama that unfolded after Dwyer came to fame: his suffering and self-doubt, and the difficult transition back to civilian life. He took his own life five years after his last deployment. While focusing on the tragic story of Joe Dwyer, Meyer also raises awareness of the larger issue of suicide among U.S. veterans, which claimed more than twice as many victims in 2009 than the Iraq war itself.

North American contribution: 
“Unsere Kinder leben im Verborgenen” | Krista Kapralos
Religiousnews.com, 9. December 9, 2010
FAZ, December 8, 2010

Krista Kapralos (Burns 2010) won the U.S. Burns Award for ‘ Unsere Kinder leben in Verborgenen (Homeschoolers risk jail, thwart officials in Germany),’ published on December 8, 2010, in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and in abbreviated form on December 9, 2010, in religiousnews.com. Kapralos conducted extensive research during her Burns fellowship in 2010, and skillfully covers the recent and growing phenomenon of homeschooling in Germany. She discusses the variety of reasons why parents decide against enrolling their children in the public school system, the possible punishments and consequences they are willing to accept for this decision, and the different strategies parents use in order not to get caught.

Additionally, the jury awarded one German and one American Burns alumni with honorary mentions. Christian Salewski (Burns 2010) was honored for his article ‘Der China Kracher (The China Firecracker),’ published in the January edition of Capital. Salewski reports on the scandal of the plaster corporation Knauf from Franken, Germany, which provided contaminated drywall from China to U.S. construction projects during the American building boom. He uncovered this example of one of the pitfalls of globalization during his Burns Fellowship in 2010. Aaron Ricadela (Burns 2003) received the mention for his feature ‘SAP Co-CEOs chart a bold new course,’ published on May 21, 2010, in Bloomberg Businessweek.com. In an intelligent and well-researched article, Ricadela writes about Germany’s fourth largest corporation, which is managed by American and Danish leadership.

The jury also gave an honorable mention to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitungcorrespondent Stefan Tomik (Burns 2009) for his lead article on the journalistic topic of the year, Wikileaks, which was published in the Sunday edition of his paper. The jury commended Tomik for his bold and excellently written commentary on whether the actions of Julian Assange and his group were right or wrong. While the content itself was controversial for some members of the jury, all agreed that the article deserved to be honorably mentioned for its high journalistic quality.

German contribution: 
“Die große Landnahme” | Roman Pletter
Brand Eins, December 2009

Roman Pletter (Burns 2009), an editor at the business magazine Brand Eins, won the German Burns Award for ‘Die große Landnahme (The big land grab),’ published in December 2009 in Brand Eins. Subtitled ‘Besuche an Orten des Widerstandes (Visiting places of resistance),’ Pletter’s story deals with indebted U.S. citizens who are revolting against the banks trying to evict them. The jury was impressed by the extensive research by Pletter, who covered the issue from multiple perspectives. With clear and concise language and good composition, Pletter’s piece draws in the reader from beginning to end. By providing an exciting and detailed view of the resistance against bank evictions, Pletter also gave a deep portrayal of the American soul during trying economic times.

Max von Klitzing(Burns 2004) and Freeeye TV received an honorary mention for a two-part TV documentary ‘Durch die Wildnis Amerikas (Through America’s wilderness),’ aired on April 23 and 30, 2009, on NDR. Klitzing’s remarkable 90-minute documentary on one of the great American hiking challenges – the Appalachian Trail – portrayed magnificent landscapes along with a selection of stories from people living along the 3,400 kilometer trail between Georgia and Maine.

The jury decided not to award a North American entry for 2020.

However, two American alumni received honorary mentions by the jury. David Francis (Burns 2009) was honored for his article ‘The next page: Berlin – 20 years wall-free,’ published on November 8, 2009, in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The story is a very personal commentary on significant people, moments and places in Berlin’s recent history. Moira Herbst (Burns 2008) received the mention for ‘East Germany 20 Years after Reunification,’ an overview of business and economic revival in the former East Germany published in Business Week on November 5, 2009. Herbst showcases former East German DDR brands that have successfully made the transition into the current German economy.

German contribution: 
“Obamas Traum” | Dr. Gregor Peter Schmitz
Spiegel, October 2008

Gregor Peter Schmitz (Burns 1997), Washington correspondent for Der Spiegel, won the German Burns Award for “Obama’s Traum (Obama’s Dream),” published in the October 2008 Spiegel Special USA issue. Schmitz focused on a central theme of last year’s U.S. presidential election: the African-American civil rights movement. In his article, Schmitz discusses the hopes of black civil rights activists and their role in the election of Barack Obama. But Schmitz also strikingly explains the disappointment of some within the movement, like Jesse Jackson, who was only a minor feature in Obama’s campaign. This inconsistency is described vividly and extensively by the author, whose in-depth research impressed the jury.

North American contribution: 
“Piercing together the dark legacy of East Germany’s secret police” | Andrew Curry
Wired, February 2008

Andrew Curry (Burns 2003), who currently freelances from Berlin, won the U.S. Burns Award for “Piecing together the dark legacy of East Germany’s secret police,” published in the February 2008 edition of Wired magazine. Considering that Curry’s article on Germany’s Stasi past is a marginal issue for U.S. readers, the fact that the magazine printed this considerably long story in its entirety is impressive. This is due to Curry’s dramatic writing, which artfully explains the tedious puzzle work of regenerating the Stasi files, while relating the personal story of an employee of the agency in charge of the files. The jury felt that Curry covered this difficult topic in an entertaining and captivating way without losing focus on the story’s depth or significance.

In addition, two German and one American Burns alumni received honorary mentions by the jury. Silvia Feist (Burns 2000) was honored for her article “Der nächste Einsatz (The Next Deployment),” published in the August edition of Germany’s Emotion magazine. The story covered two American soldiers who lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan; and subsequently competed at the Paralympics in Beijing.

Peter Wagner (Burns 2007) received the mention for “Meine Jagd nach dem Autogramm von Obama (My Quest for the Autograph of Obama),” a humorous piece that ran on jetzt.de, the youth page of Süddeutsche Zeitung, on October 27, 2008.

Michael Giglio (Burns 2008) received an honorary mention for “Americans Deported to Frankfurt,” a rarely covered story about the fate of Americans stranded in Germany, which ran in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung during his fellowship there last summer.

German contribution: 
“Texas Privat” | Michael Weißenborn
Stuttgarter Zeitung, published as a 20-part series in the second half of 2007

The Arthur F. Burns Award 2007 for the best German article goes to Michael Weißenborn, editor at Stuttgarter Zeitung, for his series ‘Texas Privat’ which was published in autumn and winter 2007. Weißenborn covers as disparate themes as the private purchase of weapons, Indian reservations, the problems evolving around the frontier to Mexico and typically American Christmas celebrations. His articles are far more than simple representations of contemporary life in America. They are brilliant essays with a strong sense for personal commitment that offer some profound analysis of US society, its deeply-rooted traditions and recent challenges.

North American contribution: 
“Boom! Du bist tot!” | James Hagengruber
Spokesman & Süddeutsche Zeitung, November 6, 2007

The award for the best American contribution in 2007 goes to James Hagengruber who has worked for the daily newspaper Spokesman Review in Spokane, Washington, until very recently. His reportage ‘Boom! Du bist tot!’ (Boom! You are dead!) was published in Süddeutsche Zeitung on 6th November 2007 as well as in Spokesman Review. He accompanied a couple of 19-year-old twin brothers from Idaho on their way to become US-marines. Thanks to his clear-cut style and an ample body of research, Hagengruber brings across the causes of young Americans’ fascination for the war in Iraq. He carefully avoids quoting common stereotypes of popular opinion about this issue, but gives a sensitive and impressive portrayal of two American adolescents at the crossroads. Hagengruber has recently continued his journalistic work about the twins and has joined them during their participation in military campaigns in Kuwait and Iraq.

The members of the jury want to express their special appreciation to Christian Rüttger (Reuters, Berlin) for his article ‘The Long Haul’ which was published in Anchorage Daily News on 14th October 2007, and to Tanya Schevitz (San Francisco Chronicle) whose series ‘Eine Amerikanerin im Allgäu’ (An American in the Allgaeu) was published weekly during August and September 2007 in Allgäuer Zeitung. While Rüttger explores the dangers and temptations that truck drivers have to face during their 414-mile ride along Dalton Highway in the depths of the Alaskan tundra, Schevitz, an urban single, mother of a child and passionate car driver, describes her various impressions of life in the rural widths of the Allgaeu. The contributions of both authors, who were non-locals and could thus write more frankly and unbiasedly about regional traditions and taboos, raised lively public debate among their readers who were expressing their opinions in numerous letters and e-mails to the editor.

Previous award winners were:

• Dr Markus Günther (2006)
• Susanne Gieffers, Fabian Mohr and Helen Fessenden (2005)
• Dr. Robin Mishra (2004)
• Steffi Kammerer and Steven Zeitchik (2003)
• Markus Feldenkirchen, James Hagengruber and Guy Raz (2002)
• Robert Jacobi and Timothy J. Gibbons (2001)
• Hugh Eakin and Brian Zumhagen (2000)
• Albrecht Metzger nd Stefan Schirmer (1999)
• Barbara Junge and Carter S. Dougherty (1998)
• Christian Sauer andMatt Johanson (1997)
• Dominik Wichmann (1996)
• Michael Behrens and Michael Behrens (1995)
• Robert von Rimscha and Jacob Heilbrunn (1994)

The George F. Kennan Prize was not awarded this year.

However, the jury would like to honorably mention Joachim Käppner, editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung’s opinion section, for his commentary ‘In unseren Worten’ (‘In our words’), published in SZ on February 25, 2023: A commentary, not primarily on a transatlantic topic, but on the power of great rhetoric between the US and Russia.

“Es ist ein Wunder” | Christian Zaschke
SZ, 21.11.2022

The George F. Kennan Award 2022 goes to Christian Zaschke, correspondent of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, for his commentary “Es ist ein Wunder” (‘It’s a miracle’), published in Süddeutsche Zeitung on November 21, 2022.

„America the beautiful“ | Andrian Kreye
Süddeutsche Zeitung, January 23, 2021

The George F. Kennan Award 2021 goes to Andrian Kreye, the long-time feature editor of Süddeutsche Zeitung, for his commentary “America the Beautiful”, published in the SZ on January 23, 2021.

Kreye writes about no one but himself when he states: “The love for America has had to endure quite a bit, depending on one’s age.” Indeed, these United States have invited friends and loved ones on an emotional rollercoaster ride in recent years. But was it ever different? Kreye is a feature writer at heart, but h has extended teh concept of culture to society in its perfect breadth. When his love for America is a ‘love of culture’, as he writes, then one fells with him the formative power of presidential democracy, teh force of Bob Dylan or gangsta rappers, the fascination for spacemen and internet pioneers, for researchers and all other dreamers of the future. America is quite an imposition – again and again.

“Trumps langes Ende”  | Majid Sattar

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,  November 25, 2020

The George F. Kennan Award 2020 goes to the Washington correspondent of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Majid Sattar, for his commentary “Trumps langes Ende (Trumps long end)”, published on November 25, 2020. In this article, Sattar observes, as he has done for years a troubled country through a calm eye. His factual and nonideological analyses and commentaries are a reassuring contrast to the shrillness of everyday politics under then President Trump.

„Nach Bolton ist vor Bolton“ | Prof. Michael Stürmer
Die Welt, September 13, 2019

The George F. Kennan Prize 2019 was awarded to the historian and chief correspondent of the Welt Group, Professor Michael Stürmer, for his editorial “Nach Bolton ist vor Bolton” (‘After Bolton is before Bolton’), published on September 13, 2019, in Welt.

„Lady Liberty Leidet“ | Marie-Astrid Langer
Neue Züricher Zeitung,  January 20, 2018

The 2018 George F. Kennan Award goes to the Neue Züricher Zeitung’s West Coast correspondent Marie-Astrid Langer (Burns 2015) for her commentary “Lady Liberty leidet” (‘Lady Liberty Suffers’), published on January 20, 2018. When Donald Trump took office, many opponents referred to the strength of U.S. institutions that would tame the anti-democratic president with the political reality of checks and balances. Disappointment soon followed as Trump tirelessly ground down the institutions, rather than the other way around. However, Langer developed a counter-thesis. She believes the checks and balances did have their intended effect. On the one hand, the economy is flourishing and is thus holding Donald Trump’s madness in its place. On the other hand, civil society has awoken from its slumber after the election of Barack Obama and has become reengaged.

„Die neue Pest“ | Hubert Wetzel
Süddeutsche Zeitung, August 4, 2017

In 2017, the George F. Kennan Award was awarded to Hubert Wetzel, U.S. correspondent at Süddeutsche Zeitung, for his commentary “Die Neue Pest” (‘The new plague’), published on August 4, 2017. Wetzel, who has researched the rampant heroin epidemic in the U.S. for years, illuminated in his commentary a social problem that reveals a lot about the state of American society as well as the political climate in the country. Last but not least, it was the feeling of exclusion that led large groups of people from the weakest social strata to vote for Donald Trump.

„Warum sah ich seinen Sieg nicht kommen“  |  Ansgar Graw
Die Welt, November 12, 2016

The 2016 George F. Kennan Award goes to Ansgar Graw, a long-time U.S. correspondent of Die Welt, for his commentary “Warum sah ich seinen Sieg nicht kommen?”, published on November 12, 2016 in Die Welt. Graw describes in excellent prose how he did not foresee Donald Trump’s election victory, and even considered it impossible. In a conversation with his plumber, who criticizes him for this, Graw masterfully explains the formation of his former position and simultaneously reevaluates this opinion. He addresses his plumber and his readers neither with aggrieved defensiveness nor the rhetoric of a know-it-all. His commentary rises with greater understanding and self-reflection. At a time when journalism is exposed to harsh criticism, this is both courageous and valuable: self-doubt as an act of liberation!

“Trumps Ernte” | Nicolas Richter
Süddeutsche Zeitung, September 10, 2015

This year, the Kennan Award went to longtime correspondent of the Süddeutsche Zeitung Nicolas Richter for his commentary “Trumps Ernte [Trump’s Harvest],” published on Sept. 10, 2015. In his article, Richter provides an urgent early warning of the populist force and power of persuasion of Donald Trump. He analyzed the degree of destruction to the Republican Party and how a person like Trump can be the mouthpiece for many Americans to vent their anger. He argues that Trump, who is basically an apolitical businessman, capitalized on the nihilistic tendency of this voter bloc and began an uprising of these angry citizens. Richter sets the tone for many subsequent analyses of this surprising political phenomenon in the United States. Clear in his language and precise in his reasoning, Richter analyzed the political and societal changes in the United States through many articles that he wrote in his final summer as the Washington correspondent for the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

“Der Fremde” | Uwe Schmitt
Welt am Sonntag, September 21, 2014

This year, Uwe Schmitt, a longtime correspondent and reporter at the Welt-Gruppe, was awarded the George F. Kennan Commentary Award. In his essay “Der Fremde,” published in the Welt am Sonntag on September 21, 2014, he tells the moving story of a German who becomes reacquainted with his homeland after living abroad for 15 years. By observing strange aspects of German society and simultaneously commenting on his daily life and the culture in his host country of the United States, he illuminates cultural differences. He begins his article with the statement “Pardon, I forgot how to be German” and concludes with a shy declaration of love for Berlin and Germany.

“Wider die transatlantische Amnesie” | Erik T. Hansen
NZZ, October 7, 2013

The jury awarded the 2013 prize to Eric T. Hansen, an American who has lived in and reported from Germany for the past 25 years. In “Wider die transatlantische Amnesie (Against transatlantic amnesia),” published in Neue Zürcher Zeitung on October 7, 2013, Hansen impressively describes how Europe covers up its own weakness in world politics with Schadenfreude over the loss of power in Washington. Hansen thinks Europe thus missed a unique opportunity: Instead of speaking with one voice internationally and instead of setting moral standards in global crises, the debate is side-tracked by fault-finding partner USA, a partner who was instrumental for managing crises on the continent for the past century. “Europe has probably only about ten years, maybe less, to take advantage of the current weakness of America,” Hansen wrote.

“Das Ende des weissen Mannes” | Martin Klingst
Die Zeit, November 15, 2012

The jury awarded the 2012 prize to Martin Klingst, Washington bureau chief for the weekly Die Zeit, for his commentary “Das Ende des weißen Mannes” (“The End of the White Man”). The article was published on Nov. 15, 2012. In an outstanding article, he concisely articulates the reasons for the Republican defeat in the presidential election of 2012. He highlights Colorado—a critical swing state—that was previously dominated by Republicans, but now leans Democratic. He explains the social shift that led to this realignment and puts it into the broader political context. Klingst intelligently analyzes the consequences the Republicans should draw if they want to be successful again in future national elections.

“Die widersprüchlichen USA – Zwischen Religion und Aufklärung, zwischen Tea Party und Occupy Wall Street: Warum die Amerikaner so sind, wie sie sind” | Hans-Dieter Gelfert
Tagesspiegel, November 6, 2011

The jury awarded the 2011 prize to Hans-Dieter Gelfert, a professor emeritus for English literature at Free University Berlin, for his commentary ‘Die widersprüchlichen USA – Zwischen Religion und Aufklärung, zwischen Tea Party und Occupy Wall Street: Warum die Amerikaner so sind, wie sie sind (The contradictory USA – Between religion and enlightenment, between Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street: Why Americans are as they are).’ The article was published on November 6, 2011. The author pieces together various facts about the mentality of Americans to elucidate why they behave the way they do on certain issues. He conveys a real depth of understanding that has a powerful impact on readers. If it is true that we are in danger of being ‘over-newsed but under-informed,’ then Gelfert’s analysis serves as an excellent antidote. His article becomes a strong plea for the value of journalism in the digital Twitter age.

“Der blutleere Präsident” | Christian Wernicke
Süddeutsche Zeitung, November 2, 2010

The 2010 George F. Kennan Commentary Award went to Christian Wernicke, U.S. correspondent for the Süddeutsche Zeitung, for his article called ‘Der blutleere Präsident (The bloodless President),’ published on November 2, 2010. With more than five years of experience writing about U.S. politics and how it is perceived in Germany, Wernicke produced an insightful analysis of the U.S. Congressional election on November 2, 2010. He focused on the lack of understanding in Germany for why Obama, who enjoys an almost heroic status in much of Europe, suffered such a severe defeat in his own nation. He refutes common German clichés about declining U.S. support for Obama, and instead counters with a perceptive analysis of the U.S. political atmosphere in the aftermath of the financial crisis. He writes that ‘what Obama enacts as modernization, appears to many as a break with the system. And as un-American.’ However, he concludes that if Obama learns his lesson from the mid-term election defeat, he can reemerge as a hero – for both Europeans and Americans.

“German Angst” | Roger Cohen
Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin, March 20, 2009

The 2009 George F. Kennan Commentary Award went to Roger Cohen, a Berlin correspondent for TheNew York Times and a columnist for the International Herald Tribune, for his analysis of ‘German Angst (German fear),’ published on March 20, 2009, in the magazine of Süddeutsche Zeitung. Cohen’s analysis of the changing transatlantic relationship mirrors the changes in the U.S.-coined term ‘German Angst.’ Cohen, who won the Kennan Commentary Award in 2000, describes a change in the German mentality in convincing and surprisingly entertaining language.

“Die Botschaft der Botschaft” | Niklas Maak
Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, April 20, 2008

The 2008 George F. Kennan Commentary Award went to Niklas Maak, Berlin correspondent for Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, for his story “Die Botschaft der Botschaft (The Message of the Embassy),” published on April 20, 2008. In a year with no lack of commentary about the outgoing and incoming U.S. president, Maak managed to describe an American identity crisis in his unusual architectural critique of the new U.S. embassy in Berlin. “If a house could stand with crossed arms, this is what it would look like,” Maak wrote of the new fortress-style building at Pariser Platz in Berlin Mitte. “The embassy is the picture of a country traumatized by 9/11 and the effects of globalization; a nation that is so armored up, it can no longer see the world.”

The jury also gave an honorary mention to Süddeutsche Zeitungcorrespondent Nikolaus Piper for his commentary piece “Wendejahr 2008 (Year of Change 2008),” published on December 31, 2008. The jury credited Piper’s work for its outstanding analysis and foresight, as he tied economic politics to world politics.

“Ami, go home” | Jacob Heilbrunn
Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin, December 7, 2007

The George F. Kennan Commentary Award 2007 goes to US-journalistJacob Heilbrunn, White House correspondent of National Interest and Burns Fellow 1994, for his article ‘Ami, go home’ (Ami: german, short for ‘American(s)’) that was published in Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin (the weekly supplement to Süddeutsche Zeitung) on 7th December 2007. The jury recognized the outstanding analytical quality of Heilbrunn’s commentary that succeeds in giving a clear-headed and complex insight into the particularities of the US election campaign. Heilbrunn reveals how George W. Bush and his unsuccessful policy have actually inspired the rebirth of American Liberalism, a political ideology that had largely been discredited. Heilbrunn supports this thesis by comparing George W. Bush to his former rival for US presidency Al Gore: Whereas Bush has lost popular support step by the step over the last four years, Al Gore’s political reputation has constantly improved during the same time. Examples like these confer a fresh and persuasive character to Heilbrunn’s analytical commentary that is enhanced by his clear and forthright language. By this means, the author distinguishes himself from the average journalistic discourse and gives surprisingly new perspectives on the political situation in the United States one year before the upcoming presidential elections.

Further, the jury points out the contribution of illustrator Christoph Niemann. His sharp and witty illustrations, which portray the successive years of the Bush era, have an integral part in the appealing presentation of the commentary.

“Nach dem Fiasko” | Dr. Josef Joffe
Die Zeit, March 9, 2009

Dr. Josef Joffe, publisher, Die Zeit, won the George F. Kennan Commentary Award for his article “Nach dem Fiasko” (“After the Fiasco”) which was published on March 9, 2006. Joffe wrote about the US American policy in Iraq.

“Wir befinden uns in Preußisch-USA – Deutschlands missverstandene Amerikanisierung” | Andreas Geldner
Stuttgarter Zeitung, May 14, 2005

Andreas Geldner, editor, Stuttgarter Zeitung, won the George F. Kennan Commentary Award for his article “Wir befinden uns in Preussisch-USA – Deutschlands missverstandene Amerikanisierung” (“We are in Prussian-USA – Germany’s misunderstood americanization”) which was published on May 14, 2005.

Thomas Spang, correspondent in the USA for several regional newspapers, received an honorable mention for his four-part article series “Grenzen der Macht” (“Borders of Power”), published in the “Saarbrücker Zeitung”.

Previous award winners were:

• Matthias Rüb (2004)
• Stefan Kornelius (2003)
  “Die Kunst der Kriegsvermeidung” | Süddeutsche Zeitung
  Clemens Wergin (2003)
  For a series of commentary at Tagesspiegel and Chicago Tribune
• Robert von Rimscha (2002)
  “Das verkaufte Paradies” | Tagesspiegel
• Christoph von Marschall (2001)
  “Die Treue und der Beweis” | Tagesspiegel
  Steven Erlanger (2001)
  “Brutal egal” | Tagesspiegel
• Roger Cohen (2000)
  “Zehn Jahre deutsche Einheit – der Blick von außen” | Deutschland Magazine