International Relations

 My 10,000-word report on North Korea was recently published by Congressional Quarterly Press:


North Korea

Is the country a growing threat

to global security?

 

By: Robert Kiener

Publisher: CQ Press, 2024

Introduction

Since coming to power in 2011, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has built up his nation's nuclear and conventional military capabilities, leading some experts to fear he may be considering attacking South Korea. After multiple failed attempts to normalize relations with South Korea and the United States, Kim's increasingly aggressive and militant regime has turned to Russia, China and other “anti-imperialist” states for military, economic and geopolitical support in what many see as an effort to reshape the regional security environment in the North's favor. Although the United Nations and individual countries have imposed sanctions on North Korea to convince the country to abandon its nuclear weapons program, the secretive and autocratic state has managed to bypass those restrictions via increasingly sophisticated cybercrime attacks and weapons sales that violate those restrictions. Meanwhile, citizens of the repressive, long-shuttered “Hermit Kingdom” are suffering from a faltering economy that has resulted in widespread hunger and a long list of human rights abuses.

CQ  Report here




Profile


















The world is a vastly better place thanks to people like my longtime friend, Reg Green. For the full story, click here and for an earlier article here

In September, 2024 Reg and Maggie Green are travelling to Italy to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their son's passing and their decision to donate his organs. 

Environmental Reporting


 My 56-page report on "Plastic Pollution" for Congressional Quarterly Press

Behind The Lines (At Work)



             Click here for this article and here for the polar bear article
 

Photographer Profile


                                                                                                             © Lynn Johnson


For my profile of noted photographer Lynn Johnson, click here

Profile

 

A Day on the Water 

with Captain Mark Yanno

The biologist and longtime fishing guide enjoys fishing the healthiest part of the Indian River Lagoon, in Central Florida



Click here for article

Personality Profile

                                                                                                       

For my recent article on
Johannes Von Trapp
(of "The Sound of Music" fame), click here

International Feature



























I traveled aboard one of the world's largest container ships as it entered the port of Rotterdam to report this story on a Maersk EEE. The story has run in most of Reader's Digest's international editions. 
Click here for the article.
French version here.

Celebrity Profile



























To report this profile of Anthony Hopkins, I spent a day with him in London, walking through the city, having lunch, and visiting his Knightsbridge home. A month later I spent another day with him in his native Wales.
Click here for the full article

Profile

Meet Bambi; see why everyone who does, loves her! Full story here
This article won a first place in NENPA's 2021 Human Interest category. The judges said, "Robert Kiener’s take on Vermont sheep farmer Bambi Freeman showcases the best writing in the human interest feature category, head and shoulders above other entries. Young reporters could learn much here. It’s clear that Kiener is not only a superb writer, but a keen observer as well – with details that jump off the page and bring this feisty octogenarian to life. He is particularly skilled in employing quotes – with restraint, yet always positioned for maximum effect..."

Reader's Digest's 100th Anniversary



                    Reader's Digest has published this note in many of its 40-plus editions around the world 
                                            as part of its 100th Anniversary (1922-2022) celebrations
 

Drama in Real Life


      Full article here and online version here

International Feature Story


     Click here for this story that is running around the world in Reader's Digest's 40+ international editions, such as the Indian edition here.

Nature Article


















I spent a week in the Amazon to report this nature piece about piranhas for Reader's Digest.
Full article here
French edition version here

Profile

 

A LIFETIME’S WORK

THE WIT OF ELLIOTT ERWITT



       Click here for my profile of Elliott Erwitt
       
       And, sadly, Elliott's 11/29/2023 obit here

Medical Drama


                                  Click here for this article that is running in the September 2023 issue 

                                          of Reader's Digest and its 23 international editions.

                                                                     Online version here

Erwin Olaf RIP

                                                     The world lost a wonderful photographer.  

                                                          My profile of Erwin Olaf is here

Nature Article


Click here for full article 



Human Interest


       
        After a devastating fire ripped through Stowe, Vermont’s iconic Percy farm dairy barn, 
       friends, family, and strangers reach out to help. Click here for full story

Award: In May 2023, this article won a First Place Award in the New England Newspaper and Press Association's (NENPA) Human Interest Feature Story category. The judges said, "This is a beautifully told story that brings the reader headlong into the drama." Click here for info.
 

Cover Stories

 
Click here for feature


                                                                       Click here for feature
 

Photographer Profile

                                                                                                                                                   ©Stephen Wilkes
      Click here for my profile of "Day to Night" photographer Stephen Wilkes

Human Interest

To read, click here

Feature Interview

 




                                 


                            Click here for my recent interview with Johannes and Sam von Trapp 
                                 in the London Sunday Times Magazine 

Profile


       Click here for my article on the wonderful still life photographer Paulette Tavormina

Profile




My article on this most remarkable  woman has run internationally and can be read here.

(Carmen has recently had some serious medical issues. For more information and if you wish to donate to help her defray new medical/living expenses, click here.)

Big news: Carmen's latest development in August 2020: click here

International Travel Article


     Click here for my article on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana 

Photographer Profiles

Preview

                             

Click here for my profile of       
London-based photographer 
David Bailey
and here for my profile of Harry Benson (right)

Drama in Real Life


      Click here for full article which has been published in the December 2021 edition of 
            Reader's Digest (USA) as well as more than 20 of its international editions 
                                                  such as the French edition here

Sports Profile


To write this profile of former Major League pitcher Bill Lee, I interviewed him at his Craftsbury, Vermont home and watched him pitch in several Vermont Senior League games (He won both.)
Click here for the article and here for an article about the awards it received and here for a piece on his recent "brush with death."

Dramatic Rescue


                                      

                                           Click here for article (Reader's Digest October 2022)
 

Human Interest

                                

                                             Click here to read how this retired military veteran 

                                                        helps fellow veterans battle PTSD
 

Artist Profile

                                                                                                   copyright@Jim Westphalen
                                     

                                           For profile of photographer Jim Westphalen click here                             

Profile

 

                                                                                                                                                     copyright @ Michael Yamashita

                            Meet Michael Yamashita, one of the world's best photographers; click here

Nature Article


      Click here for article

Artist Profile: Ed Koren












Click here for the full article

After a lifetime of laughter, Ed left us....happier and wiser. Thanks, Ed (obit)



Profile

                                                                                                           Photo: Glen Callahan

                                        Meet George Woodard; you'll like him. Everyone does. 

                                                                       Click here for article.
 

Drama In Real Life


                                          Click here for full article

Profile


                 Click here for my profile of photographer Andrew Moore

Artist Profile


                                      Click here for full article and here for another profile of Doug David

Profile: "Confessions of a Surf Fisherman"


                                                                  Read full article here

Artist Profile

                                          Click here for my profile of photographer Roman Loranc
                                                                                                            (photo copyrighted by Roman Loranc)
 

Artist Profile

Click here for my profile of world-famous photographer Michael Kenna

Feature Article


 For this story on my neighbors, the von Trapp family, which recently ran in the international editions of   Reader's Digest, 49 editions in 21 languages,  click here

Artist Profile

 



Photographer Michael Eastman is as cool as he is talented. Click here to read about him and his work.

And more here.

Human Interest Article

                                                                  Click here for article