Because I am foreign I was assigned to the foreign desk. I kid you not, its true.

In emerging democracies like Russia, in authoritarian states like Iran or even Yugoslavia, journalists play a vital role in civil society. In fact, they form the very basis of those new democracies and civil societies.

I do believe that is a template that I stick very strongly to to tell the truth in an increasing swelter of lies and misinformation and disinformation.

I strongly believe that journalism is one of the most noble professions, because without an informed world, and without an informed society, we are weak, we are weak.

Here in the United States, our profession is much maligned, people simply don't trust or like journalists anymore and that's sad.

In Iran the whole reform and democracy movement has been based on the emerging free press.

They take journalism really seriously because they know the force that it is and can be.