There’s nothing like getting away from the desk job and discovering somewhere new. Especially if you are on holiday and actually have some time to slow down, look around you and take some notice. With my better half, we opted to visit the Croatian island of Vis for the first time. How we got there is a weird story, but that – as Ofelia Harms would say – is not the point. Continue reading
Just 20 days to go
For the duration of the Football World Cup in Brazil, it looks like I will be back roaming the sports department at DW. After working as a correspondent for the Euro 2008 tournament and the 2010 World Cup, I’m pleased to be back lacing up the boots again.
This time it won’t be on location though. I’ll be staying in Bonn helping with DW’s special Brazil World Cup webpage. Once the tournament gets going, the page should be absolutely overflowing with match updates and quirky reports from in and around the World Cup in Brazil. Continue reading
Had to be done
Through all my time covering the environment beat in Germany, I can’t remember a more obvious story to cover than this one. Germany, a country that is hell-bent on improving it’s amount of renewable energy, is considering charging self-producers of energy an extra fee for the power they produce themselves.
Although the new surcharge is mainly meant to hit big chemical and manufacturing companies that have on-site mini power stations, it also is due to affect those companies who have invested in renewable energies, for rooftop solar cells or wind turbines. Continue reading
Welcome to the new year!
Now recharged after returning from Australia, it’s time for me to wish you all a belated Happy New Year!
My trip down under was enjoyable as it allowed me to catch up with family and friends and do some press for my new book “Batting for Berlin”. I did a bunch of interviews with various radio channels from Sydney and around Australia, such as the ABC, 2GB and 4BC (Brisbane).
I also landed in my local newspaper, the Mosman Daily. That was quite an honour. After all these years living in Germany, it’s been a while since I appeared in there!! Continue reading
Into the woods…
Hi all. It’s been a while since I last headed out to work as a video journalist, so it was high time that I got out and got my hands dirty again as a VJ (that’s what they are called in Germany). It’s always a good challenge: what with running the camera, giving the subject directions, asking good interview questions, checking sound levels and light… all at once!!!… working as a video journalist is the toughest job in journalism, I think.
Together with my colleague Friedel Taube, I set off to meet forester Peter Wohlleben out in the beautiful Eifel forest at Hümmel to shoot this piece. Wohlleben is a fascinating guy – he looks after one of the few remaining original forests left in Germany and he gave us a detailed tour of his ‘backyard’. Hope you like the results!
André Leslie 