Nicholas Kristof Chases Hope

The episode with two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times op-ed columnist Nick Kristof focused on his recent inspirational and hope-filled book, "Chasing Hope." The conversation began with Kristof speaking to Michael Krasny about the effects on him and the moral challenges he faced covering Tiananmen Square, as well as the lessons he gleaned from his early reporter's work in Cambodia and the U.S. He opined on the fight for democracy and weighed the effect on him of the oppression and suffering of children.

Krasny then brought up the role and impact of Kristof's parents, and Kristof spoke of compassion fatigue and what he believes needs to be done. He emphasized the need for more stories that call attention to humanitarian crises and the public good. The two then spoke of journalism as an act of hope and discussed contrasts between former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and President-elect Donald Trump, as well as Kristof's past decision to run for Governor of Oregon.

When Krasny asked Kristof about his views on race versus class and New York Times coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Kristof spoke about rising anti-Semitism, the meaning of the word genocide, and his feelings of frustration at the slow pace of change despite remarkable progress on many fronts. The conversation turned to journalistic ethics, human rights, and Kristof's wife Sheryl's Chinese ancestry.

Kristof also addressed the concept of "white saviors" and answered a listener's question about the effect of Artificial Intelligence. The two then returned to further consideration of journalistic ethics, Janet Malcolm, journalists as storytellers, Tiananmen Square, and Gaza. Kristof spoke of making the ineffable effable and of David Brooks' dichotomy of a resume versus a eulogy. It was a brilliant and enlightening conversation with one of America's leading journalists.