Welcome back to another exchange visitor profile! Today, we catch up with Violette, a J-1 intern from France who is completing her program at KPFA Radio in Berkeley, CA. Back in France, Violette is a journalism student at Sciences Po Rennes so her background in communications makes her a great fit for the KPFA team!
What are your day to day activities like?
Every morning I am assigned a story/event to cover in SF with the press release related to it. I prepare my interview questions and do some background research to get the context of the story. Then I go on the field, I record ambiance, statements and interview several people. I also take some pictures for [our] social media. Afterwards I go back to the radio station to write my script, edit the sound clips and send it to my editor for correction.
What kind of events do you report on?
I mainly work on social and political current events. The nature of the event can be very different depending on the topic. I’ve covered a rally to protest against a hospital closure, political meetings (city council of Berkeley, S.F. Board of Supervisors), and a protest to defend women’s reproductive rights. Sometimes I also work remotely in the radio station to cover political events that take place in Washington D.C.
What have you learned from your exchange program so far about American life and culture?
Field reporting is a great opportunity to learn about American culture and civilization! As an example, when I attend a political event, like the Board of Supervisors meeting, I learn a lot about the working of the American political system, which is really complex and so different from our French one. From a sociological point of view, protest and rallies are also a good occasion to understand what is at stake at the local level in San Francisco like homeless and affordable housing issues, gun violence, and racial inequalities. I was particularly surprised about the way the Silicon Valley and the tech culture impact the socioeconomic inequalities in the area.
How has this experience helped your English speaking skills so far?
I have to practice my written and spoken English every single day. I can write a news script in English. I have improved my ability to understand oral and written English without using a translation or extra help. My final goal would be to be able to record myself on my own report with a good English pronunciation.
We love hearing about our exchange visitor’s wonderful experiences. If you are an IA&A exchange visitor and would like to chat with us about your program, please send us an email!