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Christiane Amanpour Quotes

Powerful Christiane Amanpour for Daily Growth

About Christiane Amanpour

Christiane Amanpour is a renowned British-Iranian journalist, currently serving as Chief International Correspondent for CNN. Born on January 12, 1958, in London to an Iranian father and a British mother, her upbringing was significantly influenced by her Persian heritage and the multicultural environment of London. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Rhodes, she started her career at BBC in 1983. Amanpour quickly made a name for herself covering various global conflicts, including the Gulf War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the Bosnian War. Her reports were marked by her deep empathy, tenacity, and commitment to human rights. In 1990, she joined CNN as a foreign affairs correspondent, becoming one of the network's leading international correspondents. During the 1990s, Amanpour reported extensively from war-torn regions such as Chechnya, Somalia, and Rwanda, earning her the reputation as one of the most respected war correspondents. Her work on the genocide in Rwanda led to the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Amanpour's coverage of the conflict in Syria has also been highly influential, bringing global attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis there. Amanpour is known for her signature interviewing style that combines empathy, persistence, and insightful questioning. She has interviewed numerous world leaders, including Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Vladimir Putin. In 2015, she was appointed as the anchor of CNN's Sunday night program, "Amanpour." In addition to her journalistic work, Amanpour is also a respected author, having written several books about her experiences covering global conflicts. Her most notable work is "Through the Olive Trees: A Mother's Memoir," which chronicles her personal and professional journey through the lens of her mother's Alzheimer's disease. Today, Christiane Amanpour continues to be a powerful voice in global journalism, using her platform to shine a light on human rights issues and promote understanding between cultures.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The role of a journalist is not to comfort the afflicted, but to afflict the comfortable."

This quote by Christiane Amanpour signifies the purpose of journalism as a powerful tool for holding the powerful accountable and challenging the status quo. By "afflicting the comfortable," she means that journalists should not cater to or comfort those in positions of power, but instead, question their actions, uncover truths, and bring attention to issues that may be ignored by those who are comfortable with the current state of affairs. The role of journalism is essential for a functioning democracy as it fosters transparency, encourages debate, and empowers citizens to demand change.

"I always say, journalism is the first rough draft of history."

Christiane Amanpour's quote suggests that journalism serves as an initial account or record of events as they unfold, before history (the final account) is fully written. In essence, it means that journalists play a crucial role in reporting on current events, shaping the narrative and influencing public understanding, which ultimately contributes to the historical record of those events. This quote underscores the significance of journalism as a means for conveying truth, shaping public opinion, and helping us make sense of our world, even though it is often subject to change and revision as more information becomes available.

"Freedom of the press does not mean freedom for anyone to print anything at any time and in any manner."

This quote by Christiane Amanpour emphasizes that while freedom of the press is crucial, it's not an unrestricted right to publish anything at any given moment or in any way. It underscores the importance of responsible journalism, which balances freedom with accountability and respect for others' rights, privacy, and dignity.

"In war, truth is the first casualty." - Aeschylus (often quoted by Christiane Amanpour)

This quote emphasizes that during times of conflict or war, truth often becomes the first victim due to manipulation, propaganda, and bias from involved parties. Journalist Christiane Amanpour uses this quote frequently as a reminder that it is crucial for journalists to strive for objectivity and accuracy when reporting on such events, ensuring that the truth is not further distorted or lost in the chaos of war.

"Covering conflict doesn't harden you; it softens you, because you see the worst of humanity and also the best."

This quote by Christiane Amanpour suggests that being a witness to conflicts does not desensitize one to the violence and suffering, as one might assume, but instead exposes one to the full spectrum of human behavior – from its darkest aspects to its most noble ones. Covering conflict softens us because we are reminded that amidst the chaos and violence, there is also immense capacity for compassion, resilience, and humanity. It serves as a humbling reminder that even in the darkest times, the best of human nature can still emerge.

And I believe that good journalism, good television, can make our world a better place.

- Christiane Amanpour

Television, Better Place, Our World

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.

- Christiane Amanpour

Play, New, Very, Authoritarian

But 17 years ago, I arrived at CNN with a suitcase, with my bicycle, and with about 100 dollars.

- Christiane Amanpour

Bicycle, About, CNN, Suitcase

We were thrilled and we were privileged to be part of a revolution, because make no mistake about it, Ted Turner changed the world with CNN.

- Christiane Amanpour

Mistake, Part, CNN, Turner

Indeed in the full flush of journalistic passion and conviction I once told an interviewer that of course I would never get married. And I most definitely would never have children.

- Christiane Amanpour

Conviction, Journalistic, Interviewer

Yes, you are running businesses, and yes, we understand and accept that, but surely there must be a level beyond which profit from news is simply indecent.

- Christiane Amanpour

News, Which, Surely, Profit

I leave CNN with the utmost respect, love and admiration for the company and everyone who works here. This has been my family and shared endeavor for the past 27 years, and I am forever grateful and proud of all that we have accomplished.

- Christiane Amanpour

Love, Here, Shared, Utmost Respect

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

- Christiane Amanpour

How, Viewers, Then, No Respect

Our industry has invested so much money in technology that perhaps it's time to invest in talent, in people.

- Christiane Amanpour

Technology, Invest, Industry, So Much Money

And I really believe good journalism is good business.

- Christiane Amanpour

Business, Good, Believe, Journalism

We manage the fear, I manage the fear, but it certainly takes its toll, the strain does.

- Christiane Amanpour

Strain, Certainly, Does, Manage

I was planning, I told everybody, to take him on the road with me. At the very least I fully expected to keep up my hectic pace, and my passion as a war correspondent.

- Christiane Amanpour

Everybody, Very, Expected, War Correspondent

U.S. soldiers, with whom I now have more than a passing acquaintance, joke that they track my movements in order to know where they will be deployed next.

- Christiane Amanpour

Will, More, Next, Passing

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

- Christiane Amanpour

Know, Force, Take, Journalism

'm thrilled to be joining the incredible team at ABC News. Being asked to anchor 'This Week' and the superb tradition started by David Brinkley, is a tremendous and rare honor, and I look forward to discussing the great domestic and international issues of the day.

- Christiane Amanpour

Honor, Week, Joining, International

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

- Christiane Amanpour

Bad People, Bad, Will, Storytellers

I have made my living bearing witness to some of the most horrific events of the end of our century, at the end of the 20th century.

- Christiane Amanpour

Living, Some, Made, 20th Century

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

- Christiane Amanpour

Been, Reform, Based, Emerging

And one thing that I always believed and that I knew for certain was that I could never have sustained a personal relationship while I worked this hard, or while I was that driven this intensely by the story.

- Christiane Amanpour

Always, Knew, Could, Believed

I'm not an American but I have always had the outsiders' respect for the American people and the American way.

- Christiane Amanpour

American, Always, Had, American Way

In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.

- Christiane Amanpour

Gun, Okay, Little Children, Bosnia

I have spent the past ten years in just about every war zone there was.

- Christiane Amanpour

Past, Zone, Spent, War Zone

I was really just the tea boy to begin with, or the equivalent thereof, but I quickly announced, innocently but very ambitiously, that I wanted to be, I was going to be, a foreign correspondent.

- Christiane Amanpour

Going, Very, Equivalent, Announced

For instance, why are we terrorizing this country, leading with murder and mayhem, when crime is actually on the decline, as somebody, as somebody mentioned?

- Christiane Amanpour

Country, Instance, Mayhem, Mentioned

We in the press, by our power, can actually undermine leadership.

- Christiane Amanpour

Power, Undermine, Actually, Press

We hear foreign accents on CNN. It's crazy, it's wild, who knows, maybe they'll take you because you certainly don't fit in, in the American spectrum of news.

- Christiane Amanpour

News, Certainly, CNN, Spectrum

I have always thought it morally unacceptable to kill stories, not to run stories, that people have risked their lives to get.

- Christiane Amanpour

Always, Unacceptable, Morally

We do it because we're committed, because we're believers.

- Christiane Amanpour

Because, Committed, Believers

I am no longer sure that when I go out there and do my job it'll even see the light of air, if the experience of my network colleagues is anything to go by.

- Christiane Amanpour

Go, Air, Sure, Network

What we do and say and show really matters.

- Christiane Amanpour

Say, Show, Really, Matters

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