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Best of the Spectator

Women With Balls: Lindsey Hilsum

Apr 14, 2025
Lindsey Hilsum, the International Editor for Channel 4 News, has spent over three decades reporting from conflict zones around the globe. She shares her compelling journey from an aid worker in Latin America to a front-line journalist, recalling her experiences during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Lindsey discusses the evolution of journalism in the digital age and highlights her unique connection to flat screen TV technology. She also reads a poignant poem from her latest book, blending storytelling and artistry amidst the chaos of war.
34:08

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Lindsey Hilsum's transition from aid worker to journalist highlights her commitment to storytelling as a means of revealing injustice in conflict zones.
  • Her integration of poetry into journalism reflects a unique approach to conveying complex human emotions amidst the chaos of war.

Deep dives

The Impact of Childhood on Career Path

The guest reflects on her childhood, describing it as generally happy but marked by a desire for the freedom of adulthood. Although she acknowledges her parents' liberal upbringing, she felt constrained by childhood responsibilities like schoolwork. This perspective greatly influenced her adult life choices, particularly her early aspirations to escape conventional paths. Her upbringing in an academically inclined family contrasted with her own interests, leading her to pursue literature rather than sciences.

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