ThePioneer Expedition 2021
This two-week national expedition leveraged Europe's first journalistic research vessel, the Pioneer One, to physically bring high-level political dialogue directly to German citizens across nine cities during a critical federal election period.
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Project Overview
As a core member of the Event Management Team at Media Pioneer, I was fundamentally involved in the conception and execution of the "ThePioneer Expedition 2021"—a two-week, nationwide journalistic tour that convened ThePioneer's editorial team and its community to foster a strategic re-evaluation of Germany prior to the federal election.
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Operational Scope
This ambitious project involved coordinating 9 evening events, experimental stagings, Community Hours, and exclusive Supporter Dinners across multiple cities, including Ludwigshafen, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Minden, Hanover, Wolfsburg, Potsdam, and Berlin.
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Mission
Amid increasing political polarization and centralized media coverage, the initiative preceding the German federal election was to address the critical need for direct civic engagement outside of Berlin, using Europe's first purpose-built floating newsroom as a unique venue for unscripted discourse. "Our mission: Together with our readers and guests from business, politics, and culture, we want to rethink Germany" (Deutschland neu denken).
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My Impact and Role
Reporting to the Head of Project and Event Management, I managed the comprehensive logistical planning and operational execution of over 20 distinct events across nine cities. My role involved orchestrating diverse programming formats—including exclusive Supporter Dinners, Community Hours, and main Briefing events—and coordinating the seamless integration of high-profile political figures such as Chancellor candidates Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Annalena Baerbock (Greens), former German Federal Parliament President Wolfgang Schäuble, and former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder while also conducting my own one-on-one interview with Mr. Schäuble at the Frankfurt stop.
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Independent Journalistic Contribution
At the Frankfurt stop, I secured and conducted my own one-on-one interview with the former German Federal Parliament President, Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble. I independently researched the subject matter and moderated the live dialogue for an audience of over 50 students and professionals, maintaining the highest production rigor on the traveling platform. It was published in Pioneer Briefing Podcast.
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Impact
The expedition provided me with direct access to national leaders in high-stakes environments, demanding exceptional pressure management and on-the-spot intellectual rigor. I was able to observe firsthand how disparate regional priorities interacted with the national "Agenda 2030" (Agenda 2030), which profoundly informed my own thinking on the future of European integration and democratic resilience. My interview content reached over 100,000+ listeners via the "Pioneer Briefing" podcast and generated national media citations.
ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHT
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9 primary German cities activated during the two-week expedition
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20+ individual executive events executed with a 100% success rate
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1 exclusive, one-on-one interview conducted with former Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble
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50+ professionals and students engaged in the live dialogue forum in Frankfurt