Anita Rossi
What can you tell us about your career?
Career? Career presumes you start from one spot at the bottom and reach one on a higher level. That was not my case. I am a journalist. I dig for truth or dig up dirt. I do not climb up stairs; if anything, I rush them down searching. Studying language and literature at Innsbruck University was the beginning of that downstairs career, but I became aware of this passion only later, after years of writing and conducting interviews with people for the radio, for TV, and for print media. I like to use language as a vehicle, to play with it, to arrange words and make them resonate. When I succeed, it’s like creating magic with words. And journalism gave me the opportunity to stick my nose into everything without upsetting people.
Why did you study Anglistik und Amerikanistik?
I probably studied Anglistik and Germanistik because I was good in these subjects at school and I adored reading and writing at the age of 18. I still do.
Do you have any fond memories?
I have quite a few fond memories, most of them associated with smart literature seminars (for example, modern Australian literature or the magic of gothic in Mary Shelley’s novels), bizarre lectures on Shakespeare’s world (professor Kühnelt), English films on Fridays, with evenings spent with student colleagues cooking British or American recipes (I remember a gorgeous trifle) and talking for hours in English, or a wonderful experience at Edinburgh University during a trip organised by the Institute.
Which skills that you acquired during your language and literature studies have been useful in your current employment and throughout your career?
Certainly being accurate and precise when researching and writing. Besides, I learned arguing, questioning, and looking behind the curtain; even quoting, a necessary tool in many of my projects. I also polished up my writing skills, of course on an academic level. Embarking on journalistic standards and texts was rather easy afterwards.
Why would you recommend Anglistik und Amerikanistik?
I would recommend Anglistik for the reasons listed above and because it certainly broadens one’s mind. Nowadays, I would combine it with a degree course from another faculty in order to have a wider choice of job opportunities when graduated.