From Taiwan to Berlin: Dido Lin’s Path to Becoming a Correspondent

by Jing-Wen Lo

It all began with a failed German language exam. Dido Lin, a political science student in Taiwan, never planned to study German seriously. She only signed up for the course because her best friend thought it would be fun to take it together. But when she failed the exam, she was embarrassed and determined not to let it end there. In a surprising twist, what started as a casual decision became a life-changing journey. She decided not only to master the language but also to take it a step further—pursuing her studies in Germany. Now, 14 years later, Lin has made Berlin her home, crafting a career and a life built around her words.

For the past two years, Lin has been the Berlin correspondent for the Central News Agency, Taiwan’s national news agency. Becoming a journalist was a childhood dream of hers, but now that it’s a reality, she’s still navigating what the role truly means.

“To me, the title ‘journalist’ still feels a bit too heavy,” said Lin. “Most of the time, I still refer to myself as a writer.”

Dido Lin (Left) is now the Berlin correspondent for the Central News Agency.

Lin’s journey as a writer began shortly after she arrived in Germany. She started documenting her experiences, observations of German society, and the vibrant art and culture scene in Berlin on her personal blog and Facebook page, “Berliner Times.” Her work caught the attention of editors in Taiwan, who invited her to author a Berlin travel guidebook (柏林的100種生活, 100 Ways of Living in Berlin), which was published in 2016. In 2020, she expanded her storytelling to a new platform by hosting a podcast, Berliners, where she discussed social and cultural issues in Germany and featured other Taiwanese professionals working in the country as guests.

Since becoming the correspondent for the Central News Agency, Lin has admitted that juggling multiple content creation platforms has not been easy. However, she has found a way to balance her roles as a journalist and a content creator. When covering an event or issue, she writes objective news stories in the traditional format for the news agency. At the same time, if she finds the topic particularly interesting, she shares her personal perspective through a blog post or Facebook update, adding her own unique touch to the story.

This blend of journalistic objectivity and personal storytelling highlights the distinct value correspondents bring to international reporting. What sets correspondents’ reporting apart is their ability to view stories through Taiwan’s perspective, said Lin. This approach shapes the questions asked by the journalists and the focus of the stories, making them more relevant to Taiwanese readers. Lin believes that this level of relevance cannot be achieved by simply translating articles from foreign media.

As media outlets worldwide reduce the number of correspondents and increasingly rely on translated international news due to budget constraints, the Central News Agency maintains a network of around 30 correspondents stationed in various regions—the largest among Taiwanese media outlets.

Unlike journalists in Taiwan, who often specialize in a single news genre, Lin covers a diverse range of topics in Germany. Her reporting spans from politics and the economy to softer news, such as cultural events.

“As a correspondent, I have to understand everything,” said Lin.

With the growing collaboration between Taiwan and Germany in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, Lin has also taken on the challenge of reporting on technology news. This requires navigating complex technical jargon and the intricate details of high-tech manufacturing processes. Although she was initially unfamiliar with the subject, Lin admitted that the learning curve has been steep but rewarding. She shared that continuously learning and expanding her horizons is one of the most enjoyable aspects of her job.

In addition to regularly covering politics and the economy, Lin is tasked with developing story ideas through her observations and connections. Unlike her colleagues in Taiwan, who typically receive assignments from editors or collaborate on topics in team discussions, Lin has both the freedom and the responsibility to propose her own story ideas. Having lived in Germany for more than 10 years, Lin has built connections with people from diverse backgrounds and maintained good relationships with foreign affairs officials in Germany, who occasionally provide her with information for a scoop.  

“My friends are my informants,” said Lin. Although she didn’t intentionally build relationships with this goal in mind, she acknowledged that these meaningful connections have become an invaluable asset to her journalistic work.

Drawing from her experiences, Lin offered advice to students aspiring to work in international news. While language skills are undoubtedly important, she stressed that they are not the sole determining factor for becoming a correspondent. Instead, she highlighted the importance of thorough research before interviews and the ability to adapt to unforeseen situations as the most crucial skills for success in the field.

From a failed German exam to moving to Berlin and achieving her childhood dream job, Lin has always lived by her passion for writing—and she will continue to do so. As she mentioned in the author’s note of her book about Berlin, her motivation to write stems from a desire to share with people, who may be on the other side of the world, that she is leading a good life in Germany, and to invite them to see it for themselves if they ever have the chance.

Through her work, Lin’s words serve as a window into Germany for readers far away and as an eye for those in Taiwan, bridging the distance with stories that connect, inspire, and inform.