Good journalism, I think, represents life and if you try to organize something too neatly it usually blows up in your face and doesn't really happen the way you want it to.

Quote by John Pomfret

Topics: John Pomfret Quotes

I was posted to China in the summer of 1988, which was the greatest time...

I was posted to China in the summer of 1988, which was the greatest time...

Stanford had no journalism program so I just learned by doing, effectively.

Stanford had no journalism program so I just learned by doing, effectively.

Srebrenica was a horrendous war crime and it had to be uncovered.

Srebrenica was a horrendous war crime and it had to be uncovered.

And then I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to go to China in...

And then I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to go to China in...

I grew up in New York City in the late '70s, at a time when...

I grew up in New York City in the late '70s, at a time when...

And when they do spin out of control there are important ramifications that affect America,...

And when they do spin out of control there are important ramifications that affect America,...

The work is a calling. It demands that type of obsession.

The work is a calling. It demands that type of obsession.

I went back to the States and started at a small newspaper in Riverside County,...

I went back to the States and started at a small newspaper in Riverside County,...

A lot of times when we work overseas we tend to put the experience of...

A lot of times when we work overseas we tend to put the experience of...

I think some of the best reporters are the ones who can really illustrate the...

I think some of the best reporters are the ones who can really illustrate the...

I was fourteen when Kissinger made his secret trip to China, and then there was...

I was fourteen when Kissinger made his secret trip to China, and then there was...

One of the problems that we have as American journalists is that we bring the...

One of the problems that we have as American journalists is that we bring the...

When I see somebody being mistreated, my eyes tear up and I want to stop...

When I see somebody being mistreated, my eyes tear up and I want to stop...

I had my life threatened by Bosnian Serbs on numerous occasions.

I had my life threatened by Bosnian Serbs on numerous occasions.

I think that's the main threat in Bosnia and Rwanda and Zaire. There doesn't seem...

I think that's the main threat in Bosnia and Rwanda and Zaire. There doesn't seem...

Working overseas is more difficult in that it's much more complicated to get people to...

Working overseas is more difficult in that it's much more complicated to get people to...

The one indication that I got that I was doing the right job in Bosnia...

The one indication that I got that I was doing the right job in Bosnia...

When you do a job like this you have to like having cold sweat on...

When you do a job like this you have to like having cold sweat on...

For me the much more significant question is what did the Americans do, if anything,...

For me the much more significant question is what did the Americans do, if anything,...

My main form of transportation at that time was a bicycle, because bicycles could move...

My main form of transportation at that time was a bicycle, because bicycles could move...