I think some of the best reporters are the ones who can really illustrate the differences between societies, at the same time trying to connect the fact that there are a lot of shared values in addition to those differences.

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...

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...

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

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

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,...

The desire to become a journalist came really because I very much like living abroad,...

The desire to become a journalist came really because I very much like living abroad,...

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...

I've been shot at on numerous occasions.

I've been shot at on numerous occasions.

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...

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...

Good journalism, I think, represents life and if you try to organize something too neatly...

Good journalism, I think, represents life and if you try to organize something too neatly...

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,...

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...

Whereas with foreign coverage there's a much broader disconnect between you and your audience.

Whereas with foreign coverage there's a much broader disconnect between you and your audience.

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,...

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...

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...

In some ways the domestic reporting is a lot easier because Americans will talk to...

In some ways the domestic reporting is a lot easier because Americans will talk 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...

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...

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

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