I never desired to go into war zones. I never had any thought about it. It sort of just happened as part of the job.
I also read modern novels – I have just had to read 60 as I am one of the judges for the Orange Fiction Prize.
I don’t want to be involved in endless media gossip.
Up until about 12 years ago we never, ever, wore flak jacket or helmets but now the nastiness has got worse.
Having had loving people who brought me up, and then I find another set of people. That really is a double blessing.
Hair is also a problem. I remember once, when I was reporting from Beirut at the height of the civil war, someone wrote in to the BBC complaining about my appearance.
But in the first Gulf war the United Kingdom was not under any threat from Iraq, and is still less so in the second one. Then there is no justification for obstructing freedom of information, particularly as nations have a right to know what their soldiers are being used for.
There was no equal pay law when I started working. I was no different to any other woman in any other job at the time.
I have nothing to do with the selection of stories. I’m the reporter.
War zones are dangerous, protests can be violent, also, natural disasters are difficult to cover, so there are going to be risks.
In any war, there is a concealment of certain kinds of setbacks because it’s propaganda for the enemy.
People always seem to assume that we have a full, back-up support team – make-up, costume and a driver – but usually, in a war zone, there’s only me and the cameraman.
My job is to get to the heart of a story, to find out what’s really going on; to get it verified and, then, to get it out to as many people as possible as fast as.
No two wars are identical.
The better the information it has, the better democracy works. Silence and secrecy are never good for it.
If I’m in danger then it’s usually my fault and it’s up to me to get myself out of it. I am not in it just to get an adrenalin rush. No way!
I sailed through my childhood with a complete lack of any drama.
I’ve never been one to sit around and eat my heart out. Life’s too short.
I was timid and frightened as a child. Yours truly did not shin up mountains or do any other kind of adventurous stuff.
I wrote in the book very specifically what I wanted to write about, period, and left it at.