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. At Radio Ara, he presented his first shows, conducted his first interviews, and discovered the magic of the studio. He also hosted a football programme in Spanish on Radio Latina.
Becoming a journalist was always a pretty natural progress to Crowther. He explained that as a kid, he always watched the news before heading to the school bus, and eventually he realised that he didn’t have to just consume news, he could also be a part of it. 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”, he noted.
After his first steps in Luxembourg’s media outlets, Crowther decided to study journalism in a formal setting in London, 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 said. 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, adding that you can’t say no to Washington as correspondent or journalist.
Crowther now lives in the United States with his family and regularly travels to conflict zones, including Kyiv and Jerusalem. When asked how he balances dangerous assignments with family life, he acknowledges that there’s always some risk, but reassures his loved ones that he avoids the front lines. He stated: “The agreement at home is clear: I can travel and report, but when I’m home, I dedicate all my energy to the family.”
His work has earned him multiple awards. In 2023, Crowther received the Ordre de Mérite during Luxembourg’s National Day celebrations, in recognition of his international reporting, particularly in Ukraine. “It’s not an award in the traditional sense, but more of an honour for one’s work”, he said, adding that it was also a great opportunity to return home and see everyone again.
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.”
He also keeps a close eye on Luxembourgish politics and contributes regularly to local media. “I follow it quite closely”, he said. He added: “I can’t just report on global events and ignore what’s happening back home. Luxembourgish politics is fascinating, it’s easier to follow than in many countries, and the system works surprisingly well compared to the American system.”
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.”
Crowther’s multilingual skills have become his signature. Though he says Portuguese is his weakest language, he can still conduct an interview in it if needed. And if he had time to learn another? “Arabic would be next. It opens up a whole new part of the world, and there’s a lot happening there”, he concludes.
