From Foreign Correspondent to Uber Driver: A Journalist's Transformative Journey
When veteran journalist Steve Scherer began driving for Uber in northern Virginia, he wasn't consciously seeking to reexamine immigration as a subject. Having spent years reporting on migration from Europe, he considered himself well-versed in the topic. However, his recent first-person essay on Substack reveals how his experience as a ride-hail driver fundamentally reshaped his understanding of immigration, vulnerability, and economic insecurity in contemporary America.
The Unexpected Career Transition
Scherer, a former foreign correspondent and bureau chief, published his essay titled My journey from foreign correspondent to Uber driver in Trump's America this week. The piece chronicles his dramatic transition from international journalism to gig work after losing both his job and legal standing in Canada. Previously serving as Reuters' Ottawa bureau chief, Scherer saw his position eliminated during corporate cost-cutting measures.
Despite owning a home and raising his children in Canada, immigration regulations forced him to leave the country once his employment ended. He returned to the United States in July 2025, marking his first time living there in nearly three decades. Unable to secure immediate newsroom employment, Scherer turned to driving for Uber as a means of income.
Dawn Rides and Economic Realities
In his compelling narrative, Scherer describes his first morning on the job, picking up hotel workers, teachers, hospital staff, mechanics, and cleaners before dawn. Many of his passengers were Latino or immigrants, all traveling to their workplaces in the early hours. One particular ride earned him less than seven dollars, and over approximately five hours, he made about one hundred dollars total.
"I didn't know the immigration status of any of my clients," Scherer writes. "But I wondered how misguided and aggressive targeting of the very people who serve us breakfast, teach our children, fix our cars, clean our hotel rooms, and comfort our sick makes America great."
From Observer to Participant
Before this chapter of his life, Scherer had covered migration primarily as an external observer. He spent years reporting on Mediterranean crossings from Libya and Tunisia to Italy, embedding with Italian navy vessels and NGO rescue missions. He interviewed migrants rescued from rubber boats and documented detention, abuse, and human trafficking networks.
At that time, he admits he didn't fully comprehend what drives people to undertake such dangerous journeys. Driving for Uber fundamentally altered this perspective. "For the first time in my life, I am no longer observing this precarious world from the outside, notebook in hand," Scherer writes. "I am inside it, dependent on an algorithm, measuring my worth in five-dollar increments."
Shared Vulnerability and Fragility
Scherer describes seeing his own fragility reflected in his passengers: widows, parents, and workers who were "all one broken transmission or missed paycheck away from something worse." He emphasizes that he doesn't equate his circumstances with those of undocumented migrants, noting his American passport, white privilege, savings, and family support distinguish his situation. He acknowledges he's unlikely to face detention by immigration authorities.
Nevertheless, the Uber driving experience profoundly changed how he understands vulnerability and belonging within the American economy. Scherer also recounts how his family became separated across borders after leaving Canada. His wife returned to Italy for healthcare access and legal security, while his children initially joined her before later reuniting with him in the United States.
Industry-Wide Resonance
The essay quickly garnered responses from journalists and readers who found Scherer's experience deeply resonant. Fellow journalist Matthew Tostevin wrote on X: "This is powerfully written Steve. I'm sorry to hear about your plight and hope that this helps bring recognition of skills that should be valued."
Reader Bruce Ross framed the story within broader media industry upheaval: "The refugees from media are all around and it is tough to make a fresh start in the 50s. All the best, and thanks for sharing a difficult story."
Responses extended beyond journalism circles. An Italy-based reader posting as milanoArte.net shared that Scherer's essay echoed their family's experience: "My sister lives in California with her family. America is a part of my blood and soul, it's so painful to see what's going on."
Life Governed by Algorithms
Since publication, Substack readers have particularly highlighted passages describing life governed by app notifications and low fares. Many noted the essay reflected anxieties shared by freelancers and displaced professionals across various industries. Scherer sold his Canadian home and now rents a basement apartment in Virginia while attempting to rebuild his life.
Currently, Scherer continues living in Virginia and driving for Uber while seeking new professional opportunities. His essay, published on January 21, 2026, offers a unique perspective on immigration, economic precarity, and career transitions in modern America from someone who has experienced multiple sides of these complex issues.
