It's totally mistaken to suppose that an armed escort is going to give a journalist any protection - on the contrary, journalists who turn up surrounded by armed personnel are just turning themselves into targets and in even worse danger.

I sailed through my childhood with a complete lack of any drama.

On the Northern Ireland question, for instance, the British and Irish governments prohibit media contact with members of the IRA, but we have always gone ahead, believing in the right to information.

I have nothing to do with the selection of stories. I'm the reporter.

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.

War zones are dangerous, protests can be violent, also, natural disasters are difficult to cover, so there are going to be risks.

Having had loving people who brought me up, and then I find another set of people. That really is a double blessing.