This summer, well-known Luxembourgers take us to their favourite spots and sit down for a chit-chat. Today’s guest: none other than Philip Crowther.
He is one of Luxembourg’s most prominent journalists – Philip Crowther, who works for the news agency Associated Press and is based in the US. Whether it’s Ukraine, Israel, or the White House, he’s always reporting from where history is being made. He rose to international fame for his ability to present live TV news in six languages, reaching millions of viewers across the globe.
Born in Luxembourg to a British father and a German mother, Crowther grew up speaking both English and German – an ideal combination for his future career.
He attended the Athénée in Luxembourg City and took his first steps in journalism at Radio Ara, RTL, and Radio Latina, before heading to Paris and then the US. His work has earned him multiple awards, including the Ordre du Mérite on Luxembourg’s National Day.
Becoming a journalist was always a pretty natural progress to Crowther. “As a kid, I always watched the news before heading to the school bus, and eventually you realise that you don’t have to just consume news, you can also be a part of it yourself.” He recounts how a certain kind of adrenaline rush was tied to attending big events and reporting on them. “Be it a big political event or something negative like a war, you just want to be there.”
After his first steps in Luxembourg’s media outlets, Crowther decided to study journalism in a formal setting, exploring the ethics behind the craft, the technicalities, networking, and the art itself. “Only then are you a real journalist, and I was lucky because France24 happened to be looking for journalists just as I finished my studies.” He then lived in Paris for two and a half years, where he also made his first journalistic experience in a war zone – but soon thereafter was offered to move to Washington. “And you can’t say no to Washington as correspondent or journalist.”
As to why he chose Luxembourg City’s Wentzel promenade: “Just look at the view here, this is one of the prettiest capitals in the world. It’s such a dynamic and international space, which is something I always loved when I started out as a journalist here.”
Despite having family near Chicago, Crowther still refers to the Grand Duchy as his home, aiming at visiting three to four times a year. “Even if it’s just for a few days, and especially in summer, it’s always nice to be here.”
Watch the full interview (in Luxembourgish)