And they hate the English language. These are stories Alan Riding, European cultural correspondent for The New York Times in Paris, says he has to cover once a year, always finding a fresh angle. Riding kicked off day two of the Medill global journalism program's Paris seminars. The lectures are designed to prepare us 11 students for our upcoming residencies in Paris, London, Prague, Helsinki, Jerusalem, Hong Kong and Aruba. Riding started his career in London, but soon decided it was time for a change.
Riding speaks French, Spanish and Portuguese in addition to English.
So he applied for a trainee program with Reuters in London. He was supposed to stay just three months, but he never returned to London except on reporting assignments. After his time in New York, Riding reported from different Latin American countries, a start he said he still recommends. That is where all the fresh and interesting stuff happens. More than a decade ago Riding became bureau chief for the New York Times in Paris.