And then theres always the crying and the weeping that we hear-children, women, even men. And these images and these sounds are always with me.

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

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.

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.

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

Because if we the storytellers don't do this, then the bad people will win.

If we have no respect for our viewers, then how can we have any respect for ourselves and what we do?